Eric Jonas scored six of his career-high 26 points during the final 30 seconds and his steal with one second to play gave the Colorado College men's basketball team a heart-stopping 95-92 victory over No. 21 Whitman College in the final game of the 2019 Rocky Mountain Thanksgiving Classic on Saturday night at Reid Arena.

The win was CC's first over a top-25 opponent since the Tigers posted two victories over Whitworth University in a span of eight days in 2013. The Pirates were ranked No. 12 when Colorado College recorded a 65-60 win in Spokane on Nov. 24, and No. 16 the following week when the Tigers prevailed, 81-65, on Dec. 1 in Colorado Springs.

Jonas finished 7-for-10 from the floor, including a 4-for-6 effort from behind the arc, and made eight of nine free throws. The senior winger also grabbed four rebounds and dished out four assists. Jonas scored 15 points in the second half.   

CooXooEii Black posted his third double-double of the season and the 19th of his career with 18 points and 11 rebounds. The senior forward scored 16 points in the second half, including a couple of thunderous dunks to keep his team energized. He also blocked four shots.

Freshman guard DeAnte' Dennis scored all 17 of his points in the first half to help keep CC in front.

The Tigers shot a fraction better than 58 percent from the floor which allowed them to play with a lead for nearly 32 minutes.

The Blues hit four of their first five three-point shots and opened a 14-9 lead, their largest of the game. However, a 12-2 surge gave CC the lead and the confidence it could play with its nationally-ranked opponent.

Jonas tied the score at 14-14 when he hit a floater over Whitman's 7-foot-2 center Bryce Mulder, and after the Blues hit a pair of free throws, Dennis drove to the rack against Mulder and his three-point play gave the Tigers a 17-16 lead.  

JJ Woods hit a turnaround jumper on the left side to give CC a three-point cushion, then Dennis scored for from the right side to put the Tigers up by five.

Not only did the Tigers handle Whitman's relentless pressure for 40 minutes, they survived a 35-point performance from Andrew Vickers, who went 9-for-12 from behind the arc.
 

Colorado College Standouts
Nabeel Elabdeia finished with 11 points for the Tigers.
Scott Cunningham added 10 points and led CC with five assists.
 
Whitman Standouts
Trevor Osborne hit four three-pointers and finished with 17 points.
Darne Duckett finished with seven assists.
 
Game Notes
CC finished with a 43-36 advantage on the glass.
The Tigers improved to 2-3.
Whitman slipped to 5-2.
 
Next for the Tigers
Colorado College returns to action on Tuesday, Dec. 3, when the Tigers play their final non-conference game of the season at Division II Metropolitan State University of Denver.