Colorado State University Athletics

Rams Serve Up Third Win on a Trey
11/12/2025 10:20:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Team drops 16 3s in a victory over Cal Poly
FORT COLLINS – Still sharing the ball and still sizzling on offense, just with a bit of an alteration.
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Having options is never a detriment, which Colorado State proved on Wednesday night. Cal Poly presented a different style and pace than Ali Farokhmanesch's teams have faced in the two prior games, so the Rams posted their third victory via the 3 in a 93-79 victory at Moby Arena.
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The Rams hit 16 trifectas on the night, tied for the third most in a single contest. It's the first time they've drilled that many triples since a win over UNLV in 2021. After two games of dominating the paint, the perimeter was the preferred method against the Mustangs.
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"We've got a team full of shooters," Carey Booth said. "We also have got a team full of guys who can pass the ball to the post and also score on the post, so whatever the game calls for, whatever we need, we're suited to handle it, and that's what we practice for."
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To his point, Colorado State made 29 shots and had 24 assists and eight different players hit triples. Farokhmanesh also noted with pride they only turned it over 11 times. For the second time, the team had five players finish in double figures, with Josh Pascarelli leading the way with 22. He's also the third different Ram to lead the team in scoring.
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Booth posted his second consecutive double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds. The assist lead was taken by a forward (Jevin Muniz with seven), while backup point guard JoJo McIver created six. Two of the Rams in double figures started the night on the bench – Jase Butler (13) and Augustinas Kiudulas (11).
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It was a night when Farokhmanesh figured post points would be hard to come by because of the way Cal Poly defended, amplified even more when both Kyle Jorgensen and Nikola Djapa fouled out.
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The Rams didn't just take what was given, they feasted.
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"I think that's the sign of a good team is when you can win in a variety of ways. We have not won with our defense yet, but we've got to get there next," Farokhmanesh said. "But for us to make 16 3s tonight … The other nights we've been at the foul line and finishing great from two, we knew it was going to be hard to score in the paint tonight because they're a smaller team, so they just sit someone right in the middle pretty much the whole game. So, we knew we were going to have to take more 3s than we typically do. It's nice when you have a Josh Passarelli, a Brandon Rechsteiner, and then Jase Butler comes in and goes 2-for-4, and then Kyle in his 10 minutes goes 1-for-1, Carey makes a 3, so there's contributions across the board."
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Even the halves were a bit different. It was more physical in the second half and a lot more fouls were called – almost double. When the game became chippy, the Rams didn't back down, another thing with pleased the coach, other than the technical assessed to both Djapa and Jorgensen. Still, the fire was there.
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Adjustments were made, but that's what this team has been doing. New faces adjusting to a new place, definitely a system which requires patience to perfect. Even still, the Rams have scored more than 90 points each night out.
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The varied looks are good because they know they'll keep coming, and as a team, they'll keep growing.
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"I think it's super important, especially since we're a team of a bunch of new guys all playing together, and, you know, we're going on the road this upcoming weekend," said Butler, who's output was a career best. "I think it's really prepared us just to have all the different types of teams coming home and play us."
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The Rams felt ready for what was coming, and they opened up hot and pretty much stayed that way. When the game drew tight at one point, Booth started a run of four consecutive made 3s, all coming from a different player.
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Farokhmanesh had few qualms with shot selection, easy when the 16 made 3s came on 36 attempts (a 44.4 percent clip). When they did go to the line, they were superb missing just one of 20 attempts.
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"We celebrate each other's success, so, when I hit a 3, it gives everyone else energy," Booth said. "Then when Auggie hits a 3, it gives me energy, and when Brandon hits a 3 or Josh does a 3, it gives the whole bench energy. That's just how it works; we feed off each other, and we take it, we take all that energy and use it to help us win the game."
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There was plenty to celebrate, and a multitude of players taking part. One day, Farokhmanesh will get his wish, and the Rams will win a game via defense, and he feels it is coming. That, he said, will take some time. But until then, getting 90-plus points a night isn't a bad way to start a season.
