Men?s Basketball Preview ? Game 21: Air Force

Rams Update: Colorado State had its three-game Mountain West winning streak snapped on Saturday night falling to the University of New Mexico, 63-51, in Albuquerque. The Rams boasted just one player in double figures as G Dwight Boatner tied his career high with 11 points for the second straight game. The game marks the first time in 18 contests that CSU has had just one player dip into double-figures. With the setback, the Rams are now 11-9, 3-4 MWC heading into Monday night?s tilt with Air Force.

One Shy: Colorado State played three consecutive overtime games - all wins - in establishing a three-game win streak. The three extra-frame games was one shy of the NCAA record held by three teams, most recently Illinois State in 1985. It was the first time in school history the Rams had played three overtime games in a row.

MWC Win Streak: With consecutive wins over San Diego State, UNLV and Wyoming, the Rams captured three MWC wins in a row for the first time under fourth-year coach Dale Layer. The only other time the Rams won as many as three MWC games in succession came in1999-2000, when Colorado State won four in a row under former coach Ritchie McKay, now the head coach at the University of New Mexico.

12th Lineup: The absence of C Matt Nelson (right knee sprain) prompted Rams? coach Dale Layer to use the 12th starting lineup of the year in Saturday?s loss to New Mexico. The lineup included one junior (F Matt Williams), two sophomores (F Freddy Robinson and G Micheal Morris) and two freshmen (C Steven Verwers and G Dwight Boatner). The start marks Boatner?s first since Dec. 22 at South Florida while the lineup featured two freshmen for the first time since Feb. 22, 2003 at Wyoming (Michael Morris, Shelton Johnson).

The Boat: Freshman G Dwight Boatner has been instrumental in the team?s overtime wins over UNLV and Wyoming. He scored 11 points - his career high - in each of the wins and added 11 again in Saturday night?s loss to New Mexico. Against Wyoming, he had a steal, drove downcourt, bounded the ball off the backboard and caught the rebound with seven seconds remaining in the extra period and scored the game-winner on a left-handed layin. Saturday night marked the first time in his career at CSU that the freshman has led the team in scoring.

Freshmen Numbers: Boatner (11 points, 3 rebounds), C Steven Verwers - who started against Wyoming (2 points), and F Phillip Thomasson (6 points, 3 rebounds) combined for 19 points with 6 rebounds in CSU?s win over Wyoming.

Stolen Articles: Colorado State forced a season-most 12 steals in the win over Wyoming - including four by Boatner. His theft with under 10 seconds to play and ensuing layin gave the Rams a 75-74 overtime decision.

Rejected: Colorado State also had 10 blocked shots in the win over Wyoming, the second time in three games the Rams have been in double figures in blocks.

Clark Spark: Swingman Ronnie Clark was impressive during the Rams? three-game win streak. Clark scored 14 points and had a game-best 12 rebounds in the win over Wyoming - his second career double-double game in scoring and rebounding and the fourth time in his career he has been in double figures in rebounds. Clark has averaged 11 points (44 total) and 7.3 rebounds (29 total) in the past four games.

Dished: G Micheal Morris ranks among the MWC leaders in assists (70) and blocked shots (28). Morris has 19 assists in the Rams? past four games, and 11 blocked shots over the same span. Morris now has 72 career blocked shots, seventh on the school?s all-time list and most by a guard.

Nelson Joins List: Colorado State C Matt Nelson is now 11th in career scoring at Colorado State with 1,088 points. Nelson is the 15th player in school history to score 1,000 or more points in his career, and the 4th (Andy Birley, Brian Greene, John Sivesind) to have played under Rams? coach Dale Layer.

Nelson Streak: C Matt Nelson made 19-of-32 field goals, 59 percent, and had 23 rebounds in back-to-back double-double games in scoring and rebounds against San Diego State and UNLV, his most recent appearances. Nelson has 4 career double-double games, 2 in 2003-04. Nelson has now scored 20 or more points 24 times in his career including 5 in 2003-04.

Taking The Lead: Colorado State has had eight different players that have given the Rams the lead for good in their 11 victories. Following is a list of players that have given Colorado State the lead for good this season:
Game (Date) Game Scorer Score/Half Time Final Score
BYU-Hawaii (11-22-03) Clark 12-10/1st 12:37 84-53
Drake (11-29-03) Robinson 2-0/1st 19:41 76-69
Texas Southern (12-4-03 Johnson 3-0/1st 19:38 91-66
Gardner-Webb (12-6-03) Robinson 9-8/1st 13:55 89-59
Stetson (12-20-03) Nelson 10-9/1st 13:18 79-70
South Florida (12-22-03) Thomasson 43-42/2nd 14:12 66-65
Purdue (12-30-03) Morris 71-69/2nd 0:00 71-69
Pepperdine (1-3-04) Nelson 2-0/1st 19:05 91-65
San Diego State (1-24-04) Nelson 75-73/2 ot 4:39 92-82 (2 ot)
UNLV (1-26-04) Williams 79-77/1 ot 2:25 89-83 (ot)
Wyoming (1-31-04) Boatner 75-74/1 ot 0:07 75-74 (ot)

The Roster: Colorado State has a 5-2 record when coach Dale Layer has had the use of all 14 players. The Rams are 6-7 when 1 or more players have missed games due to injury.

