Colorado State University Athletics
Colorado State
Adams State (Exh.)
Rams wrap up exhibition season with win
11/8/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 8, 2008
By John Manuszak
Athletic Media Relations
FORT COLLINS, Colo. – On Saturday night at Moby Arena, the Colorado State Rams wrapped up their brief exhibition season with an 81-55 win over Division II Adams State. Now it’s time for the real thing.
With just six days remaining before CSU’s season-opener against Montana on Friday night at home, Head Coach Tim Miles and his team, in front of 2,098 fans at Moby Arena, took advantage of their last competitive situation before regular season play begins.
“We have a lot of work to do but I feel much better about us now than I did at this point last season,” said Miles. “This year we have more size and more athleticism and that’s going to give us a much better chance this year. I think tonight gave us a true sense of what we are and what we have left to do.”
The Rams, for the second consecutive game, got off to a fast start and led throughout the entire game to post the win. They held the Grizzlies scoreless for the first 4:25 of the game and led 12-3 in the early going. Senior guard Marcus Walker, who finished with a team-high tying 15 points, had it going early as he tallied nine points on 4-5 shooting in the first eight minutes of the game.
“We moved the ball pretty well tonight and we got some open looks,” said Walker. “I think we were more comfortable tonight and that showed. But now we are 0-0 and the real thing begins Friday.”
Just as they did in their exhibition-opener on Monday night, the Rams received a balanced offensive attack. In the win, five players tallied eight or more points. In addition to Walker’s exploits, Andre McFarland had his second solid outing of the exhibition season with 11 points while Andy Ogide (15 points), Willis Gardner (12) and Adam Nigon (8) all contributed. As a team, the Rams shot .527 (29-55) from the field.
McFarland helped the Rams blow open the game to start the second half as he scored the Rams first six points of the period on back-to-back three-pointers. Those two baskets put CSU up 20 points (49-29) and the Rams would lead by at least 18 the rest of the way. The Rams biggest lead came at the 3:39 mark of the second half when they held a 75-45 lead.
Colorado State got after the Grizzlies on the defensive end of the floor as they held Adams State to just 16-49 (.327) shooting from the field including 8-27 (.296) in the first half.
One of the pleasant surprises on the evening was the CSU debut of sophomore center Dan Vandervieren. The 6-10 transfer from Purdue, who sat out last season due to NCAA transfer rules, had battled injuries throughout the summer and early going of the fall, but finally saw action in a Rams uniform. In nine minutes of play, Vandervieren tallied six points on 3-4 shooting and three rebounds.
“It was good to get Dan on the floor,” said Miles. “We’re happy to see him in uniform and in the game. He’s a solid basketball player and he can really help us. We are really looking forward to working him into our rotation on a full-time basis.”
The Rams will open their 2008-09 season on Friday night against Montana. It will mark the first of five straight home games for CSU to open the season. CSU will try to payback the Grizzlies after Montana beat the Rams last season in Missoula to open the season.
