Colorado State University Athletics
Monday, November 19
Fort Myers, Fla. / Hertz Arena
3 p.m. MT
Colorado State
vs
Louisiana
Head Coach Niko Medved brings his Rams to Florida for their first tournament under his leadership
CSU In Florida For Three Games At Gulf Coast Showcase
11/17/2018 11:18:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Rams to take on Louisiana in opening game Monday at 5 pm ET
2018-19 Colorado State Men's Basketball
Game #4 - Colorado State vs. Louisiana (Gulf Coast Showcase)
Nov. 19, 2018 • 5 p.m. MT • Hertz Arena - Estero, Fla.
Video (pay-per-view): GulfCoastShowcase.com
Radio: Colorado State Sports Network (Play-by-Play: Matt Wozniak / Color Analyst: Adam Nigon)
Flagship: KARS 102.9 FM (Fort Collins) / Affiliates: KDCO 104.7 FM (Denver), KMTS 99.1 FM (Glenwood Springs), KMTS 96.7 FM (West Glenwood Springs), KRDO 105.5 FM (Colorado Springs), KKVT 100.7 FM (Grand Junction), KMTS/KKVT 99.5/100.3 FM (Rifle), KKVT 97.1 FM (Delta), KKVT 98.1 FM (Montrose), KRFD 100.1 FM (Sterling), KNEC 100.9 FM (Yuma), KNAB 1140 AM (Burlington), KLMR 920 AM (Lamar)
Live Stats: StatBroadcast.com
Radio: Colorado State Sports Network (Play-by-Play: Matt Wozniak / Color Analyst: Adam Nigon)
Flagship: KARS 102.9 FM (Fort Collins) / Affiliates: KDCO 104.7 FM (Denver), KMTS 99.1 FM (Glenwood Springs), KMTS 96.7 FM (West Glenwood Springs), KRDO 105.5 FM (Colorado Springs), KKVT 100.7 FM (Grand Junction), KMTS/KKVT 99.5/100.3 FM (Rifle), KKVT 97.1 FM (Delta), KKVT 98.1 FM (Montrose), KRFD 100.1 FM (Sterling), KNEC 100.9 FM (Yuma), KNAB 1140 AM (Burlington), KLMR 920 AM (Lamar)
Live Stats: StatBroadcast.com
2018-19 Rams Quick Hits
• Colorado State is under new direction, as Niko Medved has taken over the helm of the Rams' program in 2018-19. In his sixth season as a head coach, Medved has a 81-87 record overall but improved on the previous season's record in each of his five years as a head coach.
• Colorado State men's basketball concluded the 2017-18 season in the Mountain West Tournament first round and finished the year with an 11-21 overall record, including 4-14 in MW play.
• The 2018-19 season marks the 116th in the history of the Colorado State men's basketball program. The Rams are 1,254-1,252 (.500) in 2,506 games all-time.
• Colorado State basketball is hoping to earn its eighth invitation for postseason play in the last 10 years.
• CSU returns three starters and six letterwinners to this year's squad along with seven newcomers to the program.
• Overall, the Rams return three players with 23 or more starts from the 2017-18 campaign, led by Honorable Mention All-Mountain West selection Nico Carvacho. The redshirt-junior center will be expected to pace this squad along with senior guard J.D. Paige and redshirt-junior guard Anthony Masinton-Bonner.
• Also returning to the floor are three other letterwinners in redshirt-senior guard Robbie Berwick, redshirt-junior guard Lorenzo Jenkins and sophomore forward Logan Ryan.
• Among the seven newcomers, the Rams have three players who have spent at least a semester with the program. Redshirt juniors forward Zo Tyson and guard Kris Martin are anticipated to see their first playing time this fall, while redshirt-junior guard Hyron Edwards should be on the floor at the conclusion of the fall semester.
• Four freshman will make their debut for the Rams, as forwards Adam Thistlewood and Jack Schoemann and guards Kendle Moore and Sam Bannec joined the program this year.
• For broadcasting quick hits, current averages and career highs on individual players, go to the back page of the notes for a Radio/TV chart that includes that information.
The Leaders
• Colorado State Head Coach Niko Medved (Minnesota, '97) is in his first season at CSU as head coach and has a 82-87 overall record as he starts his sixth season as a head coach.
• Lousiana Head Coach Bob Marlin (Mississippi State, '81) is in his ninth season at Louisiana with a 156-113 record and 21st as a Division I head coach overall with a 381-244 record.
A Quick Look at Louisiana
• Picked to finish second in the Sun Belt preseason coaches' poll, the Rajun' Cajuns return three starters from last year's 27-7 team that earned a berth in the National Invitation Tournament, including preseason All-Sun Belt selections Jakeenan Grant (second team) and Marcus Stroman (third team). Grant was the SBC Defensive Player and Newcomer of the Year in 2017-18, while Stroman led the league and ranked fifth nationally in assists.
• Louisiana has had a tough stretch, playing at top-10 opponents Tennessee and Kansas already in the early part of the schedule, losing most recently at the No. 2 Jayhawks on Friday, Nov. 16, 89-76.
History Versus Louisiana
• This will be the second time that Colorado State and Louisiana have met on the basketball court, with CSU winning the only previous game in 1968 at Moby Arena, 78-68
• Head Coach Niko Medved has faced Louisiana once in his coaching career, losing to the Rajun' Cajuns, 80-72, in the first round of the CollegeInsider.com Tournament in 2016 while at Furman
LOUISIANA - 1-0
Home: 1-0
Date Loc. W/L Score Att.
12/14/1968 Home W 78-68
A New Leader But Familiar Face
• While he may be in his first season in charge of the program, head coach Medved is already a familiar face around Fort Collins and to Rams' fans. Medved previously was on the coaching staff from 2007-13 under two different coaches. He was a key part of recruiting players that helped the Rams to four consecutive postseason appearances, the last two in the NCAA Tournament that included a win over Missouri in 2013.
Medved vs. 2018-19 Opponents
School Overall Home Away Neut.
Air Force First Meeting
Arkansas First Meeting
Arkansas-Pine Bluff 1-0 1-0 - -
Boise State First Meeting
Colorado 0-1 - - 0-1
Colorado Christian 1-0 1-0 - -
Florida Gulf Coast 0-2 0-1 0-1 -
Fresno State First Meeting
Long Beach State First Meeting
Louisiana 0-1 0-1 - -
Montana State 1-0 1-0 - -
Nevada First Meeting
New Mexico First Meeting
New Mexico State First Meeting
Sam Houston State First Meeting
San Diego State First Meeting
San Jose State First Meeting
South Dakota 0-1 - 0-1 -
South Dakota St. 0-1 - 0-1 -
Southern Illinois 1-1 0-1 1-0 -
Toledo First Meeting
Tulane First Meeting
UC Irvine First Meeting
UNLV First Meeting
UT-San Antonio First Meeting
Utah State First Meeting
Wyoming 0-1 - 0-1 -
Totals 4-8 3-3 1-4 0-1
Possible Tournament Matchups
• The Rams have faced five of the seven other schools in the Gulf Coast Showcase, holding a combined 5-4 record.
