Colorado State University Athletics
Rams Look For Series Sweep Against New Mexico
2/1/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 1, 2007
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GAME NO. 21
COLORADO STATE (14-6/4-4)
vs. NEW MEXICO (13-10/2-6)
Saturday, Feb. 3, 2007 | Fort Collins, Colo. | Moby Arena (8,745) | 4:05 p.m. MT | CSTV
THE MATCHUP
Colorado State will be looking to sweep the season series from New Mexico for the first time since the 1992-93 season when the Rams square off with the Lobos Saturday afternoon in Moby Arena (CSTV/Colorado State Sports Network). The Rams suffered back-to-back losses to Wyoming (75-70) and UNLV (75-59) in their last two games shooting only 39.1 percent from the floor in the setbacks. Jason Smith has led the Rams this season averaging 16.5 points and 9.4 rebounds per game in his junior campaign. Ram center Stuart Creason has been a force defensively for the Rams, blocking 22 shots in his last four games. Creason currently ranks 18th in the nation with 2.7 blocks per game on the year.
ABOUT NEW MEXICO
The Lobos snapped a three-game losing streak Tuesday night with a 91-83 win over Wyoming in Albuquerque improving their record to 13-10, 2-6 MWC. New Mexico will be in search of its first road win of the year on Saturday having gone 0-7 in road contests this season. J.R. Giddens leads UNM with a 16.3 point scoring average while pulling down 6.3 rebounds per game on the year. Tony Danridge is second on the squad with 12.9 points per game shooting better than 54 percent from the floor this season. The Lobos rank second in the MWC scoring 76.7 points per game, thanks in large part to more than 9.13 three-pointers made per contest.
SINCE 1902
Colorado State is in the school's 103rd season of intercollegiate competition in 2006-07. CSU has a cumulative record of 1,055-1,075 in 2,130 previous games dating back to 1902.
ALL-TIME MOBY RECORD
Colorado State holds an all-time record of 423-167 (.717) in Moby Arena.
MOBY UNDER LAYER
Colorado State holds a 67-30 overall record in home games during Dale Layer's six seasons.
Season Games Record
2006-07 10 8-2
2005-06 15 9-6
2004-05 15 11-4
2003-04 12 8-4
2002-03 18 14-4
2001-02 14 7-7
2000-01 13 10-3
Totals 97 67-30 (.691)
THE RAMS IN FEBRUARY
Colorado State holds a 11-33 record in the month of February under head coach Dale Layer. CSU has finished 3-4 in February last season.
ON SATURDAYS
The Rams are 40-44 in games played on Saturday during coach Dale Layer's tenure at Colorado State. CSU is currently 6-1 in games played on Saturday this season including wins over Montana State Northern, Kansas State, Colorado, Chattanooga, New Mexico and BYU and a loss to San Diego State.
SHOOTING... THE KEY TO SUCCESS
The main difference between a win and a loss this season for the Colorado State basketball team has been the team's shooting percentage. In 14 wins the Rams have hit at a 51.2 percent clip from the floor while shooting 40.8 percent from three-point range. In contrast, CSU is only shooting 44.0 percent in six losses while hitting at a 31.6 percent rate from long range in those games.
WELCOME TO THE BLOCK PARTY
Colorado State has outblocked 16 of 20 opponents this season and has only been outblocked once (Colorado). Opponents have outblocked the Rams only one time in the last 32 games versus Mountain West Conference opponents (San Diego State, 2/4/06). CSU currently leads the MWC and ranks 18th nationally blocking 5.7 shots per game.
OWNING THE BOARDS
Colorado State has been dominant on the boards so far this season. The Rams have outrebounded opponents in 17 games this year while tying opponents on the glass twice. CSU leads the Mountain West with a 5.9 rebounding advantage per game. Only once (Kansas State) has Colorado State lost the rebounding edge this season.