Nelson In, Out: Colorado State is 42-40 in the past 3 seasons during C Matt Nelson?s career. With Nelson in the lineup, the Rams are 36-34 over that span, 5-8 in games Nelson has not played (1-2 in 2003-04). Colorado State is 1-8 in MWC games without Nelson.

At Home: Colorado State is 7-2 at home in 2003-04. Rams? coach Dale Layer is 39-16 all-time in home games.

Defensively Speaking: In the past two games, CSU opponents are shooting 42.6 percent from the field, hitting 43-of-101 attempts.

More Defense: In the past three games, Colorado State has allowed opponents to shoot just 22.5 percent (16-of-71) behind the three-point line.

Thomasson Heating Up: F Phillip Thomasson has hit for 13 points in CSU?s past two games including seven in the Rams? loss to New Mexico on Saturday night.

For Better of Ver-Wers: C Steven Verwers proved to be effective in CSU?s loss on Saturday hitting for four points and five rebounds versus the Lobos.

19 Missed: Injuries and illness have caused players to miss a total of 19 games to this point in the season.

Only 5: Only 5 of Colorado State?s 14 roster players have played in all 19 games, and 2 of those 5 players are freshmen. Ronnie Clark, Matt Williams, Jon Rakiecki, and 1st-year players Phillip Thomasson and Stephen Verwers have appeared in every game.

Rams On Boards: Colorado State has outrebounded 11 of 20 opponents to date. Colorado State is 9-2 in games the Rams have outrebounded the opposition.

Plus 80: Colorado State is 28-2 all-time under Dale Layer in games the Rams score 80 or more points in a game.

Opponent?s 80: The Rams are 7-2 in 2004 when holding a foe to fewer than 80 points.

On The Road: Colorado State, 20 games into the 2003-04 season, has already matched the team?s road win total of a season ago. The road breakdown during Dale Layer?s 4 seasons:
Season Overall Road 2004 11-9 3-6
2003 19-14 3-9
2002 12-18 3-9
.2001 15-13 1-8

Center Scoring: C Matt Nelson ranks 3rd in school history in career scoring by a center: Career Scoring By A Center
1. Bill Green, 1961-63 1,682
2. Rich Strong, 1983-86 1,555
3. Matt Nelson, 2002-04 1,088

Close Calls: In games decided by 10 points or less this season, the Rams are 7-3 . Colorado State is 3-0 in games decided by five points or less.

Rebound Margins: Colorado State is 4-1 when holding a double-digit rebound margin over an opponent, including:
Date Game Reb-Foe Margin
Nov. 22 BYU-Hawaii (W) 38-27 +11
Nov. 29 at Drake (W) 45-26 +19
Dec. 20 at Stetson (W) 41-27 +14
Jan. 3 Pepperdine (W) 43-33 +10
Jan. 12 Air Force (L) 29-19 +10

Foes Under 40: Colorado State is 8-0 when holding an opponent to less than 40 percent shooting from the floor.
Date Game FG-A Pct.
Nov. 22 BYU-Hawaii (W) 19-50 .380
Nov. 29 at Drake (W) 26-66 .394
Dec. 4 Texas Southern (W) 21-56 .375
Dec. 6 Gardner-Webb (W) 23-63 .365
Dec. 20 at Stetson (W) 26-67 .388
Jan. 3 Pepperdine (W) 19-55 .345
Jan. 24 San Diego State (W) 30-90 .333
Jan. 26 UNLV (W) 28-77 .364

Rams Plus 50: Colorado State is 6-2 when shooting above 50 percent from the field. Colorado State has shot .500 or better in two MWC games. The list includes:
Date Game FG-A Pct.
Nov. 22 BYU-Hawaii (W) 35-60 .583
Nov. 26 at Drake (W) 25-43 .581
Dec. 4 Texas Southern (W) 29-51 .659
Dec. 6 Gardner-Webb (W) 32-58 .552
Jan. 3 Pepperdine (W) 34-64 .531
Jan. 5 at Montana State (L) 25-49 .510
Jan. 12 Air Force (L) 20-39 .513
Jan. 24 San Diego State (W) 25-45 .556

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