• CSU has played Toledo the most, going 3-2 against the Rockets, while this could be the first time ever playing Florida Gulf Coast or UC Irvine.
Overall Home Road Neutral
Florida Gulf Coast First Meeting
Louisiana 1-0 1-0 - -
South Dakota State 0-1 0-1 - -
Toledo 3-2 1-1 2-1 -
Tulane 0-1 - - 0-1
UC Irvine First Meeting
UT-San Antonio 1-0 1-0 - -
Postseason Experience
• Head coach Niko Medved has had extensive success wherever he has coached, both as a head and an assistant.
• As an assistant coach, he helped turn around the CSU program to improving its win totals from his first year in each successive year, ending in four straight postseason appearances.
• He continued that trend at Furman and Drake, improving both programs' win totals from the previous year in each of his five seasons as a head coach, finishing his last three years in postseason play.
Basketball Staff
• Head coach Niko Medved brought four members of his staff from Drake with him. Dave Thorson, JR Blount and Ali Farokhmanesh were assistant coaches with Medved, while Aaron Katsuma joined him again as Director of Basketball Operations. Thorson has extensive experience as a high school coach and had previously worked with Medved at the University of Minnesota. Blount and Farokhmanesh also bring extensive recent playing experience with them as Blount played at Loyola Chicago, graduating in 2009, and Farokhmanesh was a key part of a Northern Iowa squad that knocked off No. 1 Kansas in the NCAA Tournament in his senior year in 2010.
Coors Light Coaches Show Is Back
• The Coors Light Basketball Head Coaches Show returns to Lucky Joe's Sidewalk Saloon in Old Town Fort Collins this year. Join men's head coach Niko Medved and women's head coach Ryun Williams starting at 6 p.m. on the Mondays listed below to hear their thoughts on the previous week and look forward to upcoming action
• November: 26
• December: 3 & 10
• January: 7, 14, 21 & 28
• February: 4, 11, 18 & 25
2018-19 Schedule Is Home Laden
• The Rams will play a good schedule in head coach Niko Medved's first season as the leader in Fort Collins.
• Of the 13 non-conference games on the schedule, eight of them are in the friendly confines of Moby Arena, including the first three to start the season.
• The program will first play away from home on Nov. 19-21 at the Gulf Coast Showcase, a three-game tournament that is all neutral games unless the Rams take on co-host Florida Gulf Coast.
• CSU is scheduled for just a pair of true road games and only a single plane trip for those. The Rams will play their first true road contest at Colorado on Sat. Dec. 1, with the flight trip to Long Beach to take on the 49ers on Dec. 22.
• The Rams also welcome a Southeastern Conference team to Moby Arena on Dec. 5, as Arkansas makes the return trip after last year's meeting in Fayetteville. This will be just the third meeting with a SEC foe since 2010 and the first time a squad from that league has come to Moby since Nov. 28, 2005, when the Rams defeated Auburn, 77-67. Versus the SEC, CSU is 5-1 all-time at home and 10-7 overall.
• Non-conference play wraps up on Dec. 30, with CSU hosting New Mexico State.
Rams On the Tube
• The Rams' package has 18 televised games, with 11 of them occurring at Moby Arena, including all nine league contests.
• In the 17 televised games, CSU will appear on the ESPN family of networks three times, CBS Sports Network five times, AT&T SportsNet on eight occasions and Stadium and Pac-12 Network once each.
• Two non-conference games will be televised from Moby Arena, with the Arkansas contest on Dec. 5 on CBS Sports Network and the New Mexico State matchup on Dec. 30 on AT&T SportsNet.
• As part of the Mountain West conference slate, four home games were moved from Wednesday to Tuesday to accommodate broadcast requests. The Air Force game moved from Jan. 9 to Jan. 8, Boise State goes from Jan. 30 to Jan. 29 as both will be shown on AT&T SportsNet. San Diego State will now come to town on Tue., Feb. 12 for a battle on ESPN, while the Utah State game was bumped to Tue., March 5 to be shown on AT&T SportsNet.
ESPN Networks (3)
Tue. Feb. 12 San Diego State* (ESPN2) 9 p.m.
Sat. March 2 at New Mexico* (ESPNU) 8 p.m.
Sat. March 9 UNLV* (ESPN3) 2 p.m.
CBS Sports Network (5)
Wed. Dec. 5 Arkansas 8 p.m.
Wed. Jan. 2 at UNLV* 8:30 p.m.
Sat. Jan. 12 New Mexico* 2 p.m.
Wed. Jan. 23 at Nevada* 9 p.m.
Wed. Feb. 6 Nevada* 8 p.m.
AT&T SportsNet (8)
Sun. Dec. 30 New Mexico State 2 p.m.
Sat. Jan. 5 at Fresno State* 8 p.m.
Tue. Jan. 8 Air Force* 7 p.m.
Sat. Jan. 26 Fresno State* 2 p.m.
Tue. Jan. 29 Boise State* 7 p.m.
Sat. Feb. 9 at Wyoming* 12 p.m.
Sat. Feb. 23 Wyoming* 12 p.m.
Tue. March 5 Utah State* 7 p.m.
Pac-12 Network (1)
Sat. Dec. 1 at Colorado 1 p.m.
Stadium (1)
Wed. Feb. 27 at Boise State* 7 p.m.
Roster Size... But Inexperienced
• The Rams will start the year with 14 eligible players on the roster, one of the largest opening day rosters in recent history. CSU had 11 players available to start the 2017-18 season. Of those 14 this season, a total of 11 were part of the program last season, with seven having played, with four returners who did play and also four newcomers to the lineup this year.
• Last year's Rams combined for just 7.5 seasons of NCAA Division I experience to start the season, but this year's squad comes in with 17 combined Division I seasons, a marked improvement.
Returning/Lost...By the Numbers
• The Rams added several key newcomers for 2018-19 as Colorado State looked to fill some gaps from last year's production on the floor, though CSU returns a significant portion on all categories.
• Here is a quick look at what the Rams returned in major statistical categories:
Category Total (R/L) % Returning
> Scoring 2314 (1353 / 961) 58.5%
> Rebounding 1126 (764 / 362) 67.9%
> Assists 409 (251 / 158) 61.4%
> Blocks 102 (55 / 47) 53.9%
> Steals 190 (100 / 90) 52.6%
> Minutes 6475 (4110 / 2365) 63.5%
Newcomers (Lots of)
• The Rams will have a strong group of newcomers to the floor this year, made up of three transfers and four freshmen.
• The class distribution among those that could see the floor for CSU the first time this season is:
-- Juniors (Hyron Edwards, Kris Martin, Zo Tyson)
-- Freshmen (Sam Bannec, Kendle Moore,
Jack Schoemann, Adam Thistlewood)
Moby Arena Home Court Advantage
• CSU has a record of 549-226 (.708) record all-time at Moby Arena.
