CSU Advances To Air Force Reserve MW Semifinals With 72-62 Win Over Fresno State
Rams close the game with a 10-3 run to move on to the semis for the eighth time in history.
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – In a tight game throughout, No. 3 seed Colorado State held off a feisty No. 6 Fresno State for a 72-62 win in the quarterfinals of the Air Force Reserve Mountain West Championship Thursday night. The Rams improved to 18-5 on the year, while the Bulldogs ended at 12-12.
The teams exchanged early baskets and leads before the Rams took the lead for good on an Adam Thistlewood triple with [10:59] to go in the first half, ast he three spurred the Rams to go on a 13-4 run to lead 28-19. However, Fresno State answered with the next six points to trim the margin back to three before CSU went into the break up 33-28.
The second half followed the first in a back-and-forth battle. The Rams built the largest lead of the game at 51-40 with [13:35] to play, but the Bulldogs chipped away and got it back down to 58-57 with [6:43] to play. CSU executed a great back-door play from P.J. Byrd to Thistlewood for a dunk and then a David Roddy jumper to make it a five-point game. After a Bulldog bucket made it 62-59 with five minutes to play, the CSU defense clamped down and helped the Rams close the game on a 10-3 run to earn the win and advance.
For the game, Colorado State finished at 52.0 percent (26-of-50) from the field and 35.0 percent (7-of-20) from the three-point arc. Fresno State was limited to 42.1 percent (24-of-57) from the floor, including 41.7 percent (10-of-24) on threes. The Bulldogs held a slim advantage on the boards, 33-32, but CSU controlled the paint, outscoring Fresno State 34-20.
The Rams had four in double figures with Isaiah Stevens with a team-best 16 points. Roddy and Kendle Moore contributed 15 each, while Thistlewood finished with 10. The Bulldogs were led by Orlando Robinson with 16 points and a game-high 10 boards.
STAT OF THE GAME
• The Rams got to the free throw line and made it count, outscoring Fresno State 13-4 at the charity stripe. In the closing minutes, CSU hit six of those free throws to seal the win.
NOTES
• Colorado State wins its first conference tournament game since 2017 when it advanced to the Mountain West championship game.
• Against Fresno State, the Rams extended their advantage to 23-18, including 6-1 under head coach Niko Medved.
• The win was Medved’s 50th as head coach at CSU.
• CSU is now 14-2 on the season when leading at the break and 16-0 when leading with five minutes to play.
• The Rams held an opponent under 70 points for the 13th time this year, going 12-1 when doing so.
• Moore finished in double digits for the 15th time this year (Rams are 14-1 when he does).
• CSU is now 15-20 in the Mountain West tournament and advances to the semifinals for the eighth time in program history.
NEXT UP
• The Rams will take on No. 2 seed Utah State in the Air Force Reserve Mountain West Championship semifinals on Friday, March 12 at 10 p.m. MT.
• The game will be televised on CBS Sports Network, with Andrew Catalon and Steve Lappas on the call.
• The audio will be on the Colorado State Sports Radio Network (along with online at CSURams.com), with Brian Roth on the call. CSU Sports Network broadcasts can be also accessed on mobile devices through the TuneIn app (free on all Apple, Android, Windows, Blackberry and Amazon Kindle devices) – once downloaded, search “Colorado St. Rams Sports Network” in the app for the games and coaches’ show broadcasts.
• The game will also have live stats on TheMW.com
– CSURams.com –
540.476.1259 (C) | john.a.martin@colostate.edu
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