Colorado State University Athletics
Game Notes - CSU opens home portion of MWC schedule
1/8/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 8, 2009
Complete Release in PDF Format 
MATCHUP QUICKFACTS
Senior Willis Gardner led the Rams at TCU with a career-best 23 points. The guard shot 8-10 from the floor and a perfect 6-6 from the free-throw line. Gardner has scored in double figures in three of his past four games, averaging 14.8 points on 20-38 shooting during that stretch.
In the four games that Marcus Walker has come off the bench, he has averaged 17.5 points per game. Walker averaged 15.8 points in his 10 starts. Meanwhile, his replacement in the starting lineup, freshman Jesse Carr, has bolstered his numbers, averaging 8.8 points, 3.8 assists and 1.5 steals per game in those four games.
Sophomore Travis Franklin made his first career start at TCU, where he scored four points, pulled down five boards and recorded two assists. In 12 games this season, Franklin is averaging 6.8 points per game and is the only Ram with more offensive rebounds than defensive rebounds.
After averaging 6.0 minutes and 0.6 points per game through the first 10 games of the season, junior Adam Nigon has become a major contributor off the bench for CSU. During the past five games, Nigon has averaged 20.2 minutes and has shot 10-13 (.769) from the field, averaging 5.0 points per game. He has at least one steal in each of those games.
ABOUT BYU
The Cougars come to Fort Collins with a 12-2 record, last defeating Western Oregon on Tuesday night. The Cougars have three players averaging over 14 points per game, including last season's Mountain West Conference Co-Player of the Year, Lee Cummard (17.9 ppg). Saturday's game will mark BYU's Mountain West opening game.
SERIES HISTORY
The Rams and Cougars will be meeting for the 131st time. The Rams hold an edge over the Cougars at home while the two teams have split the last four meetings at Moby Arena.
CSU overall: 46-84
In Fort Collins: 33-28
On the road: 13-56