AMONG THE BEST STARTS
Despite losses in their last two games, CSU's 14-6 record is tied for the eighth-best start, after 20 games, in school history. CSU's 17-3 mark in 1997-98 marks the best-ever start while CSU has been 16-4 three times and 15-5 three times. The Rams' record matches their 2002-03 and 1971-72 start of 14-6. A win on Saturday would tie CSU for the seventh-best record after 21 games at 15-6 while a loss would put them in ninth at 14-7.
NOTING THE UNLV GAME
- Jason Smith recorded his 16th career double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. He is now tied with Gary Rhoades for fifth-place in career double-doubles at CSU.
- With four blocks, Stuart Creason surpassed Rich Strong for 7th place in career blocks. He now has 112.
- Stephan Gilling led CSU in scoring for just the third time in his career and the second time this season.
- Jason Smith's 3-for-8 shooting performance from the floor marked the first time in his last 12 games that he has not shot 50 percent or better.
- The 17-point setback was CSU's worst loss since Utah beat the Rams in 2005, 75-52.
- CSU's five points off the bench ties the lowest bench scoring output of the season.
- CSU's 59 points is a season low and marks the lowest point total since the Rams scored 52 in the quarterfinals of the MWC Tournament vs. San Diego State a year ago.
- CSU's .365 field goal percentage is a season low and the lowest since they hit .344 vs. UNLV on Jan. 18, 2006.
- CSU's 19-point deficit in the second half was the Rams' largest deficit since Feb. 1, 2006 when they trailed Air Force by 23.
BLOCKING SHOTS...SINCE 2002
Colorado State has recorded at least one blocked shot in every game dating back to Jan. 28, 2002, a span that encompasses 119-straight games.
LOOKING AHEAD
CSU travels to Salt Lake City to face Utah on Wednesday, Feb. 7. Tip-off is 7 p.m. for the game televised on the Mtn.
PLAYER TIDBITS & TRENDS
#3 Xavier Kilby
• Kilby is averaging 3.8 rebounds per game in his last four contests.
• Has scored in eight consecutive games.
#4 Cory Lewis
• Lewis has had an assist in 49 of 50 games in his career including 44 multi-assist games.
• Lewis has recorded an assist in 48 straight games.
• Has recorded multiple assists in 24 consecutive games.
• Has led CSU in assists 39 times in his career.
• Has played 30 or more minutes in 34 of 50 career games at CSU.
#12 Tim Denson
• Denson has recorded an assist in all 20 games this year.
• Has had a rebound in 17 straight games after getting no rebounds in his first three contests.
• Has had three or more assists in his last five games.
#14 Jason Smith
• Scored in double figures in 58 of 77 career games.
• Has had four or more rebounds in 38 straight games.
• Has had six or more rebounds in 28 of his last 33 games.
• Has started in 51 consecutive games.
• Has shot 50 percent or better from the field in 15 of 20 games this year.
#30 Stuart Creason
• Creason has posted four or more rebounds in each game this season.
• Has multiple blocks in 15 of his last 17 games.
• Has 22 blocks in his last four games.
• Has shot 50 percent or better from the floor in 17 of 20 games.
#33 Stephan Gilling
• Has hit a three-pointer in 42 of 50 games and has had multiple three-pointers in 30 games.
• Has had multiple three-pointers in his last nine games.
SEEING DOUBLE
Jason Smith's 12-point, 10-rebound performance versus UNLV marked the 16th time in his career he has double-doubles in scoring and rebounding. The junior now ranks fifth in all-time double-doubles in school history. Following is a list of the top double-dippers at CSU:
1. Mike Childress (1969-71) - 33
2. Bob Rule (1965-67) - 19
3. Pat Durham (1986-89) - 18
4. Sonny Bustion (1963-65) - 17
5. Gary Rhoades (1970-73) - 16
Jason Smith (2004-07) - 16
7. Rick Fisher (1970-71) - 12
8. Rich Strong (1982-86) - 11
TELEVISION STARS
Colorado State will play on television more times this season than they ever have in the history of the program. Fans will be able to catch the Rams at least 19 times on television this season. CSU will play on the mtn. 15 times and on CSTV and Fox Sports Net twice.