• The Rams have finished at least .500 in each of the last nine years, dating back to the 2008-09 season when the program was 6-9.
• Current head coach Niko Medved was part of a coaching staff at CSU that posted two of the top records in program history at home, as the 2012-13 team set the best mark at 16-1 with the 2011-12 team going 14-1. Overall as an assistant at CSU, he was part of a team that went 97-97 overall and 59-30 in Moby Arena and improved their overall record in each successive season.
Moby & Record Improvement WIth Medved (CSU Asst.)
Overall Moby Total Attend. Avg Att.
2012-13 26-9 16-1 92,488 5,440
2011-12 20-12 14-1 62,889 4,193
2010-11 19-13 9-5 68.305 4.879
2009-10 16-16 11-4 50,878 3,392
2008-09 9-22 6-9 48,858 3,257
2007-08 7-25 3-10 43,588 3,353
Totals 97-97 59-30
Mountain West Record
• Colorado State - a charter member of the Mountain West - is now 123-171 (.418) in regular-season action against MW foes since the formation of the league in 1999-2000.
CSU vs. Mountain West Conference
School Overall Home Away Neut.
Air Force 78-33 42-11 32-18 4-4
Boise State 10-10 8-2 1-8 1-0
Fresno State 17-17 13-3 2-12 2-2
Nevada 9-11 5-3 4-7 0-1
New Mexico 46-77 33-26 12-49 1-2
San Diego State 41-42 26-12 13-26 2-4
San Jose State 17-0 8-0 7-0 2-0
UNLV 16-38 11-15 5-22 0-1
Utah State 39-54 28-18 11-34 0-2
Wyoming 93-135 51-56 39-75 3-4
Totals 366-417 225-146 126-251 15-20
Last Time Out...
• The Colorado State Rams rallied late to survive a pesky Montana State squad for a hard fought 81-77 win at Moby Arena, Nov. 13. With the win, CSU improves to 3-0 under first year head coach Niko Medved, while the loss drops the Bobcats to 1-3 overall.
• Coming out of the break from a back-and-forth opening 20 minutes with CSU leading 34-32, the Bobcats struck first taking a quick 35-34 lead off of an conventional three-point play from forward Keljin Blevins. Battling from a deficit throughout most of the second half, the Rams held a brief 55-54 lead following a jumper from redshirt-senior guard J.D. Paige as time was expiring. The Bobcats' Tyler Hall would then go on to hit three straight shots from beyond the arc, giving Montana State a 65-61 lead with 7:26 remaining. Over a three-and-half minute span starting with just over five minutes to play, Paige took over the offense punch for the Rams, scoring eight straight points to knot the game at 71. Redshirt-junior Anthony Masinton-Bonner hit the biggest three of the night off a fast break pass from freshman Adam Thistlewood to give the Rams a 74-71 lead with just 1:23 remaining, a lead they wouldn't give back. CSU extended their lead by hitting 7-of-10 free throws in the closing minutes to seal the victory.
• For the contest, CSU shot 27-of-62 (43.5 percent) but just 6-of-30 (20 percent) from beyond the three-point arc. Montana State shot 27-of-58 (46.6 percent) including a respectable 14-of-35 (40 percent) from three. The charity stripe was big for the Rams, as the home team was 21-of-28 at the line while the Bobcats were just 9-of-13. MSU held a slight advantage on the boards, outrebounding CSU 35- 33. However CSU forced 15 Bobcat turnovers while just giving up seven, resulting in a 23-10 scoring advantage off turnovers for the Rams.
• All five of the Rams starters reached double figures for the third consecutive game. Paige led all Rams in scoring, tying a career high with 23 points. Redshirt-junior center Nico Carvacho notched 15 points and 13 boards, marking the third consecutive game this season he has recorded a double-double. Masinton-Bonner had 14 points, with all but two coming in the second half after a slight ankle sprain at the end of the first. Jenkins tallied 12, while Moore recorded 11 in the victory. MSU's Hall led all scorers with 30 points.
(See page 18 for complete box score)
Carvacho Growing On the Floor
• Redshirt-junior center Nico Carvacho showed his increased comfort level on the floor, growing extensively as a sophomore in 2017-18.
• In the 2017-18 season, Carvacho was the leader on the glass for CSU with 331 boards (125 offensive) in 32 games (the only Ram to start all 32 last year). His 10.3 boards per game average ranked second in the Mountain West, as he had double-digit boards in the last 16 games (averaging 13.6 per game in that span). He also just had the sixth-ever individual 300-rebound season in CSU history, surpassing the mark at Nevada, Feb. 25.
• Last year, he averaged 11.1 points and 12.3 rebounds in Mountain West play, leading by a wide margin in rebounding for league games only (next was 9.6 per game). He also had seven of the top 14 single-game totals in MW action.
• He has had double-doubles in 10 of the last 16 games he played in 2017-18 and had a higher rebound average in MW league contests than Emmanuel Omogbo had in 2016-17 (10.9).
• Carvacho posted a career-high 26 points and tied a career best with 20 rebounds in the win over San Jose State, Feb. 10, 2018. The last Ram to have a 20-point/20-rebound game prior to that one was current Washington Wizards' Jason Smith, with 27 & 22 in a win over Wyoming on Feb. 24, 2007.
• With his 20-rebound game against San Jose State, he moved up from 17th to eighth on CSU's single-season list. He finished the season in fifth with 331 boards, surpassing former standout and current Washington Wizard Jason Smith in sixth.
• For his play in '17-18, Carvacho was named Honorable Mention All-Mountain West by both the league's coaches and media members in two separate votes.
• This season, Carvacho has started out effectively, recording double-doubles in his first two games and averaging 16.0 points and 13.0 rebounds while shooting 61.1 percent from the floor.
• He had CSU game highs of 18 points and 11 rebounds in the win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Nov. 10.
• Carvacho started the season No. 20 on the CSU career rebounding chart and moved up to 17th after his play against Montana State. He can move up to 16th on the chart, currently occupied by Matt Nelson at 577, but needs some work this weekend to reach Barry Bailey at 610 in 15th.
