Colorado State University Athletics
Aztecs Hold Off Rams, 84-77
1/25/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
The Colorado State men's basketball squad cut a 19-point second-half deficit to three points with 3:05 to play but San Diego State hit 7-of-8 free throws in the final two minutes to seal an 84-77 win over the Rams on Monday night in San Diego.
SDSU built an 11-point halftime lead and began the second half on an 8-0 run to lead 52-33 with 18:04 to play in the game. The Rams, however, would not go away and used a 12-0 run to get back into the game and, following a Micheal Morris dunk found themselves trailing 75-72 with 3:05 on the clock.
SDSU then hit 7-of-8 free throws and had a timely jumper by Chris Walton to seal the seven-point win.
Center Matt Nelson paced CSU's offense with 23 points on 8-of-11 shooting on the night while playing for 34 minutes.
Freshman Jason Smith recorded 18 points for the Rams while tying for team honors with Micheal Morris with seven rebounds in the game. Morris also netted a team-best four assists for the Rams, as well.
As a team, CSU shot 52 percent (26-of-50) from the floor while hitting 6-of-14 three-pointers. San Diego State was 28-of-53 from the floor for 53 percent and hit 9-of-17 threes.
The Aztecs were led by Walton with 23 points on 10-of-11 shooting. Marcus Slaughter added 18 on the night for SDSU.
Colorado State falls to 9-9, 1-4 MWC on the year and will travel to Laramie, Wyo. to face the University of Wyoming on Saturday, Jan. 29. Tip time is scheduled for 1 p.m.
