Colorado State University Athletics
Men's Basketball Preview - Game 27: New Mexico
3/2/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Rams Update: Colorado State closes the regular season Saturday afternoon by playing host to the University of New Mexico. Game time is 3 p.m. in Moby Arena. The Rams will be seeking to break a seven-game losing streak dating back to a 75-74 overtime win over Wyoming Jan. 31.
Senior Salute: A pair of Colorado State seniors will be honored during pregame activities Saturday. F Ronnie Clark from Arcadia, Fla., a three-year starter, and top reserve and part-time starter G Derrick Stevens from Houston, Tex., will be recognized for their contributions to Colorado State?s basketball program prior to the game with New Mexico.
1969 Team Recognition: The most successful men?s basketball team in CSU history will be honored during halftime of the Rams? game with the University of New Mexico in Moby Arena Mar. 6. Members of the 1969 team - including head coach Jim Williams - will be honored during halftime ceremonies of Colorado State?s final 2003-04 home game with New Mexico. Williams coached the team for 26 years and also served as the school?s director of athletics during the 1960?s. He guided the 1969 men?s basketball team to a 17-7 record. Colorado State earned a berth in the NCAA Tournament and defeated the University of Dayton in Midwest Region first round game. The Rams then beat in-state rival Colorado, 64-56, in the second round in Manhattan, Kan., to advance to the regional finals for the first and only time in school history. Colorado State and CU had not met on the hardwood for more than a decade prior to the meeting in postseason play.
Playing Drake University in the regional finals, Colorado State narrowly missed a chance to advance to the Final Four, losing 84-77.
Last Meeting: New Mexico used a first-half surge to lead 28-20 at intermission and won,63-51, Feb. 7 at The Pit in Albuquerque. The Rams were without the services of C Matt Nelson, absent after reinjuring his knee against UNLV Jan. 26. G Dwight Boatner led the team in scoring with 11 points and was the only Ram to score in double figures. C Stephen Verwers and G Micheal Morris tied for team honors with five rebounds each.
Streak Notes: Colorado State defeated the Lobos,74-58, to open MWC play in Fort Collins a season ago. Colorado State has not beaten New Mexico twice in a row in Fort Collins since wins over the Lobos in 1992-93 (67-65) and 1993-94 (72-770).
End Games: Colorado State is 1-2 in the final regular season games during Coach Dale Layer?s four-year career. Colorado State lost, 67-55, to end the 2002-03 regular season, and beat the Cougars, 79-75 in overtime in 2001-02. Layer?s first season, 2000-01, the Rams lost at San Diego State, 78-73 in the final regular season game.
Home End Games: The Rams are 2-1 in the final home game of the regular-season under Coach Dale Layer. Colroado State beat San Diego State, 102-89 in 2002-03, and lost in 2001-02 to UNLV in overtime, 96-91. Colorado State beat Air Force, 63-55, in 2000-01.
Last Lobos Last: Colorado State last played New Mexico in the final regular season game in 1976-77, winning 78-64 in Moby Arena. 22 Missed: Colorado State plays the team?s 27th game of the season Saturday against New Mexico. To date, the Rams have had a total of 22 games missed due to injury. The most recent absence game in last week?s game at Wyoming, when starter G Micheal Morris was absent due to a left ankle sprain.
Score First: Colorado State went the first 13 games of conference play without scoring the first points in a game. The Rams have scored first in the past three games.
Lineups: Colorado State?s wealth of injury problems has forced Coach Dale Layer to modify his starting lineup on nearly a daily basis. Last week at Wyoming, G Micheal Morris? absence (left ankle sprain) forced Layer to use his 16th different starting lineup in 26 games to date.
Nelson Numbers: C Matt Nelson has made 25-of-41 field goals, 61 percent, in the past four games. Nelson has scored in double figures seven games in a row, and has had six or more rebounds in the last six games in which he has played.
Clark Confines: F Ronnie Clark scored 10 points and had a game-high eight rebounds at Wyoming, his highest rebounding total since he grabbed 12 in the team?s first meeting with the Cowboys Jan. 31 in Fort Collins. He has scored in double figures 12 games in 2003-04. Clark has shot 50 percent or better from the floor 14 times in his career and 43 times in his career.