Carvacho's '17-18 MW/Nat'l Rankings Stat MW NCAA
Rebounds Per Game 10.3 2nd 15th
Offensive Rebounds Per Game 3.91 1st 7th
Defensive Rebounds Per Game 6.44 5th 49th
Double-Doubles 11 4th 55th
Total Rebounds 331 2nd 17th
Carvacho's Career Double-Doubles Date Pts Reb
Northern Colorado 12/10/16 13 11
Wyoming 2/28/17 10 10
Sacramento State 11/10/17 11 20
Fresno State 1/6/18 10 19
at Utah State 1/10/18 10 15
Air Force 1/17/18 12 13
at San Diego State 1/24/18 14 12
at New Mexico 1/27/18 14 15
Wyoming 1/31/18 10 13
at Air Force 2/6/18 16 12
San Jose State 2/10/18 26 20
at Fresno State 2/17/18 14 11
at Nevada 2/25/18 13 14
Colorado Christian 11/7/18 14 15
Arkansas-Pine Bluff 11/10/18 18 11
Montana State 11/14/18 15 13
CSU Single-Season Total Rebounding Ranks
1. 392 Mike Childress (23 Games) - 1969-70
2. 373 Emmanuel Omogbo (101O-272D) - 2016-17
3. 349 Mike Childress (25 Games) - 1970-71
4. 342 Colton Iverson (117O-225D) - 2012-13
5. 331 Nico Carvacho (125O-206D) 2017-18
6. 304 Jason Smith (98O-206D) 2006-07
Current CSU Single-Season Defensive Rebounds
1. 272 Emmanuel Omogbo (101O-272D) 2016-17
2. 225 Colton Iverson (117O-225D) 2012-13
3. 219 Pat Durham (52O-219D) 1986-87
4. 206 Nico Carvacho (125O-206D) 2017-18
206 Jason Smith (98O-206D) 2006-07
6. 194 Daniel Bejarano (73O-194D) 2013-14
Current CSU Single-Season Offensive Rebounds
1. 133 Pierce Hornung (133O-160D) 2012-13
2. 125 Nico Carvacho (125O-206D) 2017-18
3. 121 Tiel Daniels (121O-139D) 2015-16
4. 117 Colton Iverson (117O-225D) 2012-13
5. 102 Emmanuel Omogbo (102O-163D) 2015-16
CSU Career Rebounding Ranks
1. 851 Pat Durham (52O-799D) 1985-89
------
12. 638 Larry Hoffner (70 Games) - 1957-60
638 Emmanuel Omogbo (203O-435D) - 2015-17
14. 627 Andy Ogide (185O-442D) - 2007-11
15. 610 Barry Bailey (63O-547D) 1984-88
16. 577 Matt Nelson (152O-425D) 2000-05
17. 575 Nico Carvacho (71 Games) 2016-19
18. 569 Sonny Bustion (70 Games) 1963-65,66-67
19. 564 Gary Rhoades (77 Games) 1970-73
220. 555 Gary Hibbard (73 Games) 1953-56
Paige Wheels & Deals
• Redshirt-senior J.D. Paige adjusted well to his new role within CSU's offense the last two years.
• In 2016-17, Paige led CSU assists (2.5 apg), was third in steals (0.9 spg) and blocked shots (0.7) and fourth in scoring (8.8 ppg).
• The Denver, Colo., native had a solid outing against Alcorn State (11/23/16), recording career bests of 23 points and six assists in the home victory.
• Paige tied his career high with 23 points, including a career-best five three-pointers in the win over Fresno State, Feb. 11, 2017.
• Last season, Paige picked up a season-high 22 points versus San Diego State (1/2/18), making a career-high field goals.
• Paige scored in double figures in five of his last six games in 2017-18, including the performance at San Diego State and a 14-point, six-rebound outing in the win at Wyoming, Jan. 13. He also had 19 points against UNLV, Jan. 20.
• After missing six games with a broken hand suffered at San Diego State on Jan. 24, Paige returned to the lineup against Boise State (Feb. 21) with 12 points and averaged 10.4 points per game, third on the team, and had a team-high 2.6 assists per game.
• Paige missed the season opener but returned with 14 points (4-of-5 3-pointers) and a career-high tying six assists in the win against Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Nov. 10.
• He tied his career high against Montana State, Nov. 14, tallying a team-high 23 points on 9-of-15 shooting from the field in the win.
• If Paige stays healthy and averages 10.0 points per game during the season, he would reach the career 1,000-point plateau on Feb. 27 at Boise State.
A Little Different Name, Same Face
• Redshirt-junior guard Anthony Masinton-Bonner (the guard previously known as Anthony Bonner but always "AB") is expected to take up more of the scoring load this season.
• Last year, Masinton-Bonner started in 21 of the 32 games he played in, averaging 8.9 points per contest in 27.1 minutes per game.
• He was the team leader at the three-point arc at 43.2 percent and was second from the charity stripe, connecting on 82.1 percent of his attempts.
• In the season opener against Colorado Christian, Masinton-Bonner was not only effective but efficient. He tallied a career-high tying 22 points on 8-of-9 shooting from the field, including 6-of-7 from the three-point arc. He also chipped in five rebounds and four assists.
• Against Montana State Nov. 14, Masinton-Bonner was inspired after suffering an ankle injury late in the first half, as he returned in the second half to score 12 of his 14 points in the win.
• In the first three contests, he is averaging 16.3 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.7 assists a game while shooting 56.7 percent from the field and 52.6 percent from the three-point line.
Newcomers Jumping In Early
• Five Rams made their debut in the Green and Gold in Wednesday's win over Colorado Christian.
• Freshman Kendle Moore started and scored a game-high 26 points in 32 minutes of action. He was solid, going 9-of-11 from the floor, 4-of-5 from the arc and 4-of-5 at the charity stripe. He also added four rebounds, four assists and one steal.
• Freshman Adam Thistlewood had 10 points in starting his first collegiate game, while also grabbing five rebounds in 26 minutes of play.
• Also seeing time were redshirt-junior Zo Tyson and freshmen Jack Schoemann and Sam Bannec. Tyson had six points and four rebounds, while Bannec hit a three-pointer late.
• Moore currently is tied for third for the Rams at 15.7 points per game after his 11-point outing against Montana State, while Thistlewood has scored in double figures in two of three games and is sixth at 9.7 points a contest while making 14 of 17 free throw attempts (82.4 percent).
Looking Ahead
• Following the three games at the Gulf Coast Showcase, Colorado State will return home to host Southern Illinois for the final iteration of the Mountain West-Missouri Valley Challenge, Tue., Nov. 27 at 7 p.m. MT.
• The contest between will be televised on CSURams.com/watch.
• The game will air across the Colorado State Sports Network (along with online at CSURams.com), with Brian Roth and Adam Nigon on the call.
• CSU Sports Network broadcasts can be also accessed on mobile devices through the TuneIn app (free on all Apple, Android, Windows, Blackberry and Amazon Kindle devices) – once downloaded, search "Colorado St. Rams Sports Network" in the app for the games and coaches' show broadcasts.
