Colorado State University Athletics
Colorado State
TCU
CSU Advances to Quarterfinals With Win Over TCU
3/7/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
March 7, 2006
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DENVER - The Colorado State men's basketball team won a dogfight Tuesday night defeating TCU 64-60 in the opening round of the 2006 Mountain West Conference Tournament in Denver.
The Rams hit four free throws in the final 1:07 and forced TCU to miss five baskets to move a 60-60 tie to a four-point CSU victory in front of 3,823 fans at the Pepsi Center.
TCU led by as many as four points midway through the first half on a Judson Stubbs layin to put the Horned Frogs up 17-13 with 8:45 to go in the opening frame. CSU then responded with a 10-0 run sparked by five of Sean Morris' 11 points to open the stretch that sent the Rams into the lead 23-17 with 4:09 to go in the first.
TCU cut the CSU lead to one at the halftime break and used a 9-2 run in the second to take a 40-37 lead with 14:25 to play in the contest.
CSU responed by rattling off its second 10-0 run of the game to regain a 47-40 advantage at the 11:19 mark.
TCU would not go quietly however, tying the game four more times including a 60-60 score following a layup by Nile Murry with 1:43 to play.
TCU's Brent Hackett then stole the ball on the ensuing possession from CSU point guard Cory Lewis but Stubbs missed a jumper on the other end and fouled Ram forward Michael Harrison sending the junior to the line with 40 seconds to play. Harrison hit his second of two double bonus free throws to give the Rams the lead while watching the Frogs miss four more shots on the other end to seal the game for the Rams.
Jason Smith added two late game free throws and Cory Lewis notched another to put the game out of reach for the MWC's newest addition.
"I think both teams played with emotion and with big hearts", commented CSU head coach Dale Layer following the game. "I thought it was ugly at times. I thought both teams had some jitters."
CSU's Freddy Robinson led the Rams with 16 points while Harrison registered 12. Smith and Morris each had 11 to round out four Ram players in double figures on the night. Smith led the way on the glass with eight rebounds while Cory Lewis dished out a game-high nine assists tying for third all-time in the Mountain West Tournament.
"It means a lot", said Harrison of Tuesday's win. "Every game you play to win, and we're out her playing for our two seniors. We want to keep the season going as long as possible."
The Rams will get their chance to keep their season going when they face No. 1 seed San Diego State Thursday at noon in Denver's Pepsi Center. The game will be televised on ESPN+Plus.
