Colorado State University Athletics
Ram Basketball Opens MWC Tournament Versus San Diego State Thursday
3/5/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
March 5, 2007
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2007 MWC TOURNAMENT
COLORADO STATE (16-12/6-10)
vs. SAN DIEGO STATE (21-9/10-6)
Thursday, March 8, 2007 | Las Vegas, Nev. | Thomas & Mack Center (18,500) | 9:30 p.m. MT/8:30 p.m. PT | The Mtn.
THE MATCHUP
Sixth-seeded Colorado State will take on No. 3 seed San Diego State in the quarterfinal round of the 2007 Mountain West Conference Tournament Thursday night in Las Vegas. The Rams suffered a 65-47 setback to UNLV Saturday dropping them to a tie for sixth in the league standings. Junior forward Jason Smith is has been the leader of the Rams the entire season. He will bring a string of six-straight double-doubles into the tournament while leading the league in rebounding (10.0 rpg) and ranking fifth in scoring (17.0 ppg).
ABOUT SAN DIEGO STATE
San Diego State earned the third seed in the MWC Tournament via a 56-51 victory over TCU Saturday night. The Aztecs come into the tournament winners of three of their last four games led by senior guard Brandon Heath. Heath ranks second in the MWC in scoring (19.2 ppg) while ranking fourth in the league in steals and fourth in three pointers made per game (2.50 pg). SDSU is the league's best team in terms of takeaways averaging 8.03 steals per game while boasting three of the conference's top four players in the category (Heath, Richie Williams and Lorrenzo Wade).
THE SAN DIEGO STATE SERIES
Colorado State holds an overall advantage of 34-22 in the all-time series with the Aztecs however, SDSU has claimed victory in the last five meetings in in seven of the last eight games with the Rams.
THE LAST TIME VS. SDSU
Mohamed Abukar scored 19 points and San Diego State matched its best start in 22 years Saturday with a 81-66 rout of slumping Colorado State. Richie Williams added 18 points for the Aztecs (17-7, 6-4 Mountain West), who led by as many as 23 on their way to their fourth straight win. The Rams (14-9, 4-7) lost their fifth straight. Fresh off their biggest upset in 19 years, a 62-41 rout of 15th-ranked Air Force on Tuesday night, the Aztecs secured their fifth straight win over the Rams with a 24-4 run that gave them a 67-44 lead with nine minutes left. Baskets by Abukar started and ended the run, which began with the Aztecs clinging to a 43-40 lead. The run included four straight 3-pointers, two by Kyle Spain and one each from Williams and Brandon Heath (14 points). Jerome Habel added 10 points for the Aztecs. Tyler Smith led the Rams with 16 points, Jason Smith added 13 and Tim Denson had 11. Jason Smith, leading the Rams in scoring average (16.5) and rebounding (8.9) came off the bench for the second straight game.
THE RAMS IN MARCH
Colorado State holds a 10-13 record in the month of March under head coach Dale Layer. CSU is 1-6 in the third month in the last two seasons with their only win coming in a 64-60 win over TCU in the first round of the MWC tournament a year ago.
ON THURSDAYS
The Rams are 10-8 in games played on Thursday during coach Dale Layer's tenure at Colorado State. CSU will play in its first Thursday game of the year against San Diego State.
SINCE 1902
Colorado State is in the school's 103rd season of intercollegiate competition in 2006-07. CSU has a cumulative record of 1,057-1,081 in 2,138 previous games dating back to 1902.
ALL-TIME MOBY RECORD
Colorado State holds an all-time record of 425-169 (.715) in Moby Arena.
MOBY UNDER LAYER
Colorado State holds a 69-32 overall record in home games during Dale Layer's six seasons.
Season Games Record
2006-07 14 10-4
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 101 69-32 (.683)
SHARP SHOOTERS
Currently, CSU's Stuart Creason and Jason Smith are among the school's single-season field goal percentage leaders. Creason, shooting .665, is in first place while Smith, shooting .591 ranks seventh.
16-WIN SEASONS
With 16 wins in the 2006-07 season, Colorado State has achieved 16 or more wins for the 19th time in school history and for the second season in a row.
SMITH NAMED NABC ALL-DISTRICT
Jason Smith was named to the All-District team announced by the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC). Smith was joined on the first team by Nick Fazekas of Nevada, San Diego State's Brandon Heath, Keena Young from BYU, and Dan Nwaelele of Air Force. The NABC today announced all of its Division I all-district teams voted on by member coaches representing a total of 15 districts across the country. All award winners are now eligible for the NABC All-America teams, to be announced at the conclusion of the 2006-07 season.
NOTING THE UNLV GAME
- Jason Smith notched his 22nd career double-double and his sixth in a row with 12 points and 15 rebounds.
- Smith moved into the top 10 in all-time scoring at CSU.
- Cory Lewis now has 48 steals on the year, the fifth-most by a Ram in school history.
- CSU had season lows in points (47), field goal percentage (.345), three-point field goals attempted (8) and assists (7).
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 127-straight games.
PLAYER TIDBITS & TRENDS
#3 Xavier Kilby
• Kilby is 15-for-21 shooting (.714) in his last six games.
#4 Cory Lewis
• Lewis has had an assist in 57 of 58 games in his career including 52 multi-assist games.
• Lewis has recorded an assist in 56 straight games.
• Has recorded multiple assists in 32 consecutive games.
• Has led CSU in assists 46 times in his career.
• Has played 30 or more minutes in 39 of 58 career games.
• Has three or more rebounds in 22 of his last 24 games.