CSU All-Time Vs. 2018-19 Opponents
(including possible at Gulf Coast Showcase)
Overall Home Road Neutral
Air Force 78-33 42-11 32-18 4-4
Arkansas 0-1 - 0-1 -
Arkansas-Pine Bluff 3-0 3-0 - -
Boise State 10-11 8-3 1-8 1-0
Colorado 38-89 28-36 9-53 1-0
Colorado Christian 1-0 1-0 - -
Florida Gulf Coast First Meeting
Fresno State 17-17 13-3 2-12 2-2
Long Beach State 3-2 2-1 1-1 -
Louisiana 1-0 1-0 - -
Montana State 12-4 8-2 4-2 -
Nevada 9-12 5-3 4-8 0-1
New Mexico 46-77 33-26 12-49 1-2
New Mexico State 5-2 4-0 1-2 -
Sam Houston State 0-1 0-1 - -
San Diego State 41-42 26-12 13-26 2-4
San Jose State 17-0 8-0 7-0 2-0
South Dakota First Meeting
South Dakota State 0-1 0-1 - -
Southern Illinois 1-2 1-0 0-1 0-1
Toledo 3-2 1-1 2-1 -
Tulane 0-1 - - 0-1
UC Irvine First Meeting
UNLV 16-38 11-15 5-22 0-1
UT-San Antonio 1-0 1-0 - -
Utah State 39-54 28-18 11-34 0-2
Wyoming 93-135 51-56 39-75 3-4
Totals 434-524 275-189 143-313 16-22
• Colorado State is under new direction, as Niko Medved has taken over the helm of the Rams' program in 2018-19. In his sixth season as a head coach, Medved has a 81-87 record overall but improved on the previous season's record in each of his five years as a head coach.
• Colorado State men's basketball concluded the 2017-18 season in the Mountain West Tournament first round and finished the year with an 11-21 overall record, including 4-14 in MW play.
• The 2018-19 season marks the 116th in the history of the Colorado State men's basketball program. The Rams are 1,254-1,252 (.500) in 2,506 games all-time.
• Colorado State basketball is hoping to earn its eighth invitation for postseason play in the last 10 years.
• CSU returns three starters and six letterwinners to this year's squad along with seven newcomers to the program.
• Overall, the Rams return three players with 23 or more starts from the 2017-18 campaign, led by Honorable Mention All-Mountain West selection Nico Carvacho. The redshirt-junior center will be expected to pace this squad along with senior guard J.D. Paige and redshirt-junior guard Anthony Masinton-Bonner.
• Also returning to the floor are three other letterwinners in redshirt-senior guard Robbie Berwick, redshirt-junior guard Lorenzo Jenkins and sophomore forward Logan Ryan.
• Among the seven newcomers, the Rams have three players who have spent at least a semester with the program. Redshirt juniors forward Zo Tyson and guard Kris Martin are anticipated to see their first playing time this fall, while redshirt-junior guard Hyron Edwards should be on the floor at the conclusion of the fall semester.
• Four freshman will make their debut for the Rams, as forwards Adam Thistlewood and Jack Schoemann and guards Kendle Moore and Sam Bannec joined the program this year.
• For broadcasting quick hits, current averages and career highs on individual players, go to the back page of the notes for a Radio/TV chart that includes that information.
The Leaders
• Colorado State Head Coach Niko Medved (Minnesota, '97) is in his first season at CSU as head coach and has a 82-87 overall record as he starts his sixth season as a head coach.
• Lousiana Head Coach Bob Marlin (Mississippi State, '81) is in his ninth season at Louisiana with a 156-113 record and 21st as a Division I head coach overall with a 381-244 record.
A Quick Look at Louisiana
• Picked to finish second in the Sun Belt preseason coaches' poll, the Rajun' Cajuns return three starters from last year's 27-7 team that earned a berth in the National Invitation Tournament, including preseason All-Sun Belt selections Jakeenan Grant (second team) and Marcus Stroman (third team). Grant was the SBC Defensive Player and Newcomer of the Year in 2017-18, while Stroman led the league and ranked fifth nationally in assists.
• Louisiana has had a tough stretch, playing at top-10 opponents Tennessee and Kansas already in the early part of the schedule, losing most recently at the No. 2 Jayhawks on Friday, Nov. 16, 89-76.
History Versus Louisiana
• This will be the second time that Colorado State and Louisiana have met on the basketball court, with CSU winning the only previous game in 1968 at Moby Arena, 78-68
• Head Coach Niko Medved has faced Louisiana once in his coaching career, losing to the Rajun' Cajuns, 80-72, in the first round of the CollegeInsider.com Tournament in 2016 while at Furman
LOUISIANA - 1-0
Home: 1-0
Date Loc. W/L Score Att.
12/14/1968 Home W 78-68
A New Leader But Familiar Face
• While he may be in his first season in charge of the program, head coach Medved is already a familiar face around Fort Collins and to Rams' fans. Medved previously was on the coaching staff from 2007-13 under two different coaches. He was a key part of recruiting players that helped the Rams to four consecutive postseason appearances, the last two in the NCAA Tournament that included a win over Missouri in 2013.
Medved vs. 2018-19 Opponents
School Overall Home Away Neut.
Air Force First Meeting
Arkansas First Meeting
Arkansas-Pine Bluff 1-0 1-0 - -
Boise State First Meeting
Colorado 0-1 - - 0-1
Colorado Christian 1-0 1-0 - -
Florida Gulf Coast 0-2 0-1 0-1 -
Fresno State First Meeting
Long Beach State First Meeting
Louisiana 0-1 0-1 - -
Montana State 1-0 1-0 - -
Nevada First Meeting
New Mexico First Meeting
New Mexico State First Meeting
Sam Houston State First Meeting
San Diego State First Meeting
San Jose State First Meeting
South Dakota 0-1 - 0-1 -
South Dakota St. 0-1 - 0-1 -
Southern Illinois 1-1 0-1 1-0 -
Toledo First Meeting
Tulane First Meeting
UC Irvine First Meeting
UNLV First Meeting
UT-San Antonio First Meeting
Utah State First Meeting
Wyoming 0-1 - 0-1 -
Totals 4-8 3-3 1-4 0-1
Possible Tournament Matchups
• The Rams have faced five of the seven other schools in the Gulf Coast Showcase, holding a combined 5-4 record.
• CSU has played Toledo the most, going 3-2 against the Rockets, while this could be the first time ever playing Florida Gulf Coast or UC Irvine.
Overall Home Road Neutral
Florida Gulf Coast First Meeting
Louisiana 1-0 1-0 - -
South Dakota State 0-1 0-1 - -
Toledo 3-2 1-1 2-1 -
Tulane 0-1 - - 0-1
UC Irvine First Meeting
UT-San Antonio 1-0 1-0 - -
Postseason Experience
• Head coach Niko Medved has had extensive success wherever he has coached, both as a head and an assistant.
• As an assistant coach, he helped turn around the CSU program to improving its win totals from his first year in each successive year, ending in four straight postseason appearances.
• He continued that trend at Furman and Drake, improving both programs' win totals from the previous year in each of his five seasons as a head coach, finishing his last three years in postseason play.
Basketball Staff
• Head coach Niko Medved brought four members of his staff from Drake with him. Dave Thorson, JR Blount and Ali Farokhmanesh were assistant coaches with Medved, while Aaron Katsuma joined him again as Director of Basketball Operations. Thorson has extensive experience as a high school coach and had previously worked with Medved at the University of Minnesota. Blount and Farokhmanesh also bring extensive recent playing experience with them as Blount played at Loyola Chicago, graduating in 2009, and Farokhmanesh was a key part of a Northern Iowa squad that knocked off No. 1 Kansas in the NCAA Tournament in his senior year in 2010.