SHADOW APPEARS AT CSU
Nevil "The Shadow" Shed, one of the stars on Texas Western's 1966 NCAA championship team, spent more than two hours talking to CSU's men's basketball team Wednesday night. Shed was in town as part of the university's celebration of Black History Month, and the night before his campus events, had dinner with players and coaches, then spoke about life lessons learned through athletics, the movie, and his playing career. Shed was a starter for coach Don Haskins' `66 Miners which beat Kentucky in the NCAA championship and one of the central figures in the movie "Glory Road," released a year ago, which detailed the rise of the first national champion which featured five African-American starters. Shed has been an instructor at the University of Texas-San Antonio for nearly three decades and also works for the San Antonio Spurs in various roles. He formerly played in the NBA for the Boston Celtics, then was a college assistant basketball coach at his alma mater, along with stops at Wyoming then UTSA.
WINNING IS IN THE BALANCE
A balanced scoring attack has proven to be a key to the Rams' success this season. In CSU wins, top scorers Cory Lewis and Jason Smith combine for 34.6 percent of CSU's scoring while, in Ram losses, the duo accounts for 44 percent of Ram points.
RAMS ATOP LEAGUE RANKINGS
CSU's Jason Smith is the MWC leader in rebounding (9.4 rpg) while Stuart Creason is the league's best in blocking shots (2.70 bpg). In conference games, Smith and Creason rank first and second, respectively, in field goal percentage (.650 and .619). Meanwhile, Creason is the also the league's leader with 4.13 blocks per game in conference play and sophomore guard Stephan Gilling ranks first in the MWC with 3.00 three-pointers made per game in conference action. As a team, the Rams are leading the Mountain West in rebounding margin (+ 5.9) and blocked shots (5.65 bpg) while leading the conference in field goal percentage in conference games shooting at a .496 clip.
HOME VS. ROAD
Colorado State is currently shooting 170-of-229 (.742) from the free throw line at home while hitting just 160-of-238 (.672) charity shots on the road. CSU also commits 19.0 turnovers per game away from home and only 16.4 per game in Moby Arena.
FOES UNDER 40
Colorado State is 7-1 when holding an opponent to less than 40 percent shooting from the floor including:
Date Game FG-A Pct.
Nov. 15 Rice 17-49 .347
Nov. 18 Montana State Northern 21-54 .389
Nov. 20 Boise State 19-52 .365
Dec. 6 Northern Colorado 20-53 .377
Dec. 9 Colorado 21-60 .350
Dec. 29 Alabama State 20-54 .370
Dec. 30 Chattanooga 22-64 .344
Jan. 17 TCU 20-58 .345
RAMS PLUS 50
Colorado State is 9-1 when shooting better than 50 percent from the floor this year including:
Date Game FG-A Pct.
Nov. 18 Montana State Northern 32-58 .552
Nov. 29 Denver 29-55 .527
Dec. 2 Kansas State 27-51 .529
Dec. 18 North Dakota State 26-52 .500
Dec. 29 Alabama State 25-47 .532
Dec. 30 Chattanooga 25-50 .500
Jan. 3 Air Force 30-55 .545
Jan. 6 New Mexico 31-49 .633
Jan. 9 Utah 22-42 .524
Jan. 20 BYU 34-60 .567
CONSECUTIVE FREE THROWS
Following is a list of consecutive free throws made by current Colorado State players along with their all-time longest streak at CSU:
Player Current All-Time
Cory Lewis 1 20
Jason Smith 0 19
Stuart Creason 4 11
Freddy Robinson 6 11
Tim Denson 4 9
Stephan Gilling 0 6
Tyler Smith 1 5
Xavier Kilby 5 5
Jordan Surratt 0 1
QUICK STARTS ARE IMPORTANT
Colorado State has won 11-straight games when leading at the half dating back to Mar. 4, 2006 when CSU led Air Force at the break 31-26 before losing 63-59.