#5 Tyler Smith
• Smith has played 20 or more minutes in every game this season.
#12 Tim Denson
• Denson has recorded an assist in 26 of 28 games this year.
• Has had a rebound in 25 straight games after getting no rebounds in his first three contests.
#14 Jason Smith
• Has scored in double figures in 66 of 85 career games.
• Has scored in double figures in his last 11 games.
• Has four or more rebounds in 45 of his last 46 games.
• Has six or more rebounds in 34 of his last 41 games.
• Has shot 50 percent or better from the field in 21 of 28 games this year.
#30 Stuart Creason
• Creason has shot 50 percent or better from the floor in 25 of 28 games.
#33 Stephan Gilling
• Gilling has hit a three-pointer in 50 of 58 games and has had multiple three-pointers in 38 games.
• Has had multiple three-pointers in his last 17 games.
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 20 times on television this season. CSU will play on the mtn. 16 times and on CSTV and Fox Sports Net twice.
BALANCE IS KEY
Jason Smith is the only player to average in double figures scoring in games lost by CSU (17.8 ppg) while four players (Smith, Tyler Smith, Stuart Creason and Cory Lewis) average in double-digits in games won by the Rams.
ONE OF THE BEST
Colorado State forward Jason Smith has already left his mark in his junior year with the Rams. Smith is one of only five CSU players to rank in the top 10 in all-time points and rebounds and one of only three players (along with Pat Durham and Rich Strong) to rank in the top 10 in career scoring, rebounding and blocked shots.
SHOOTING LIGHTS OUT
Colorado State's team field goal percentage of .489 is among the best shooting performances in school history. This year's shooting percentage ranks fifth all-time at CSU.
1. 2002-03 .505
1995-96 .505
3. 1962-63 .494
4. 2005-06 .491
5. 2006-07 .489
SEEING DOUBLE
Jason Smith's 12-point, 15-rebound performance versus Wyoming marked the 22nd time in his career he has double-doubles in scoring and rebounding. The junior now ranks second 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. Jason Smith (2004-07) - 22
3. Bob Rule (1965-67) - 19
4. Pat Durham (1986-89) - 18
5. Sonny Bustion (1963-65) - 17
6. Gary Rhoades (1970-73) - 16
7. Rick Fisher (1970-71) - 12
8. Rich Strong (1982-86) - 11
MAN OF "STEAL"
CSU point guard Cory Lewis currently leads the Mountain West Conference in steals gathering 2.00 per game. The senior also ranks fifth in single-season steals in the CSU record books with 56 on the year.
1. David Evans, 1996 72
2. Andre McKanstry, 1999 68
3. Damon Crawford, 1994 66
4. Milt Palacio, 1999 60
5. Cory Lewis, 2007 56
SINGLE SEASON BLOCKS
CSU's Stuart Creason's 62 blocks this year already ties the fifth-highest total in school history while Jason Smith broke into the top 10 in single season blocks as well and is in ninth with 46. Following are the top single-season blocks at CSU:
1. Ryan Chilton, 1998 72
2. Michael Harrison, 2006 66
Jason Smith, 2006 66
4. Ryan Chilton, 1997 63
5. Joe Vogel,1996 62
Pat Durham, 1987 62
Stuart Creason, 2007 62
8. Joe Vogel, 1994 57
9. Jason Smith, 2007 46
10. Pat Durham, 1988 45
FOES UNDER 40
Colorado State is 9-2 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
Feb. 3 New Mexico 24-64 .375
Feb. 13 TCU 19-52 .365
Feb. 24 Wyoming 18-54 .333
RAMS PLUS 50
Colorado State is 11-3 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
Feb. 7 Utah 27-43 .628
Feb. 13 TCU 28-48 .583
Feb. 21 BYU 26-51 .510
Feb. 24 Wyoming 29-49 .592
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 0 20
Jason Smith 0 19
Freddy Robinson 1 16
Stuart Creason 0 11
Tim Denson 2 9
Tyler Smith 0 9
Stephan Gilling 0 6
Xavier Kilby 2 5
Jordan Surratt 0 1
SMITH EARNS MWC WEEKLY HONOR FOR THIRD TIME THIS YEAR
Colorado State junior Jason Smith and San Diego State senior Brandon Heath were named Mountain West Conference Men's Basketball Co-Players of the Week. This is the third weekly honor for both recipients this season. Heath has garnered eight career weekly accolades, while Smith has been awarded four for his career. Smith, a 7-0 center from Kersey, Colo., notched back-to-back double-doubles last week, setting the MWC all-time mark for rebounds in a league game in the process, as the Rams went 1-1 record in conference play. In a road loss to then-No. 21 BYU (67-76), Smith scored a team-high 20 points (on 8-of-13 shooting) and grabbed a game-best 11 rebounds. He also blocked two shots, dished out two assists vs. the Cougars. Smith followed with a 27 point and 22 rebound performance in a home win over rival Wyoming (86-68). His 22 rebounds were the most in a conference game since the inception of the Mountain West, and ties UNLV's Louis Amundson (2001, 2003-06) for the most rebounds in a single game all-time. Smith shot 7-for-10 from the field vs. the Cowboys, while also collecting three assists, two blocks. Smith's rebound total is the sixth-most in CSU history and the first time a Ram player recorded 20 or more rebounds since the 1986-87. It is also the highest number of boards for a CSU player since 1971, as well as the third highest mark in NCAA Division I this season. For the week, Smith averaged 23.5 points, 16.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.0 blocked shots per game, while shooting 65.2 percent (15-for-23) from the field.
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.