Coors Light Coaches Show Is Back
• The Coors Light Basketball Head Coaches Show returns to Lucky Joe's Sidewalk Saloon in Old Town Fort Collins this year. Join men's head coach Niko Medved and women's head coach Ryun Williams starting at 6 p.m. on the Mondays listed below to hear their thoughts on the previous week and look forward to upcoming action
• November: 26
• December: 3 & 10
• January: 7, 14, 21 & 28
• February: 4, 11, 18 & 25
2018-19 Schedule Is Home Laden
• The Rams will play a good schedule in head coach Niko Medved's first season as the leader in Fort Collins.
• Of the 13 non-conference games on the schedule, eight of them are in the friendly confines of Moby Arena, including the first three to start the season.
• The program will first play away from home on Nov. 19-21 at the Gulf Coast Showcase, a three-game tournament that is all neutral games unless the Rams take on co-host Florida Gulf Coast.
• CSU is scheduled for just a pair of true road games and only a single plane trip for those. The Rams will play their first true road contest at Colorado on Sat. Dec. 1, with the flight trip to Long Beach to take on the 49ers on Dec. 22.
• The Rams also welcome a Southeastern Conference team to Moby Arena on Dec. 5, as Arkansas makes the return trip after last year's meeting in Fayetteville. This will be just the third meeting with a SEC foe since 2010 and the first time a squad from that league has come to Moby since Nov. 28, 2005, when the Rams defeated Auburn, 77-67. Versus the SEC, CSU is 5-1 all-time at home and 10-7 overall.
• Non-conference play wraps up on Dec. 30, with CSU hosting New Mexico State.
Rams On the Tube
• The Rams' package has 18 televised games, with 11 of them occurring at Moby Arena, including all nine league contests.
• In the 17 televised games, CSU will appear on the ESPN family of networks three times, CBS Sports Network five times, AT&T SportsNet on eight occasions and Stadium and Pac-12 Network once each.
• Two non-conference games will be televised from Moby Arena, with the Arkansas contest on Dec. 5 on CBS Sports Network and the New Mexico State matchup on Dec. 30 on AT&T SportsNet.
• As part of the Mountain West conference slate, four home games were moved from Wednesday to Tuesday to accommodate broadcast requests. The Air Force game moved from Jan. 9 to Jan. 8, Boise State goes from Jan. 30 to Jan. 29 as both will be shown on AT&T SportsNet. San Diego State will now come to town on Tue., Feb. 12 for a battle on ESPN, while the Utah State game was bumped to Tue., March 5 to be shown on AT&T SportsNet.
ESPN Networks (3)
Tue. Feb. 12 San Diego State* (ESPN2) 9 p.m.
Sat. March 2 at New Mexico* (ESPNU) 8 p.m.
Sat. March 9 UNLV* (ESPN3) 2 p.m.
CBS Sports Network (5)
Wed. Dec. 5 Arkansas 8 p.m.
Wed. Jan. 2 at UNLV* 8:30 p.m.
Sat. Jan. 12 New Mexico* 2 p.m.
Wed. Jan. 23 at Nevada* 9 p.m.
Wed. Feb. 6 Nevada* 8 p.m.
AT&T SportsNet (8)
Sun. Dec. 30 New Mexico State 2 p.m.
Sat. Jan. 5 at Fresno State* 8 p.m.
Tue. Jan. 8 Air Force* 7 p.m.
Sat. Jan. 26 Fresno State* 2 p.m.
Tue. Jan. 29 Boise State* 7 p.m.
Sat. Feb. 9 at Wyoming* 12 p.m.
Sat. Feb. 23 Wyoming* 12 p.m.
Tue. March 5 Utah State* 7 p.m.
Pac-12 Network (1)
Sat. Dec. 1 at Colorado 1 p.m.
Stadium (1)
Wed. Feb. 27 at Boise State* 7 p.m.
Roster Size... But Inexperienced
• The Rams will start the year with 14 eligible players on the roster, one of the largest opening day rosters in recent history. CSU had 11 players available to start the 2017-18 season. Of those 14 this season, a total of 11 were part of the program last season, with seven having played, with four returners who did play and also four newcomers to the lineup this year.
• Last year's Rams combined for just 7.5 seasons of NCAA Division I experience to start the season, but this year's squad comes in with 17 combined Division I seasons, a marked improvement.
Returning/Lost...By the Numbers
• The Rams added several key newcomers for 2018-19 as Colorado State looked to fill some gaps from last year's production on the floor, though CSU returns a significant portion on all categories.
• Here is a quick look at what the Rams returned in major statistical categories:
Category Total (R/L) % Returning
> Scoring 2314 (1353 / 961) 58.5%
> Rebounding 1126 (764 / 362) 67.9%
> Assists 409 (251 / 158) 61.4%
> Blocks 102 (55 / 47) 53.9%
> Steals 190 (100 / 90) 52.6%
> Minutes 6475 (4110 / 2365) 63.5%
Newcomers (Lots of)
• The Rams will have a strong group of newcomers to the floor this year, made up of three transfers and four freshmen.
• The class distribution among those that could see the floor for CSU the first time this season is:
-- Juniors (Hyron Edwards, Kris Martin, Zo Tyson)
-- Freshmen (Sam Bannec, Kendle Moore,
Jack Schoemann, Adam Thistlewood)
Moby Arena Home Court Advantage
• CSU has a record of 549-226 (.708) record all-time at Moby Arena.
• The Rams have finished at least .500 in each of the last nine years, dating back to the 2008-09 season when the program was 6-9.
• Current head coach Niko Medved was part of a coaching staff at CSU that posted two of the top records in program history at home, as the 2012-13 team set the best mark at 16-1 with the 2011-12 team going 14-1. Overall as an assistant at CSU, he was part of a team that went 97-97 overall and 59-30 in Moby Arena and improved their overall record in each successive season.
Moby & Record Improvement WIth Medved (CSU Asst.)
Overall Moby Total Attend. Avg Att.
2012-13 26-9 16-1 92,488 5,440
2011-12 20-12 14-1 62,889 4,193
2010-11 19-13 9-5 68.305 4.879
2009-10 16-16 11-4 50,878 3,392
2008-09 9-22 6-9 48,858 3,257
2007-08 7-25 3-10 43,588 3,353
Totals 97-97 59-30
Mountain West Record
• Colorado State - a charter member of the Mountain West - is now 123-171 (.418) in regular-season action against MW foes since the formation of the league in 1999-2000.
CSU vs. Mountain West Conference
School Overall Home Away Neut.