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)
Stevens Impact: G Derrick Stevens came off the bench to score seven points - all in the first half - of last week?s game at Wyoming. It was Stevens? highest point total in an MWC game in 2003-04. He converted 2-of-4 field goals including a three-point goal, and had two free throws, a rebound, and an assist.
Fewest Field Goals: C Matt Nelson scored 14 points in Colorado State?s game with Wyoming, making 4-of-12 field goals. It marked the 58th time in Nelson?s three-year career (16 times in 2003-04) that he has scored in double figures. The game also marked the fewest field goals that Nelson has scored in a game in his career while still finishing in double figures.
Williams Wonders: F Matt Williams scored a team-best 15 points at Wyoming, making 5-of-8 field goals, and 5-of-6 free throws along with five rebounds. Williams? point totals was his highest in a month, since he scored 15 points Jan. 31 in a win over Wyoming in Fort Collins. Williams? scoring output was the second time in the past seven games he has scored in double figures.
First Start: C Matt Nelson made his first start at Wyoming since Jan. 26 against UNLV, when the Rams beat UNLV in overtime. Nelson reinjured his right knee in that game andmissed the team?s next three contests.
Nelson On Career List: Colorado State C Matt Nelson is 11th in career scoring at Colorado State with 1,155 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 Needs Five: By scoring five points, Nelson will move into 10th place on the school?s career list, passing F Clilff Shegogg, (1967-70, 1,160 points).
Nelson Scoring Leader: C Matt Nelson is on the verge of leading Colorado State in scoring for the second season in a row. Nelson stands to become the 12th player since 1948 to lead the Rams in scoring in back-to-back seasons. By leading the team in scoring in 2004-05, Nelson could become only the seventh player in school history to lead the team in that category in three straight seasons. The list of consecutive scoring leaders since 1948 includes:
Year Player, Position Points Avg.
2004 Matt Nelson, C 319 15.2
2003 Matt Nelson, C 527 17.0
1996 David Evans, G 568 18.9
1995 David Evans, G 427 17.1
1989 Pat Durham, F 611 18.5
1988 Pat Durham, F 676 19.3
1987 Pat Durham, F 526 18.1
1986 Rich Strong, C 490 16.9
1985 Rich Strong, C 400 13.3
1984 Rich Strong, C 399 13.3
1983 Mark Steele, F 337 13.5
1982 Mark Steele, F 292 11.7
1980 Barry Young, F 397 14.7
1979 Barry Young, F 468 17.5
1978 Barry Young, F 548 20.2
1970 Cliff Shegogg, F 435 18.9
1969 Cliff Shegogg, F 400 16.6
1966 Lonnie Wright, G 459 20.9
1965 Lonnie Wright, G 434 19.7
1964 Lonnie Wright, G 353 14.1
1963 Bill Green, C 649 28.2
1962 Bill Green, C 573 21.2
1961 Bill Green, C 440 17.7
1960 Chuck Newcomb, F 395 17.2
1959 Chuck Newcomb, F 344 15.6
1958 Chuck Newcomb, F 346 13.8
1954 Dennis Stuehm, C 480 16.6
1953 Dennis Stuehm, C 296 11.4
1949 Don Dobler, F 379 10.8
1948 Don Dobler, F 281 13.1
In Moby: With one home date remaining, Colorado State is averaging 4,947 fans per game in Moby Arena. The Rams are on pace for the highest per game average since 1998.
At Home: Colorado State is 7-3 at home in 2003-04. Rams? coach Dale Layer is 39-17 all-time in home games.
Only 5: Only 5 of Colorado State?s 14 roster players have played in all 26 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 15 of 26 opponents to date. Colorado State is 9-6 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 7-6 in 2004 when holding a foe to fewer than 80 points.
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 1,155
Close Calls: In games decided by 10 points or less this season, the Rams are 7-8. Colorado State is 3-0 in games decided by five points or less.
