CSU opens 2019 Air Force Reserve Mountain West Championship against Boise State Wednesday

2018-19 Colorado State Men's Basketball
Game #32 - Colorado State (12-19, 7-11) at Boise State (12-19, 7-11)
2019 Air Force Reserve Mountain West Championship First Round
March 13, 2019 • 12 p.m. MT/11 a.m. PT • Thomas & Mack Center (18,000) - Las Vegas, Nev.

Video: Mountain West Network
Radio: Colorado State Sports Network (Play-by-Play: Brian Roth / 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) / TuneIn App
Live Stats: TheMW.com

Opening Tip
• The #9 Rams will take on #8 Boise State Wednesday at 11 a.m. PT/12 p.m. MT in the opening round of the Air Force Reserve Mountain West Championship at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nev.
• The contest will be televised on the Mountain West Network with Nate Kreckman (play-by-play) and Marty Fletcher (analyst) handling the broadcast.
• Live audio is available on the Colorado State Sports Network, including KARS 102.9 FM (flagship). Brian Roth is on the play-by-play for the Rams, with Adam Nigon handling the analysis. Audio is also available via the TuneIn App on all smart phones and mobile devices.
• The game will also have live audio on CSURams.com in partnership with SIDEARM Sports and live stats on CSURams.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 an 91-106 record overall but improved on the previous season's record in each of his six years as a head coach.
• The 2018-19 season marks the 116th in the history of the Colorado State men's basketball program. The Rams are 1,264-1,271 (.499) in 2,535 games all-time.
• CSU returned three starters and five letterwinners to this year's squad along with seven newcomers to the program.
• Overall, the Rams returned 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 is pacing this squad along with senior guard J.D. Paige and redshirt-junior guard Anthony Masinton-Bonner.

• 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 91-106 overall record as he is in his sixth season as a head coach.
• Boise State Head Coach Leon Rice (Washington State, '86) is in his ninth season as leader of the Broncos and as a head coach overall with a 177-115 record.

A Quick Look at Boise State
• Returning two starters and nine letterwinners from last season's 23-9 squad that finished second in the Mountain West with an 13-5 record and advanced to the National Invitation Tournament, the Broncos were picked to finish fourth in the league's preseason poll.
• Junior guard Justinian Jessup was the leading returning scorer from last year's team and is proving to be the leader this season. Jessup paces the team in minutes, points, rebounds, three-pointers, assists, blocks and three-point field goal percentage. Newcomer RJ Williams is tops for the Broncos in rebounds and steals.

History Versus Boise State
• This will be the 24th meeting ever, with the Broncos holding a slight 12-11 advantage.
• In the only previous meeting in the Mountain West Championship in 2016, Colorado State, the No. 6 seed, upset No. 3 Boise State in the quarterfinals, 88-81.
• Boise State has taken five of the last six meetings between the two programs, with three of them decided by three points or less. However, the two teams split this season's series, with each team winning on the road.
• CSU leader Niko Medved has not faced Boise State as a head coach other than this season's meetings.
BOISE STATE - 11-12
Conference: 5-10
Home: 8-4 / Away: 2-8 / Neutral: 1-0
(Complete Game-by-Game Results on Page 14)

Mountain West Record
• Colorado State - a charter member of the Mountain West - is now 130-180 (.419) 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                 80-33       43-11       33-18      4-4
Boise State               11-12         8-4         2-8        1-0
Fresno State             18-18        14-3        2-13       2-2
Nevada                    9-14          5-4         4-9        0-1
New Mexico             47-78       34-26      12-50      1-2
San Diego State        41-43       26-13       13-26      2-4
San Jose State          18-0          8-0         8-0       2-0
UNLV                     16-40        11-16        5-23       0-1
Utah State               39-56       28-19       11-35      0-2
Wyoming                94-136      52-56      39-76     3-4
Totals                  373-430   229-152   129-258 15-20

A New Leader But Familiar Face
• While he may be in his first season in charge of the program, head coach Niko Medved was 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.

Improvement Always
• 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.
• This year, he has continued that trend, surpassing last year's win totals at CSU, both overall and in Mountain West play.