Air Force 78-33 42-11 32-18 4-4
Boise State 10-10 8-2 1-8 1-0
Fresno State 17-17 13-3 2-12 2-2
Nevada 9-11 5-3 4-7 0-1
New Mexico 46-77 33-26 12-49 1-2
San Diego State 41-42 26-12 13-26 2-4
San Jose State 17-0 8-0 7-0 2-0
UNLV 16-38 11-15 5-22 0-1
Utah State 39-54 28-18 11-34 0-2
Wyoming 93-135 51-56 39-75 3-4
Totals 366-417 225-146 126-251 15-20
Last Time Out...
• The Colorado State Rams rallied late to survive a pesky Montana State squad for a hard fought 81-77 win at Moby Arena, Nov. 13. With the win, CSU improves to 3-0 under first year head coach Niko Medved, while the loss drops the Bobcats to 1-3 overall.
• Coming out of the break from a back-and-forth opening 20 minutes with CSU leading 34-32, the Bobcats struck first taking a quick 35-34 lead off of an conventional three-point play from forward Keljin Blevins. Battling from a deficit throughout most of the second half, the Rams held a brief 55-54 lead following a jumper from redshirt-senior guard J.D. Paige as time was expiring. The Bobcats' Tyler Hall would then go on to hit three straight shots from beyond the arc, giving Montana State a 65-61 lead with 7:26 remaining. Over a three-and-half minute span starting with just over five minutes to play, Paige took over the offense punch for the Rams, scoring eight straight points to knot the game at 71. Redshirt-junior Anthony Masinton-Bonner hit the biggest three of the night off a fast break pass from freshman Adam Thistlewood to give the Rams a 74-71 lead with just 1:23 remaining, a lead they wouldn't give back. CSU extended their lead by hitting 7-of-10 free throws in the closing minutes to seal the victory.
• For the contest, CSU shot 27-of-62 (43.5 percent) but just 6-of-30 (20 percent) from beyond the three-point arc. Montana State shot 27-of-58 (46.6 percent) including a respectable 14-of-35 (40 percent) from three. The charity stripe was big for the Rams, as the home team was 21-of-28 at the line while the Bobcats were just 9-of-13. MSU held a slight advantage on the boards, outrebounding CSU 35- 33. However CSU forced 15 Bobcat turnovers while just giving up seven, resulting in a 23-10 scoring advantage off turnovers for the Rams.
• All five of the Rams starters reached double figures for the third consecutive game. Paige led all Rams in scoring, tying a career high with 23 points. Redshirt-junior center Nico Carvacho notched 15 points and 13 boards, marking the third consecutive game this season he has recorded a double-double. Masinton-Bonner had 14 points, with all but two coming in the second half after a slight ankle sprain at the end of the first. Jenkins tallied 12, while Moore recorded 11 in the victory. MSU's Hall led all scorers with 30 points.
(See page 18 for complete box score)
Carvacho Growing On the Floor
• Redshirt-junior center Nico Carvacho showed his increased comfort level on the floor, growing extensively as a sophomore in 2017-18.
• In the 2017-18 season, Carvacho was the leader on the glass for CSU with 331 boards (125 offensive) in 32 games (the only Ram to start all 32 last year). His 10.3 boards per game average ranked second in the Mountain West, as he had double-digit boards in the last 16 games (averaging 13.6 per game in that span). He also just had the sixth-ever individual 300-rebound season in CSU history, surpassing the mark at Nevada, Feb. 25.
• Last year, he averaged 11.1 points and 12.3 rebounds in Mountain West play, leading by a wide margin in rebounding for league games only (next was 9.6 per game). He also had seven of the top 14 single-game totals in MW action.
• He has had double-doubles in 10 of the last 16 games he played in 2017-18 and had a higher rebound average in MW league contests than Emmanuel Omogbo had in 2016-17 (10.9).
• Carvacho posted a career-high 26 points and tied a career best with 20 rebounds in the win over San Jose State, Feb. 10, 2018. The last Ram to have a 20-point/20-rebound game prior to that one was current Washington Wizards' Jason Smith, with 27 & 22 in a win over Wyoming on Feb. 24, 2007.
• With his 20-rebound game against San Jose State, he moved up from 17th to eighth on CSU's single-season list. He finished the season in fifth with 331 boards, surpassing former standout and current Washington Wizard Jason Smith in sixth.
• For his play in '17-18, Carvacho was named Honorable Mention All-Mountain West by both the league's coaches and media members in two separate votes.
• This season, Carvacho has started out effectively, recording double-doubles in his first two games and averaging 16.0 points and 13.0 rebounds while shooting 61.1 percent from the floor.
• He had CSU game highs of 18 points and 11 rebounds in the win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Nov. 10.
• Carvacho started the season No. 20 on the CSU career rebounding chart and moved up to 17th after his play against Montana State. He can move up to 16th on the chart, currently occupied by Matt Nelson at 577, but needs some work this weekend to reach Barry Bailey at 610 in 15th.
Carvacho's '17-18 MW/Nat'l Rankings Stat MW NCAA
Rebounds Per Game 10.3 2nd 15th
Offensive Rebounds Per Game 3.91 1st 7th
Defensive Rebounds Per Game 6.44 5th 49th
Double-Doubles 11 4th 55th
Total Rebounds 331 2nd 17th
Carvacho's Career Double-Doubles Date Pts Reb
Northern Colorado 12/10/16 13 11
Wyoming 2/28/17 10 10
Sacramento State 11/10/17 11 20
Fresno State 1/6/18 10 19
at Utah State 1/10/18 10 15
Air Force 1/17/18 12 13
at San Diego State 1/24/18 14 12
at New Mexico 1/27/18 14 15
Wyoming 1/31/18 10 13
at Air Force 2/6/18 16 12
San Jose State 2/10/18 26 20
at Fresno State 2/17/18 14 11
at Nevada 2/25/18 13 14
Colorado Christian 11/7/18 14 15
Arkansas-Pine Bluff 11/10/18 18 11
Montana State 11/14/18 15 13
CSU Single-Season Total Rebounding Ranks
1. 392 Mike Childress (23 Games) - 1969-70
2. 373 Emmanuel Omogbo (101O-272D) - 2016-17
3. 349 Mike Childress (25 Games) - 1970-71
4. 342 Colton Iverson (117O-225D) - 2012-13
5. 331 Nico Carvacho (125O-206D) 2017-18
6. 304 Jason Smith (98O-206D) 2006-07
Current CSU Single-Season Defensive Rebounds
1. 272 Emmanuel Omogbo (101O-272D) 2016-17
2. 225 Colton Iverson (117O-225D) 2012-13
3. 219 Pat Durham (52O-219D) 1986-87
4. 206 Nico Carvacho (125O-206D) 2017-18
206 Jason Smith (98O-206D) 2006-07
6. 194 Daniel Bejarano (73O-194D) 2013-14
Current CSU Single-Season Offensive Rebounds
1. 133 Pierce Hornung (133O-160D) 2012-13
2. 125 Nico Carvacho (125O-206D) 2017-18
3. 121 Tiel Daniels (121O-139D) 2015-16
4. 117 Colton Iverson (117O-225D) 2012-13
5. 102 Emmanuel Omogbo (102O-163D) 2015-16
CSU Career Rebounding Ranks
1. 851 Pat Durham (52O-799D) 1985-89
------
12. 638 Larry Hoffner (70 Games) - 1957-60
638 Emmanuel Omogbo (203O-435D) - 2015-17
14. 627 Andy Ogide (185O-442D) - 2007-11
15. 610 Barry Bailey (63O-547D) 1984-88
16. 577 Matt Nelson (152O-425D) 2000-05
17. 575 Nico Carvacho (71 Games) 2016-19
18. 569 Sonny Bustion (70 Games) 1963-65,66-67
19. 564 Gary Rhoades (77 Games) 1970-73
220. 555 Gary Hibbard (73 Games) 1953-56
Paige Wheels & Deals
• Redshirt-senior J.D. Paige adjusted well to his new role within CSU's offense the last two years.
