CSU With Second-Biggest Comeback In Program History To Win USVI Paradise Jam Championship Over Northeastern, 71-61

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, November 22, 2021

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

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

CSU With Second-Biggest Comeback In Program History To Win USVI Paradise Jam Championship Over Northeastern, 71-61

The Rams trailed by 20 points with [17:15] left and finished the game outscoring the Huskies, 47-17, as Roddy (MVP) and Stevens are named to the All-Tournament Team

SAINT THOMAS, U.S. Virgin Islands – After being 20 points down with 17 minutes to play, Colorado State put together the second-largest comeback in school history and defeated Northeastern, 71-61, in the 2021 USVI Paradise Jam Championship game Monday night. With the dramatic win, the Rams improved to 6-0 on the season, while the Huskies fell to 3-3 on the year.

Trailing by 16 at the intermission, CSU fell behind 18 when head coach Niko Medved drew a technical foul. The Huskies converted both free throws and went up 20 at 44-24 with [17:15] to go. From there, the Rams went with full-court pressure and changed the dynamic of the game, starting with a driving layup by junior David Roddy. The Rams went on a 10-1 run over the next [4:43] to get the margin down to 10 and made it single digits on a great interior move by sophomore James Moors.

The CSU defense continued to force tough shots and turnovers while attacking on the lane on the offensive end. The Rams eventually took their first lead since the [16:14] mark of the first half on a pair of free throws by Roddy with [7:41] to play, putting CSU up 49-48. The game was again tied at 50 and then junior Isaiah Stevens scored the next four points and senior Kendle Moore canned a fast-break three to make it 57-50 at the final media timeout. Colorado State then converted its late possessions to pull away and earn the win, ending the game outscoring NU 47-17 over the final 17 minutes.

In the first half, the Rams could not find a rhythm offensively against a stingy Northeastern defense, as CSU was held to just 8-of-25 from the floor and 1-of-11 from the three. The Huskies put together a 12-0 run midway through the first half to build their lead up to 19 before going into the break leading 36-20.

Colorado State finished the game at 46.0 percent (23-of-60) from the floor, including a stellar 60.0 percent (15-of-25) in the second half. The Rams struggled from the three-point arc at 4-of-19, but converted on 77.8 percent (21-of-27) at the free throw line. Northeastern finished at 39.3 percent (22-of-56) from the field, being held to just 29.2 percent (7-of-24) in the final 20 minutes. After trailing the board battle by 14 at one point, CSU ended up down just two at 33-31. The Rams’ bench also made an impact, outscoring Northeastern, 19-0.

CSU was led by the tournament’s MVP Roddy with 27 points on 10-of-13 shooting along with a team-best seven rebounds. Stevens was also named to the All-Tournament Team after tallying 13 points, three rebounds and eight assists in the title game. Northeastern had three players in double digits, led by Jahmyl Telfort’s 18 points.

STAT OF THE GAME
• The Rams oustcored the Huskies, 20-8, in the paint in the second half.

NOTES
• The 20-point deficit was the second-most overcome in a win by CSU, trailing only last year’s 26-point rally at #23 San Diego State.
• CSU improved to 2-0 all-time against Northeastern and 4-2 against current Colonial Athletic Association schools.
• The 6-0 start for the Rams is just the fourth time in the program’s 117-year history to win its first six games of a season. One of those was 2012-13, when Medved was an assistant coach.
• Colorado State is now 6-4 in three-game, neutral-site tournament championship games and picked up their 20^th in-season tournament championship overall.
• In earning the tournament’s Most Valuable Player honor, in his three games Roddy averaged 31.0 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game while shooting 70.2 percent (33-of-47) from the floor, 53.3 percent (8-of-15) on threes and 82.6 percent (19-of-23) from the charity stripe.
• It was Roddy’s 10^th career game of 20 or more points (CSU is 9-1 in those contests).
• Stevens averaged 11.7 points, 4.0 rebounds and 8.7 assists per game, while having a 6.5 assist-to-turnover ratio, including 19 assists to just one turnover in the final two tournament games combined.

NEXT UP
• Colorado State retuns home to host in-state rival Northern Colorado on Sat., Nov. 27 at 12 p.m.
• The game will be broadcast by on KCDO Denver 3 along with streamed on the Mountain West Network and CSURams.com.
• The audio will be on the Colorado State Sports Radio Network (along with online at CSURams.com), with Brian Roth and Adam Nigon handling the broadcast.
• 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.