QUICK STARTS PART II
Colorado State is currently 10-1 this season when leading at the first media timeout. In fact, the team leading at the media timeout usually wins the game. Only three times this year (vs. Colorado, vs. Denver and vs. TCU) has the team trailing at the first break won the game. CSU is 1-1 this season when tied at the first media timeout.
ALREADY EQUALING LAST YEAR
Colorado State's four conference wins after eight games already ties the Rams' four-win total from the entire season last year. Individaully, Cory Lewis has already equaled his three-pointers made from last year (26) while Stuart Creason has made 79 field goals, compared to only 72 last season. Creason has also surpassed last season's totals in rebounding (123/103), blocks (54/38) and points (213/212).
KEEP THOSE FANS AT HOME
Colorado State is currently 1-5 when the attendance is over 6,300 fans and 13-1 when the attendance falls below 6,300. CSU's only win in front of a big crowd this year came at New Mexico, in front of 12,788 fans.
CSU BASKETBALL ADDS THREE
Colorado State head coach Dale Layer today announced that three players have signed National Letters of Intent to play basketball at Colorado State.
Jesse Woodard (6-1, 190, Guard, Compton, Calif./Centennial HS)
Jesse Woodard was ranked as a top 30 player in the nation and was a top five West Coast point guard at Centennial High School in Compton, Calif. He averaged 10 points, four rebounds and seven assists for Centennial HS and helped his team reach the sectional finals as a junior. He competed for the Compton Magic AAU team and was a three-time all-star at the renowned Adidas All-Star camps. Woodard chose CSU over Iowa State, Virginia Tech, Utah and UNLV.
Shane Edwards (6-7, 190, Forward, Gilbert, Ariz./Northeastern JC)
Shane Edwards averaged eight points and five rebounds in his freshman season at Northeastern Junior College in Sterling, Colo. Currently, Edwards is averaging better than 20 points, 10 rebounds per game for the Plainsmen after helping the team to a 30-4 overall record and a top 20 ranking in 2005-06. The athletic 6-7 forward was widely regarded as one of the best high school athletes to come out of the State of Arizona, sporting a wing span of 7-feet, one-inch. Edwards played at Mountain Pointe High School before coming to NJC.
Omar Leary (5-10, 170, Guard, Portland, Ore./Northeastern JC)
Leary, a 5-10, 170 point guard, averaged 10 points, four assists and two steals per game for Northeastern Junior College in Sterling, Colo., as a freshman in 2005-06. The Portland, Ore., native was regarded as one of the top 10 players to come out of Oregon as an all-city and all-state selection for Lincoln High School in Portland. He is regarded as one of the best point guards in the western U.S. coming out of NJC after helping the Plainsmen to a 30-4 record as the team's starting point guard in 2005-06.
THE GREEN MACHINE
Following a vote by the student body at Colorado State, the CSU student section will be referred to as "The Green Machine" in all 2006-07 home basketball contests.
CSU BASKETBALL TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets to all home games are available by calling 1-800-491-RAMS or online at CSURAMS.com, or at any King Soopers or City Market grocery store location throughout the state of Colorado.
MWC TOURNAMENT TICKETS NOW ON SALE
Fans planning to follow Colorado State University's men's and women's basketball teams to the Mountain West Tournament in Las Vegas can purchase tickets to the event through the Rams' athletic ticket office. The tournament runs March 7-10 at the Thomas & Mack Center on the campus of UNLV. Reserved all-session tickets are available on line at CSURAMS.com. Tickets are $165 for all men's and women's games. Single-session men's tournament tickets are only available for purchase beginning Monday, Mar. 5 at the Thomas & Mack Center box office and are $37 for lower bowl seats, $27 for upper bowl seats. CSU students can purchase discounted tickets for the tournament only at the Thomas & Mack Center box office. Students must have a valid CSU ID. Tickets are $17 per session in the lower bowl, $12 for the upper bowl.
