Colorado State University Athletics
Tuesday, January 2
Fort Collins, Colo.
7 pm MT
Colorado State
8-8, 1-2MW
68
vs
77
San Diego State
10-4, 2-1MW
1
2
F
San Diego State
34
43
77
Colorado State
31
37
68
Rams Home Winning Streak Snapped In 77-68 Loss to San Diego State
1/2/2018 10:53:00 PM | Men's Basketball
CSU unable to get buckets late against the Aztecs
FORT COLLINS, Colo. – Colorado State had its 11-game regular-season home winning streak snapped with a tough 77-68 loss to San Diego State, Jan. 2. With the loss, the Rams dropped to 8-8 and 1-2 in the Mountain West, while the Aztecs improved to 10-4 and 2-1 in the conference.
A three-point game at the break was close throughout the second half, with San Diego State leading by no more than eight in the final 20 minutes. CSU took a brief lead at 61-60 with 5:54 to play, but the visitors closed the game on a 17-7 run, led by Trey Kell's seven points in that stretch. CSU trailed by two with 1:42 to play on a one free throw, but Kell scored five of the next seven points for SDSU on a 7-2 run that put the game away.
Colorado State shot just 40.3 percent (25-of-62) from the floor in the game while San Diego State hit on 48.3 percent (28-of-58) of its shots, including 60.0 percent (15-of-25) in the second half. The Aztecs dominated the glass, 45-32, and utilized it for an 18-11 advantage in second change points.
Redshirt-junior guard J.D. Paige posted a season-high 22 points on 9-of-18 field goals, while redshirt-sophomore guard Anthony Bonner chipped in 13. Junior guard Prentiss Nixon was the only other Ram in double figures with 11 points. San Diego State had four players in double figures led by Jalen McDaniels with 19 points, while Jeremy Hemsley added 13.
IN THEIR WORDS
Head Coach Larry Eustachy
(Thoughts on how to overcome the three to four minute mental lapses during the game)
"It all comes down to the mental side of the game, we have been practicing really well the last three weeks, we just end up breaking down in portions of the game. This is a part of being young, "growing pains"."
Redshirt-junior J.D. Paige
(On losing the rebounding battle, which was significant)
"It was very frustrating especially the rebounding and just how hard we have been working in practice these last couple weeks, you know you want that stuff to translate, but you know the tougher team won down the stretch, that one was tough."
Redshirt-sophomore Anthony Bonner
(On playing a team like San Diego State early in the season)
"We respect them as an opponent, and obviously beating them last year on two buzzer beaters, we knew that they would come here hungry and want to win the game. I just think if we fought a little tougher down the stretch, it could have been different. We just have to get in there and practice so we can come out and be ready for our game against Fresno."
STAT OF THE GAME…
The Rams were just 10-of-17 (58.8 percent) at the free throw line in the game, but that included missing the front end of a pair of one-and-ones.
NOTES…
• CSU and San Diego State are tied at 41 wins each in the series, but the Rams still hold a 26-12 advantage at home.
• Bonner has scored in double figures in four of the last six games he has played, including two of the three conference games.
• Head coach Larry Eustachy is now 6-9 against San Diego State in his coaching career (5-8 at CSU).
• Nixon has scored 10 or more points in 14 of 15 games he has played this season, including 12 straight.
NEXT UP…
• Colorado State completes the two-game homestand when it hosts Fresno State, Sat., Jan. 6 at 3:30 p.m.
• The contest between the Rams and Bulldogs will be televised on the CBS Sports Network.
• The game will air across the Colorado State Sports Network (along with online at CSURams.com), with Brian Roth and Adam Nigon on the call.
A three-point game at the break was close throughout the second half, with San Diego State leading by no more than eight in the final 20 minutes. CSU took a brief lead at 61-60 with 5:54 to play, but the visitors closed the game on a 17-7 run, led by Trey Kell's seven points in that stretch. CSU trailed by two with 1:42 to play on a one free throw, but Kell scored five of the next seven points for SDSU on a 7-2 run that put the game away.
Colorado State shot just 40.3 percent (25-of-62) from the floor in the game while San Diego State hit on 48.3 percent (28-of-58) of its shots, including 60.0 percent (15-of-25) in the second half. The Aztecs dominated the glass, 45-32, and utilized it for an 18-11 advantage in second change points.
Redshirt-junior guard J.D. Paige posted a season-high 22 points on 9-of-18 field goals, while redshirt-sophomore guard Anthony Bonner chipped in 13. Junior guard Prentiss Nixon was the only other Ram in double figures with 11 points. San Diego State had four players in double figures led by Jalen McDaniels with 19 points, while Jeremy Hemsley added 13.
IN THEIR WORDS
Head Coach Larry Eustachy
(Thoughts on how to overcome the three to four minute mental lapses during the game)
"It all comes down to the mental side of the game, we have been practicing really well the last three weeks, we just end up breaking down in portions of the game. This is a part of being young, "growing pains"."
Redshirt-junior J.D. Paige
(On losing the rebounding battle, which was significant)
"It was very frustrating especially the rebounding and just how hard we have been working in practice these last couple weeks, you know you want that stuff to translate, but you know the tougher team won down the stretch, that one was tough."
Redshirt-sophomore Anthony Bonner
(On playing a team like San Diego State early in the season)
"We respect them as an opponent, and obviously beating them last year on two buzzer beaters, we knew that they would come here hungry and want to win the game. I just think if we fought a little tougher down the stretch, it could have been different. We just have to get in there and practice so we can come out and be ready for our game against Fresno."
STAT OF THE GAME…
The Rams were just 10-of-17 (58.8 percent) at the free throw line in the game, but that included missing the front end of a pair of one-and-ones.
NOTES…
• CSU and San Diego State are tied at 41 wins each in the series, but the Rams still hold a 26-12 advantage at home.
• Bonner has scored in double figures in four of the last six games he has played, including two of the three conference games.
• Head coach Larry Eustachy is now 6-9 against San Diego State in his coaching career (5-8 at CSU).
• Nixon has scored 10 or more points in 14 of 15 games he has played this season, including 12 straight.
NEXT UP…
• Colorado State completes the two-game homestand when it hosts Fresno State, Sat., Jan. 6 at 3:30 p.m.
• The contest between the Rams and Bulldogs will be televised on the CBS Sports Network.
• The game will air across the Colorado State Sports Network (along with online at CSURams.com), with Brian Roth and Adam Nigon on the call.
Team Stats
SDSU
CSU
FG%
.483
.403
3FG%
.450
.421
FT%
.667
.588
RB
45
32
TO
16
11
STL
8
10
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
22
FGM
9
3FGM
3
FTM
1
Pts
13
FGM
5
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Pts
11
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
G
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