Medved vs. 2018-19 Opponents
School                  Overall     Home      Away    Neut.
Air Force                  2-0          1-0          1-0         -
Arkansas                   0-1           0-1           -          -
Arkansas-Pine Bluff     1-0           1-0           -          -
Boise State                1-1           0-1          1-0         -
Colorado                  0-2            -           0-1        0-1
Colorado Christian      1-0           1-0           -          -
Florida Gulf Coast       1-2           0-1          1-1         -
Fresno State              1-1           1-0          0-1         -
Long Beach State        0-1            -           0-1         -
Louisiana                  0-2          0-1           -         0-1
Montana State            1-0           1-0           -          -
Nevada                    0-2          0-1          0-1         -
New Mexico               1-1           1-0          0-1         -
New Mexico State       0-1           0-1           -          -
Sam Houston State      1-0           1-0           -          -
San Diego State          0-1           0-1           -          -
San Jose State           1-0            -           1-0         -
South Dakota             0-2          0-1          0-1         -
South Dakota St.         0-2            -           0-1        0-1
Southern Illinois          1-2          0-2          1-0         -
UNLV                       0-2          0-1          0-1         -
Utah State                 0-2          0-1          0-1         -
Wyoming                  1-2           1-0          0-2         -
Totals                    13-27        8-12        5-12      0-3

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.

Moby Arena Home Court Advantage
• CSU has a record of 553-235 (.702) record all-time at Moby Arena.
• The Rams had finished at least .500 in each of the last nine years prior to this season, 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.
Last Time Out...
• Colorado State had a slow start to the game that it was unable to overcome in the end, dropping the regular season finale to visiting UNLV, 65-60, Saturday afternoon in Moby Arena. The loss dropped CSU to 12-19 overall and a 7-11 finish in the Mountain West, while UNLV improved to 17-13 on the season and an 11-7 record in league action.
• The Rams dug an early hole, as UNLV hit an opening three and quickly built a seven-point lead at 17-10, hitting all but two of their field goal attempts to start the game. The Runnin' Rebels continued their hot early shooting in extending the lead to as many as 16 in the opening 20 minutes and went into the break with a 13-point advantage at 39-26.
• CSU battled back in the second half behind stellar defensive play and a strong inside presence by redshirt-junior Nico Carvacho. Down 51-40 with just 8:26 to play, the Rams went on a 10-0 run, capped off by fast-break bucket by redshirt-senior J.D. Paige bringing the home team within one. After a UNLV split of free throws to make the lead two freshman Adam Thistlewood canned a three-point shot from beyond the arc for the Rams first, and eventually only, lead of the day with under two minutes to go. However, the Runnin' Rebels would close out the final 1:55 with a 9-3 run defined by four consecutive made free-throw attempts.
• UNLV shot a stellar 57.1 percent (16-of-28) in the first half, including 5-of-11 from the three-point arc, while CSU was just 33.3 percent (9-of-27) from the floor and 3-of-13 behind the arc in that span.
• Four Rams finished in double figures, led by redshirt-senior J.D. Paige with 16 points. Redshirt-junior Nico Carvacho logged 13 points and a game-high 20 rebounds, while freshmen Thistlewood and Kendle Moore contributed 12 and 10 respectively. UNLV was led by Kris Clyburn with a game-high 20 points.
(See page 18 for complete box score)

This Year's Previous Meetings
• Colorado State had five players in double figures and took advantage of hot shooting in the final 20 minutes to pull away for a 76-62 victory at Boise State Wednesday night. With their third straight win, the Rams improved to 12-16 on the year and into a tie for sixth in the Mountain West at 7-8, while the Broncos fell to 11-17 and 6-9 in the league. The two teams split the season series with each team winning on the road.
• The first half was a back-and-forth affair, with four ties and six lead changes between the two schools. With Boise State leading 21-20 with 7:34 to go in the half, the Rams closed the half on a 13-5 surge, including a back-door cut bucket for freshman Adam Thistlewood off a redshirt-junior Nico Carvacho feed as time expired, for a 33-26 halftime advantage.
• CSU opened the final 20 minutes on a 12-4 run over the first 4:07 to build a 15-point cushion at 45-30, and held a double-digit lead through most of the second half. However, the Broncos would make a run starting with just under seven minutes to play, putting together a 7-0 spurt over just 42 seconds to cut the margin to 62-55 with 5:42 remaining. Back-to-back driving buckets by freshman Kendle Moore and redshirt-senior J.D. Paige pushed the margin quickly back to 11 and CSU made plays on both endsof the floor down the stretch to seal the road win.
• The league-leader in field goal percentage, CSU was again solid, connecting on 58.2 percent (32-of-55) of its field goal attempts, while limiting the Broncos to just 39.7 percent (27-of-68) from the floor and 18.5 percent (5-of-27) from the three-point arc.
• Carvacho led the Rams with 19 points and a game-high 14 rebounds, while Thistlewood contributed 14 points on 6-of-10 shooting. Redshirt-junior Kris Martin added 13 points and five rebounds, with Paige and Moore each contributing 10. Boise State was led by Justinian Jessup with a game-high 25 points.
(See page 19 for complete box score)