• In 2016-17, Paige led CSU assists (2.5 apg), was third in steals (0.9 spg) and blocked shots (0.7) and fourth in scoring (8.8 ppg).
• The Denver, Colo., native had a solid outing against Alcorn State (11/23/16), recording career bests of 23 points and six assists in the home victory.
• Paige tied his career high with 23 points, including a career-best five three-pointers in the win over Fresno State, Feb. 11, 2017.
• Last season, Paige picked up a season-high 22 points versus San Diego State (1/2/18), making a career-high field goals.
• Paige scored in double figures in five of his last six games in 2017-18, including the performance at San Diego State and a 14-point, six-rebound outing in the win at Wyoming, Jan. 13. He also had 19 points against UNLV, Jan. 20.
• After missing six games with a broken hand suffered at San Diego State on Jan. 24, Paige returned to the lineup against Boise State (Feb. 21) with 12 points and averaged 10.4 points per game, third on the team, and had a team-high 2.6 assists per game.
• Paige missed the season opener but returned with 14 points (4-of-5 3-pointers) and a career-high tying six assists in the win against Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Nov. 10.
• He tied his career high against Montana State, Nov. 14, tallying a team-high 23 points on 9-of-15 shooting from the field in the win.
• If Paige stays healthy and averages 10.0 points per game during the season, he would reach the career 1,000-point plateau on Feb. 27 at Boise State.
A Little Different Name, Same Face
• Redshirt-junior guard Anthony Masinton-Bonner (the guard previously known as Anthony Bonner but always "AB") is expected to take up more of the scoring load this season.
• Last year, Masinton-Bonner started in 21 of the 32 games he played in, averaging 8.9 points per contest in 27.1 minutes per game.
• He was the team leader at the three-point arc at 43.2 percent and was second from the charity stripe, connecting on 82.1 percent of his attempts.
• In the season opener against Colorado Christian, Masinton-Bonner was not only effective but efficient. He tallied a career-high tying 22 points on 8-of-9 shooting from the field, including 6-of-7 from the three-point arc. He also chipped in five rebounds and four assists.
• Against Montana State Nov. 14, Masinton-Bonner was inspired after suffering an ankle injury late in the first half, as he returned in the second half to score 12 of his 14 points in the win.
• In the first three contests, he is averaging 16.3 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.7 assists a game while shooting 56.7 percent from the field and 52.6 percent from the three-point line.
Newcomers Jumping In Early
• Five Rams made their debut in the Green and Gold in Wednesday's win over Colorado Christian.
• Freshman Kendle Moore started and scored a game-high 26 points in 32 minutes of action. He was solid, going 9-of-11 from the floor, 4-of-5 from the arc and 4-of-5 at the charity stripe. He also added four rebounds, four assists and one steal.
• Freshman Adam Thistlewood had 10 points in starting his first collegiate game, while also grabbing five rebounds in 26 minutes of play.
• Also seeing time were redshirt-junior Zo Tyson and freshmen Jack Schoemann and Sam Bannec. Tyson had six points and four rebounds, while Bannec hit a three-pointer late.
• Moore currently is tied for third for the Rams at 15.7 points per game after his 11-point outing against Montana State, while Thistlewood has scored in double figures in two of three games and is sixth at 9.7 points a contest while making 14 of 17 free throw attempts (82.4 percent).
Looking Ahead
• Following the three games at the Gulf Coast Showcase, Colorado State will return home to host Southern Illinois for the final iteration of the Mountain West-Missouri Valley Challenge, Tue., Nov. 27 at 7 p.m. MT.
• The contest between will be televised on CSURams.com/watch.
• The game will air across the Colorado State Sports Network (along with online at CSURams.com), with Brian Roth and Adam Nigon on the call.
• CSU Sports Network broadcasts can be also accessed on mobile devices through the TuneIn app (free on all Apple, Android, Windows, Blackberry and Amazon Kindle devices) – once downloaded, search "Colorado St. Rams Sports Network" in the app for the games and coaches' show broadcasts.
CSU All-Time Vs. 2018-19 Opponents
(including possible at Gulf Coast Showcase)
Overall Home Road Neutral
Air Force 78-33 42-11 32-18 4-4
Arkansas 0-1 - 0-1 -
Arkansas-Pine Bluff 3-0 3-0 - -
Boise State 10-11 8-3 1-8 1-0
Colorado 38-89 28-36 9-53 1-0
Colorado Christian 1-0 1-0 - -
Florida Gulf Coast First Meeting
Fresno State 17-17 13-3 2-12 2-2
Long Beach State 3-2 2-1 1-1 -
Louisiana 1-0 1-0 - -
Montana State 12-4 8-2 4-2 -
Nevada 9-12 5-3 4-8 0-1
New Mexico 46-77 33-26 12-49 1-2
New Mexico State 5-2 4-0 1-2 -
Sam Houston State 0-1 0-1 - -
San Diego State 41-42 26-12 13-26 2-4
San Jose State 17-0 8-0 7-0 2-0
South Dakota First Meeting
South Dakota State 0-1 0-1 - -
Southern Illinois 1-2 1-0 0-1 0-1
Toledo 3-2 1-1 2-1 -
Tulane 0-1 - - 0-1
UC Irvine First Meeting
UNLV 16-38 11-15 5-22 0-1
UT-San Antonio 1-0 1-0 - -
Utah State 39-54 28-18 11-34 0-2
Wyoming 93-135 51-56 39-75 3-4
Totals 434-524 275-189 143-313 16-22
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
F/C
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
G/F
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
Colorado State Basketball (M): Brandon Rechsteiner (L) & Kyle Jorgenson (R) Post-Game (Incarnate Word)
Monday, November 03
Colorado State Basketball (M): Ali Farokhmanesh Post-Game (Incarnate Word)
Monday, November 03
Season 1 - CSU MBB (Ep. 2)
Monday, November 03
Colorado State Basketball (M): Season 1 - Ep. 1
Sunday, August 10