Colorado State University Athletics
Colorado State
San Diego State
Rams drop regular-season finale at San Diego State
3/4/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
March 4, 2009
By John Manuszak
Athletic Media Relations
SAN DIEGO, Calif. - Playing in their final regular season game, seniors Marcus Walker and Willis Gardner combined for 35 points, but it wasn't enough as Colorado State fell 68-59 to San Diego State on Wednesday night at Cox Arena.
San Diego State, which picked up its 20th win of the season, used a 13-4 run midway through the second half to take a 12 point lead with 7:25 remaining in the game. The Rams would use a small 5-0 burst to get within seven points (62-55) with 1:09 remaining before the Aztecs sealed the game with six free throws in the closing minute.
"I thought our kids fought hard tonight," said Head Coach Tim Miles. "We stayed within striking distance but a few things here and there like a missed layup, some turnovers, and a failed block out were just too much to overcome."
With Wednesday's loss, the Rams (9-21, 4-12 MWC) are now locked into the eighth seed in the upcoming Mountain West conference tournament which will begin next week at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nev. The Rams will meet the No. 9 seed Air Force Falcons (9-19, 0-15 MWC) in the opening game of the tournament on March 11 with tipoff set for 3 p.m. MT.
"Well we've been in that game before and we won it last year," said Miles. "If you can win that play-in game, and by no means are we overlooking Air Force at all, then you have your legs under you for the second game when you play the top seed. Maybe that gives you a little more juice and you can get a little ahead and then who knows. It was tough to beat Air Force at home and on the road, so we know beating them on a neutral floor will also be a challenge."
Walker tallied 24 points, marking his eighth straight game with at least 15 points as the senior guard averaged 21.4 points per game in his final eight games of the regular season. Gardner scored nine of his 11 points in the first half, while Travis Franklin added eight rebounds and five points.
Ryan Amoroso and Tim Shelton led four Aztecs in double figures as both players tallied 14 points. Kyle Spain added a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds while Lorrenzo Wade added 10 points.
San Diego State (20-8, 10-5 MWC) opened the game scoring the first seven points as the Aztecs quickly took an 11-point lead (14-3) less than 6 minutes into the contest. SDSU would lead by as many as 10 with 9:35 left in the period before the Rams began to chip away at their lead. A 6-0 run late in the first half brought the Rams within three (34-31) at the 1:40 mark and SDSU would keep that slim lead as the two teams went to intermission. Walker and Gardner combined for 22 of Rams 33 points in the first half as the two combined for 9-16 shooting from the floor.
