CSU Pulls Away In Second Half For 109-80 Win Over Oral Roberts

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, November 9, 2021

CONTACT: John A. Martin, Assistant Director of Athletics Communications

(540) 476-1259 | John.A.Martin@colostate.edu

CSU Pulls Away In Second Half For 109-80 Win Over Oral Roberts

John Tonje has a career-high 31 points as the Rams win their 14th straight season opener

FORT COLLINS, Colo. – Playing in front of fans in Moby Arena for the first time in 619 days, Colorado State opened the season in impressive fashion, pulling away in the second half for a 109-80 win over 2021 NCAA Sweet 16-foe Oral Roberts Tuesday night. It was the 14th straight season-opening victory and 41st consecutive home opener win for the Rams.

For the 7,287 in attendance, they were treated to a game that was up-and-down the floor throughout, as CSU built a seven-point halftime lead, 50-43. Coming out in the second half with a pair of starters dealing with injuries, CSU had its lead dip briefly to six before an 18-6 run put the hosts up 70-52 with [13:42] to play, with the margin growing to as many 34 in the closing minutes.

For the game, CSU finished at 58.9 percent (43-of-73) from the field and 45.8 percent (11-of-24) from the three-point arc, while holding ORU to just 39.7 percent (31-of-78) from the floor and 30.0 percent (12-of-40) beyond the three-point line. The Rams won the battle of the boards, 45-36, and outscored the Golden Eagles 50-34 in the paint. CSU also had nine blocked shots, the most since the Rams had 10 at Auburn on Nov. 30, 2004.

CSU was led by junior John Tonje with a career-high 31 points on 10-of-14 from the floor and hitting all eight of his free throws. Junior Dischon Thomas came off the bench with his first college double-double of 16 points and a career-high 10 rebounds along with a career-best five assists. In his CSU debut, fifth-year Chandler Jacobs had 15 points, while junior Isaiah Stevens had 13 points and six assists in the win. Oral Roberts had four players also in double figures, led by preseason All-American Max Abmas with 20, but limited to just 8-of-22 from the field, including 1-of-9 on threes.

STAT OF THE GAME
• After committing turnovers on its first two possessions, CSU had just three the rest of the game for five, low under head coach Niko Medved and tied for ninth fewest for CSU in Moby Arena.

NOTES
• CSU now leads the overall series 4-1, including 3-0 in Moby Arena.
• This was CSU’s 30th 100-point game in history, as the Rams improved to 30-0 in those contests, including 25-0 in Moby Arena.
• The 109 points are the most since CSU had 111 in a triple-overtime win versus Tulsa on Dec. 21, 2019 and tied for the fifth most in program history.
• Tonje surpassed his previous collegiate high of 15 points in the first half, finishing the opening 20 minutes with 18
• This was the first time under Medved a player had 30 or more points in a game and the first time in the program since Prentiss Nixon had 31 at Arkansas, Dec. 5, 2017.
• The 7,287 fans in attendance were the most since the home finale in the 2016-17 season against Wyoming
• 14 Rams saw action in the season opener

NEXT UP
• The Rams return to action on Friday, Nov. 12, hosting Arkansas-Pine Bluff in Moby Arena at 8 p.m.
• The games will be streamed on the MW Network.
• The audio will be on the Colorado State Sports Radio Network (along with online at CSURams.com), with Brian Roth and Adam Nigon on the call.
• CSU Sports Network broadcasts can be also accessed on mobile devices through the Varsity Network app (free on all Apple and Android devices). Fans can use the app for instant access to free gameday audio streams and receive push notifications to remind them of games starting or upcoming audio broadcasts.