Colorado State University Athletics
Colorado State
Colorado
Hot Shooting Rams Down Buffaloes, 83-82
11/21/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 21, 2005
CSU vs. Colorado Box Score
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Colorado Stdate outsacored visiting Colorado, 17-8 over the final 7 minutes of the game en route to a thrilling 83-82 win Monday night before 5,868 fans in Moby Arena.
Trailing 74-66,the Rams rallied behind the play of guard Sean Morris, who finished with a game-high 34 points. Morris, a 5-foot, 10-inch sophomore from Katy, Tex., tied the game at 79 with a minute to play on his ninth three-pointer of the game. Morris' nine treys tied the school record, and erased CU's eight-point lead.
Just more than 30 seconds later, the Rams took the lead on Jason Smith's pair of free throws. After Colorado's Richard Roby drew the Buffaloes within a point, 81-80, with 11.2 seconds to play. Just a second later Micheal Morris - Sean's older brother - hit a pair of free throws and Martane Freeman drew CU within a point on a basket with 2.3 seconds remaining.
CSU had a turnover on the ensuing inbounds play, but the Rams knocked the ball away and preserved the win, breaking a six-game losing streak to their instate rivals.
"I knew Sean was capable of going off. I just didn't think it would be tonight," said Rams' coach Dale Layer following the game of Morris' performance.
Morris came out on fire, scoring 12 points by making four three-pointers in the first five minutes of the game. But he wouldn't score again until making a free throw with 17 minutes, 15 seconds to play in the game. A minute later, he hit another pair of free throws to tie the game at 50.
From that point, CU regained the lead on Marcus Hall's three-point play. Colorado stretched the lead to nine, the largest by either team in the game, on Chris Coipeland's basket with 8 minutes, 34 seconds to play.
Morris' three-pointer cut the lead to six, but Copeland put Colorado back on top, 74-66 with 7:34 on the clock. From that point, Colorado State outscored the Buffaloes, 17-8 the rest of the way.
Colorado State had four players finish in double figures, led by Morris' career scoring night. Smith finished with 16 points and a team-most six rebounds. Michael Harrison and Cory Lewis each scored 10 points in the game.
Despite CSU classes dismissed with Thanksgiving break, Layer credited a loud and boisterous student crowd for helping his team.
"I thought the students were awesome. I thought they were incredible. They definitely got us the momentum," he said.
Colorado had five players score in double figures, led by Freeman's 17 points. The Buffaloes CSU's seven-point first half lead to lead by three at intermission, 43-40. Harrison had given the Rams a 27-20 lead with just more than 10 minutes left in the first half. But CU outscored the Rams 23-13 the rest of the half to take a three-point advantage at halftime.
The Rams return to action Wednesday night, playing host to North Dakota State at 7 p.m. in Moby Arena. Tickets are available by calling 1-800-491-RAMS, or online at CSURAMS.com. Tickets are also available at all King Soopers and City Market grocery store locations throughout the state of Colorado.
Following Wednesday night's game, the Rams face Denver University at Pepsi Center in Denver as part of the Colorado Classic. CSU and DU meet at 6 p.m., followed by Colorado and St. Mary's (Calif.).