• Colorado State's furious comeback attempt against Boise State fell just short late, handing the Rams their first conference loss in Moby Arena this season, 70-68, Jan. 29. With the loss the Rams dropped to 8-13 on the season and 3-5 in Mountain West action, while Boise State improved to 10-11 including a 5-3 record in league play.
• After redshirt-junior Kris Martin's three-point shot, the Rams rallied and pressed their way into an 18-9 run over the final 4:26 of play. Colorado State continued to rally behind redshirt-junior Anthony Masinton-Bonner's three timely free throws, as CSU would see Bonner and redshirt-junior Hyron Edwards each connect from deep to bring the game within two, 68-66, with just 19 seconds remaining. With the quick foul, the Rams remained in the contest, giving redshirt-senior J.D. Paige an opportunity to connect on two shots from the charity stripe with an intentional miss on the third attempt in the game's last second. The desperation tip rattled off and the Broncos took home the victory.
• Colorado State opened up the night shooting 5-of-6 from the floor to the tune of an 11-4 run just 3:49 into the opening half. Boise State responded with a 13-18 run of their own over the following 8:54. As each team continued to battle, Boise State would eventually take a 28-26 with 4:01 remaining and enter the break up, 35-30.
• Shooting was the story of the game as CSU shot 43.5 percent (27-of-62) on the floor, and just 28.0 percent (7-of-25) from the deep, compared to the Broncos' 57.8 percent field goal percentage (26-of-45) and 43.8 percent (7-of-16) from beyond the three point line. On the game, CSU won the battle of the boards outrebounding Boise State 33-25.
• Led by Martin's 13 points, the Rams had four players reach double figures as Paige and redshirt-junior Nico Carvacho each tallied 12 with Masinton-Bonner adding another 11. Carvacho also tallied a strong 16 rebounds and six assists, while Paige notched seven assists. Boise State junior Justinian Jessup led all players in scoring with 20.
(See page 20 for complete box score)

National Rankings (Team/Players)
(through March 10, 2019)
Team (Top 70 of 351 Division I teams)
Field Goal Percentage                            47.7         34th
Turnovers (Fewest)                                11.4          44th
Assist-to-Turnover Ratio                          1.30         47th
Personal Fouls Per Game                        16.4         67th
Assists Per Game                                  14.8         69th

Players (top 100 nationally)
Nico Carvacho
Rebounds Per Game                             13.2           1st
Offensive Rebounds Per Game                 4.03          4th
Defensive Rebounds Per Game                9.16         2nd
Double Doubles                                   22           2nd
Field Goal Percentage                            58.7          31st
Total Field Goals Made                           210         46th
J.D. Paige
Assist-to-Turnover Ratio                          1.98         94th

Sharing the Load
• Through 31 games, eight different Rams have either led or tied for the team-high points in a game.
• Six different Rams -- redshirt-senior J.D. Paige (11), redshirt-juniors Anthony Masinton-Bonner (4), Nico Carvacho (10) and Kris Martin (4) and freshmen Kendle Moore (3) and Adam Thistlewood (2) -- have each led multiple times.
• The Rams shared the ball well in MW play, recording a combined 51 assists in the two games against Air Force and New Mexico, Jan. 8 and 12, respectively. The two games (26 and 25) are among the top-10 totals in school history and marked the first time since 1993-94 that there were two games in a single season with at least 25 assists. Recently, the Rams had 26 assists on 35 made baskets at San Jose State, Feb. 20, tying the season high.

Carvacho Growing On the Floor
• Redshirt-junior center Nico Carvacho showed his increased comfort level on the floor, growing extensively the last two seasons.
• 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 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 been effective, recording double-doubles in a school-record 22 games and is currently averaging a team-high 16.2 points and a nation-leading 13.2 rebounds per game while shooting a league-best 58.7 percent from the floor (31st in NCAA).
• He has led CSU in rebounding in 29 of 31 games including 22 straight before Feb. 23's contest against Wyoming when he was limited to 20 minutes due to fouls.
• He recorded his second 20-20 game of his career when he finished with 23 points and a career-high 22 rebounds at Long Beach State, Dec. 22. The 22 rebounds are tied for the sixth-best single-game performance in CSU history.
• Carvacho's 23-point/22-rebound game was the second of his career, matching Smith as the only Rams with multiple 20/20 games in their career.
• At UNLV Jan. 2, Carvacho set a new career best with 28 points and added 20 rebounds for his second 20-20 game of the year and school-record third of his career.
• For his play in wins against Air Force and New Mexico, Carvacho was named Mountain West Player of the Week on Jan. 14, the first of his career.
• Carvacho also was named First Team All-Mountain West and All-Defensive Team by the league's media, announced Tuesday.
• In addition, Carvacho was honored on the US Basketball Writers Association All-District squad on Tuesday.
• Carvacho started the season No. 20 on the CSU career rebounding chart. With his 12 rebounds against San Diego State Feb. 12, he became the all-time leading rebounder at CSU. He now has 945 (18th in NCAA among active players), passing previous leader Pat Durham (1985-89) in view at 851.
• Carvacho also is second in CSU offensive rebounds with 335 and is fourth in CSU career defensive rebounds with 610 (since tracking of the two categories began).
• He is now the leader in Mountain West-only double-doubles with 25, passing San Diego State's Kawhi Leonard (2009-11) and Nevada's Jordan Caroline. His 35 career double-doubles are fourth in the league's history (tied for 16th among active NCAA players).
• He was also named a finalist for the 2019 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announced. He is one of 10 players on the list from which the top center in men's college basketball will be recognized.