Rebound Margins: Colorado State is 4-2 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
Feb. 9 at Air Force (L) 233-23 +10
Foes Under 40: Colorado State is 8-2 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
Feb. 9 at Air Force (L) 15-41 .366
Feb. 28 at Wyoming (L) 19-53 .358
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
Last In Colorado: The last time the conference tournament featuring Wyoming, Air Force, and Colorado State was played within the state was in 1992. Colorado State served as the host for the event, played in Moby Arena.
Pepsi Center Revisited: As a requirement for the MWC and Colorado State to co-host the NCAA men?s first/second round games in 2004, the Rams played a regular-season game in the arena, defeating Pepperdine, 91-65, Jan. 3.
And Next Season: Colorado State will play another regular-season game at Pepsi Center in 2004-05, facing nationally-ranked Oklahoma State Nov. 27.
Coaching Tenure: Colorado State coach Dale Layer is concluding his fourth year at the helm, tying for the seventh longest men?s basketball coaching tenure at the school among 18 coaches in school history.
Last Back-To-Back: Colorado State will enter the 2004 MWC Tournament in Denver on the heels of last season?s miracle run to the championship and ensuing NCAA berth. The Rams will be trying to win back-to-back first round games for the fourth time in school history, and first time since the 1995-96 seasons. Colorado State has won back-to-back opening round tournament games in 1984-85, 1988-89, and 1995-96. The 1989 squad advanced to the finals before losing but earned an at-large invitation to the NCAA Tournament.
Triple Play: Three in a row. That?s how many overtime games Colorado State played in succession including a heartstopping 75-74 win over Border War rival Wyoming before a sellout crowd in Moby Arena. F Matt Williams paced the Rams with 15 points while F Ronnie Clark had 12 rebounds. After the teams finished regulation deadlocked, G Dwight Boatner scored the game winner with under seven seconds to play following a steal when he bounced a shot off the backboard, caught his own rebound, and scored a left-handed layin with under seven seconds to play for a Rams? victory.
More Extra Work: For the first time in Moby Arena history, Colorado State played back-to-back overtime games when the Rams beat UNLV, 89-83 despite losing C Matt Nelson to injury. The Rams led by 17 points with eight minutes to play in the game when Nelson ? who had scored 20 points and had 10 rebounds ? went down in a heap at the defensive end with an aggravated knee injury. UNLV rallied to send the game into overtime, but Colorado State won by six points and was paced by F Ronnie Clark?s 10 rebounds.
Double Trouble: G Micheal Morris scored a career-most 24 points and C Matt Nelson grabbed 13 rebounds in a 92-82 double-overtime victory over San Diego State, the Rams? first conference win of the season
The Miracle In Moby: Moby Arena opened in 1966. One of the most memorable games in arena history took place a day before a new year arrived in 2004. Colorado State led by as many as 13 points before falling behind in the second half, setting the stage for the ?Miracle In Moby.? Trailing by four points with seven seconds to play, G Micheal Morris hit a three-pointer to draw the Rams within a point. F Matt Williams deflected the ensuing inbounds pass, Morris caught it in midair atop the arc and threw in a shot at the buzzer for an improbable 71-69 win over the 21st-ranked Boilermakers.
Back-To-Back: It had been more than four seasons since Colorado State had recorded back-to-back road victories. Colorado State accomplished that feat with wins at Stetson and South Florida. C Matt Nelson scored 25 points, while F Ronnie Clark had 13 rebounds and G Jon Rakiecki added six assists in the win at Stetson. The Rams played without injured G Micheal Morris and swingman Shelton Johnson but managed the team?s second road win of the year. F Matt Williams hit a free throw with under two seconds to play to provide a win at South Florida. Nelson finished with 17 points in the game while Williams had nine rebounds.
First Double-Double: Junior F Matt Williams picked an opportune time to have the finest performance of his career. Williams had the first double-double game in scoring and rebounding before a capacity crowd in Moby Arena during the Rams annual in-state battle with Colorado by scoring a career-most 26 points and 10 rebounds in the game.
Rams Win First On Road: Coach Dale Layer said when the season started the Rams needed to be a more successful team on the road in 2003-04. Colorado State wasted little time in notching the team?s first road win of the year in their first try, winning at Drake. C Matt Nelson paced Colorado State with 22 points in the victory in Des Moines.
