Colorado State University Athletics
Colorado State
Arkansas Tech
Rams Conclude Non-Conference Slate With Win Over Arkansas Tech
12/30/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 30, 2005
Fort Collins - Colorado State moved to its best men's basketball start since 1997-98 with an 83-56 win over visiting Arkansas Tech Friday night in Moby Arena, running the Rams' record to 11-2.
The Rams broke the game open with a 17-4 run the final three minutes, 45 seconds of the first half to take command of the game. Trailing 30-27, reserve guard Sean Morris keyed the rally with eight points and CSU took a 41-34 lead to intermission. The Rams then outscored the visiting Wonder Boys, 20-5, the first nine minutes of the second half to take a commanding 22-point, 61-39 lead and were never challenged. The Rams made six of their first seven field goals to open the second half.
CSU led by as many as 33 in the game, when center Stuart Creason's two free throws with just under seven minutes to play gave the Rams a 74-41 lead.
"Our defense the last four minutes of the first half, we just turned things around," said Rams' coach Dale Layer. "That definitely fueled our offense. I thought our pressure wore them down."
Creason, a 7-foot center from Coppell, Tex., had his finest game of the season by scoring a team-most 16 points and game-best 11 rebounds.
"That's the best he's played in a while," Layer said.
The teams traded five leads in the first half before the Rams took the lead for good on Cory Lewis' layin with just more than two minutes to play in the half, 32-30. Colorado State would never trail again.
Rams' forward Jason Smith scored 14 points - including 10 of the team's first 18 - in the game, the only other Ram in double figures. Layer used all 11 players dressed for the game, and each scored.
Colorado State's defense, Layer said, turned the game around. CSU held Arkansas Tech to just 36 percent from the floor, including only 24 percent the second half when the Wonder Boys made only 9-of-37 field goals. CSU made only 10 turnovers, the lowest figure of the season by the Rams.
The Rams will now focus on Mountain West Conference action. Colorado State plays four of its first five conference games on the road, beginning Jan. 4 at San Diego State and three nights later at New Mexico. CSU opens the home conference season against defending league champion Utah - which advanced to the final 16 teams in the 2005 NCAA Tournament - Jan. 14 in Moby Arena.
Tickets are available by calling 1-800-491-RAMS, or on line at CSURAMS.com. Tickets to all CSU games are also available at any King Sooper or City Market grocery store location throughout the state of Colorado.