CSU Career Rebounding Ranks
1.      945     Nico Carvacho (98 Games)             2016-19
2.     851      Pat Durham (125 Games)                1985-89
3.     805     Rich Strong (117 Games)                1982-86

CSU Single-Season Rebounding Ranks (only 300+ boards)
1.      409     Nico Carvacho (31 Games)              2018-19
2.     392     Mike Childress (23 Games)              1969-70
3.     373      Emmanuel Omogbo (36 Games)        2016-17
4.     349     Mike Childress (25 Games)              1970-71
5.     342     Colton Iverson (35 Games)               2012-13
6.     331      Nico Carvacho (32 Games)              2017-18
7.               304                      Jason Smith (30 Games)    2006-07

CSU Single-Season Offensive Rebounds
1.      133      Pierce Hornung (33 Games)             2012-13
2.     125      Nico Carvacho (32 Games)               2017-18
       125      Nico Carvacho (31 Games)              2018-19
3.     121       Tiel Daniels (34 Games)                 2015-16
5.     117        Colton Iverson (35 Games)              2012-13

CSU Single-Season Defensive Rebounds
1.     284     Nico Carvacho (31 Games)              2018-19
2     272      Emmanuel Omogbo (36 Games)        2016-17
CSU Career Double-Doubles
1.      35 Nico Carvacho (2016-pres.) (4th in MW history)
2.     28 Emmanuel Omogbo (2015-17) (9th in MW history)
3.     22 Jason Smith (2005-07)

Mountain West Career Rebounds (All Games)
1.       945     Nico Carvacho (CSU, 97 gm)      2016-pres.
2.      943     Luke Nevill (Utah)                        2005-09
3.      939     Jordan Caroline (Nevada, 103 gm) 2016-pres.

Mountian West Only Game Career Rebounds
1.      578      Nico Carvacho (CSU)                2016-pres.
2.      486     Jordan Caroline (Nevada)            2016-pres.
3.      460     Luke Nevill (Utah)                        2005-09

Mountain West Career Double-Doubles
1.       44 Jordan Caroline (Nevada)                 2016-pres.
2.      40 Kawhi Leonard (SDSU)                        2009-11
        40 Andrew Bogut (Utah)                         2003-05
4.      35 Nico Carvacho (CSU)                     2016-pres.
5.      32 Drew Gordon (New Mexico)                  2010-12
        32 Luke Nevill (Utah)                             2005-09

Mountain West Games Only Career Double-Doubles
1.       25 Nico Carvacho (CSU)                     2016-pres.
2.      22 Jordan Caroline (Nevada)                 2016-pres.
3.      21   Kawhi Leonard (SDSU)                        2009-11
4.      20 Emmanuel Omogbo (CSU)                    2015-17

