Colorado State University Athletics
Colorado State
CSU Pueblo
Ram Basketball Opens Season With 76-67 Victory
11/10/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 10, 2006
Fort Collins, Colo. - Colorado State transfer Tyler Smith received a warm welcome to Fort Collins Friday night as the junior led the Rams to a come-from-behind 76-67 victory over CSU-Pueblo in the season-opening contest in Moby Arena. Smith finished with a game-high 26 points, 18 of which came in the second half sparking the Rams' rally from a halftime deficit.
CSU, trailing by five at the halftime break, broke open a back-and-forth game in the second half when Smith made back-to-back lay-ins, the latter followed by a foul and free throw to give CSU a 52-47 lead with 8:38 to play in the contest. CSU would hold that lead for the remainder of the game and, following a 10-1 run, would take a 70-58 lead, their largest of the game, with 1:45 to go.
The Rams held the visiting ThunderWolves at bay for the rest of the night, capturing a 76-67 victory in front of 3,696 opening-day fans at Moby Arena.
"They gave us everything we could handle," commented CSU Head Coach Dale Layer following the game about their opposition. "I thought the game turned defensively in the second half. I thought our intensity and aggressiveness was much better."
Smith's 26 led the Rams on the night. The Ram newcomer was 9-of-19 from the floor including a 2-of-5 night from three-point range and a 6-of-7 evening from the free throw line.
"I just went out there and did what I did to help my team win," commented Tyler Smith. "Coach kept calling my number, so he had confidence in me. I didn't want to let him down."
Junior forward Jason Smith pieced together 19 points on 7-of-13 shooting. The preseason all-MWC pick also grabbed a game-high seven rebounds and had two blocks in the game.
CSU-Pueblo point guard Major Willette led the ThunderWolves with 22 points including three three-pointers. CSUP shot 9-of-20 from long range on the night, keeping them in the ballgame throughout.
CSU was 27-of-55 (.491) from the floor while hitting 4-of-10 (.400) from long range and 18-of-24 (.750) from the free throw line. CSU-Pueblo hit at a .468 (22-of-47) clip on the night and made 14-of-20 (.700) free throws on the evening.
The Rams will travel to Spokane, Wash., next week to meet Baylor in the first round of the NIT Tip-Off Classic on Tuesday evening. The Rams will face the Bears at 7 p.m. MT and will play either Rice or Gonzaga the following evening. All the action can be heard on 600 KCOL or 560 KLZ via the Colorado State Sports Network.
