Colorado State University Athletics
Colorado State
UNLV
UNLV Downs Rams, 76-59
1/30/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 30, 2007
Visiting UNLV used a 12-3 run to end the first half and hand Colorado State's men's basketball team a 76-59 loss in Moby Arena Tuesday night before 5,124 fans.
Colorado State had battled back from a nine-point deficit to tie the game at 25 - the fifth and final tie of the game - before UNLV answered by outscoring the Rams, 12-3, the final four minutes of the half.
"I thought the first half dictated the game," said Rams' coach Dale Layer.
UNLV opened the game with a stifling pressure defense, forcing CSU into 21 turnovers - 16 in the first half.
"Their pressure had us back on our heels. Every time we made a run, they hit a big `three,'" Layer said. "We just did not respond to their pressure. That's the difference: their pressure versus our lack of poise. Their defense was spectacular. You can't have those turnover problems and expect to beat a really good team."
After the Rebels took a 37-28 lead to intermission, Colorado State threatened early in the second half, closing to within four points, 39-35, on a three-pointer by Tim Denson with just more than 16 minutes left in the game. UNLV answered with five straight points by guard Wink Adams, and CSU would come no closer the rest of the way.
The teams traded three early leads before Adams put the Rebels on top, 14-11 with 13 minutes, 27 seconds left in the first half on a three-pointer. UNLV would never trail again in the game, though CSU would tie the contest the final time at 25.
Adams finished with a game-best 17 points, while teammate Wendell White added 16, the only two Rebels to score in double figures. Stephan Gilling led Colorado State with 13 points, while guard Cory Lewis and forward Jason Smith, the Rams' All-American candidate, each scored 12 points. Smith led all rebounders with 10. Center Stuart Creason added 10 points.
UNLV held CSU to just 36.5 percent shooting from the floor, and 22 percent behind the arc. Colorado State made only 4-of-18 three-point tries. CSU was efficient at the free throw line, making 17-of-21 tries.
UNLV, meanwhile, shot 48 percent from the floor and 50 percent behind the arc. Colorado State won the rebounding battle, 39-28, but turnovers proved too much to overcome for the Rams.
The loss drops the Rams to 14-6 overall, 4-4 in Mountain West Conference play. UNLV, which cracked the national rankings at No. 25 in the coaches' poll this week, is now 19-4, 6-2. Colorado State returns to action Saturday, playing host to New Mexico at 4 p.m. in Moby Arena. Tickets are available by calling 1-800-491-RAMS, or online at CSURAMS.com.