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
at Colorado                               12/1/18     15        12
Arkansas                                  12/5/18     12         11
Sam Houston State                     12/8/18    20        19
South Dakota                            12/16/18    20        17
at Long Beach State                   12/22/18    23       22
at UNLV                                    1/2/19     28       20
at Fresno State                           1/5/19     23        13
at Utah State                             1/19/19     12        10
at Nevada                                 1/23/19     11         14
Boise State                               1/29/19     12        16
at Air Force                               2/2/19     20        14
Nevada                                    2/6/19     24        17
at Wyoming                               2/9/19     15        17
San Diego State                         2/12/19    20        12
at San Jose State                       2/20/19    18        19
at Boise State                            2/27/19     19        14
at New Mexico                           3/2/19     22        13
Utah State                                 3/5/19     19         11
UNLV 3/9/19                                 13        20
Paige Wheels & Deals
•                                                            Redshirt-senior J.D. Paige has adjusted well to his new role within CSU's offense this season.
• 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 then career high against Montana State, Nov. 14, tallying a team-high 23 points on 9-of-15 shooting from the field in the win.
• He again tied his then career best with a game-high 23 points in the home win over Sam Houston State, Dec. 8.
• Against Utah State March 5, Paige set a new career best with 29 points against the Aggies.
• Paige currently is second for CSU at 15.3 points per game (11th in MW), connecting on 45.4 percent from the floor, including 38.4 percent from the arc, as well as 80.9 percent (72-of-89) from the free throw line.
• For his play in Mountain West action this year, he has been named honorable mention All-MW and to the Mountain West All-Defensive team.
• Paige became the 29th Ram in history to reach the career 1,000-point plateau, getting to the mark with 18 points at No. 7 Nevada Jan. 23. He now has 1,185 career points, ranking 15th in CSU annals. He is also tied for third in career games played with 123 and is fourth in career threes made with 163.
Paige's CSU Career Rankings
Games Played                                  123              t-3rd
Games Started                                  88              t-12th
Minutes Played                                 3,471             4th
Points                                             1,185             15th
Three-Pointers Made                          163               4th
Three-Pointers Attempted                    473             t-4th
Assists                                            288               11th
Steals                                             108              t-7th

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.
• Against New Mexico State Dec. 30, Masinton-Bonner was 5-of-6 from the field and a perfect 5-of-5 at the free throw line for 15 points in 25 minutes of play.
• At Fresno State Jan. 5, the guard recorded a career-high 26 points, connecting on 9-of-14 field goal attempts and making all seven of his free throws.
• Masinton-Bonner did not score in just six minutes of play against Air Force, Jan. 8, after suffering a lower leg injury.
• In his 25 contests played, he is third on the team in scoring at 11.2 points along with 2.5 rebounds and 1.4 assists a game while shooting 51.3 percent from the field, 41.0 percent from the three-point line and a team-best 86.5 percent from the charity stripe.
• Masinton-Bonner missed two games with a lower leg injury but returned with seven points in 20 minutes at Nevada Jan. 23. At Air Force Feb. 2, Masinton-Bonner tallied 16 points on 6-of-7 field goal attempts in the win. However, the injury flared up again as the guard has missed the last five games for the Rams and is questionable for this contest.

Edwards Finding His Way
• Redshirt-junior guard Hyron Edwards is starting to grow within the CSU program after having not played a competitive game for almost two years.
• After not scoring in double figures in his first six games starting with South Dakota (Dec. 16), he has tallied 10 or more points in three of the last five contests for CSU.
• He posted a career-high 20 points in the victory over New Mexico Jan. 12 and is averaging 8.0 points per game in Mountain West play.
• Edwards missed the two of the last three contests due to an ankle injury, including re-injuring it in the season finale, and is questionable for this game.

Newcomers Jumping In
• Five Rams made their debut in the Green and Gold in season-opening 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.
• Redshirt-junior Kris Martin made his season debut against South Dakota State, Nov. 21, and tallied 11 points in 30 minutes of action. He has at least tied for the team lead in scoring over the next two games, including 21 points at Colorado, Dec. 1. Recently, he recorded a collegiate career-best eight assists against Arkansas, Dec. 5.
• Thistlewood tied for game-high honors with 17 points on 6-of-9 shooting from the floor, including a career-best four three pointers against New Mexico State, Dec. 30.
• Moore tallied 23 points on 9-of-13 field goal shooting, including 3-of-6 from the arc, in a victory over Air Force, Jan. 8. He also added career bests of five assists and four steals in the win.
• In the win over New Mexico Jan. 12, Moore handed out a team season-high nine assists while Thistlewood added 16 points, including a then season-best four three-pointers.
• Martin recorded his first CSU career double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds against Utah State, March 5.
• Martin is fourth at 9.2 points per game, Thistlewood is fifth at 8.9 points per gane and Moore is sixth at 8.8 points per game. Thistlewood has scored in double figures in 16 contests, with Moore and Martin each with 11 10+ point games.
• Thistlewood has scored in double figures in each of the last six games, while Martin has 10+ points in the last fivegames, three of five of them CSU victories.
• Thistlewood ranks third in the MW in three-point field goal percentage in conference games.
• Moore and Thistlewood are each shooting 78 percent or better from the charity stripe.

Looking Ahead
• If the Rams win, they will take on No. 1 seed Nevada on Thursday at 12 p.m. PT in the quarterfinals of the Air Force Reserve Mountain West Tournament at the Thomas & Mack Center.
• The contest will be televised on CBS Sports Network
• 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.

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