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Having options is never a detriment, which Colorado State proved on Wednesday night. Cal Poly presented a different style and pace than Ali Farokhmanesch's teams have faced in the two prior games, so the Rams posted their third victory via the 3 in a 93-79 victory at Moby Arena.
Â
The Rams hit 16 trifectas on the night, tied for the third most in a single contest. It's the first time they've drilled that many triples since a win over UNLV in 2021. After two games of dominating the paint, the perimeter was the preferred method against the Mustangs.
Â
"We've got a team full of shooters," Carey Booth said. "We also have got a team full of guys who can pass the ball to the post and also score on the post, so whatever the game calls for, whatever we need, we're suited to handle it, and that's what we practice for."
Â
To his point, Colorado State made 29 shots and had 24 assists and eight different players hit triples. Farokhmanesh also noted with pride they only turned it over 11 times. For the second time, the team had five players finish in double figures, with Josh Pascarelli leading the way with 22. He's also the third different Ram to lead the team in scoring.
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Booth posted his second consecutive double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds. The assist lead was taken by a forward (Jevin Muniz with seven), while backup point guard JoJo McIver created six. Two of the Rams in double figures started the night on the bench – Jase Butler (13) and Augustinas Kiudulas (11).
Â
It was a night when Farokhmanesh figured post points would be hard to come by because of the way Cal Poly defended, amplified even more when both Kyle Jorgensen and Nikola Djapa fouled out.
Â
The Rams didn't just take what was given, they feasted.
Â
"I think that's the sign of a good team is when you can win in a variety of ways. We have not won with our defense yet, but we've got to get there next," Farokhmanesh said. "But for us to make 16 3s tonight … The other nights we've been at the foul line and finishing great from two, we knew it was going to be hard to score in the paint tonight because they're a smaller team, so they just sit someone right in the middle pretty much the whole game. So, we knew we were going to have to take more 3s than we typically do. It's nice when you have a Josh Passarelli, a Brandon Rechsteiner, and then Jase Butler comes in and goes 2-for-4, and then Kyle in his 10 minutes goes 1-for-1, Carey makes a 3, so there's contributions across the board."
Â
Even the halves were a bit different. It was more physical in the second half and a lot more fouls were called – almost double. When the game became chippy, the Rams didn't back down, another thing with pleased the coach, other than the technical assessed to both Djapa and Jorgensen. Still, the fire was there.
Â
Adjustments were made, but that's what this team has been doing. New faces adjusting to a new place, definitely a system which requires patience to perfect. Even still, the Rams have scored more than 90 points each night out.
Â
The varied looks are good because they know they'll keep coming, and as a team, they'll keep growing.
Â
"I think it's super important, especially since we're a team of a bunch of new guys all playing together, and, you know, we're going on the road this upcoming weekend," said Butler, who's output was a career best. "I think it's really prepared us just to have all the different types of teams coming home and play us."
Â
The Rams felt ready for what was coming, and they opened up hot and pretty much stayed that way. When the game drew tight at one point, Booth started a run of four consecutive made 3s, all coming from a different player.
Â
Farokhmanesh had few qualms with shot selection, easy when the 16 made 3s came on 36 attempts (a 44.4 percent clip). When they did go to the line, they were superb missing just one of 20 attempts.
Â
"We celebrate each other's success, so, when I hit a 3, it gives everyone else energy," Booth said. "Then when Auggie hits a 3, it gives me energy, and when Brandon hits a 3 or Josh does a 3, it gives the whole bench energy. That's just how it works; we feed off each other, and we take it, we take all that energy and use it to help us win the game."
Â
There was plenty to celebrate, and a multitude of players taking part. One day, Farokhmanesh will get his wish, and the Rams will win a game via defense, and he feels it is coming. That, he said, will take some time. But until then, getting 90-plus points a night isn't a bad way to start a season.
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Team Stats
CPO
CSU
FG%
.429
.483
3FG%
.389
.444
FT%
.611
.950
RB
35
38
TO
13
11
STL
5
7
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
Colorado State Basketball (M): Battle 4 Atlantis Pre-Tournament
Tuesday, November 25
Colorado State Basketball (M):Ali Farokhmanesh Post-Game (Denver)
Friday, November 21
Colorado State Basketball (M): Carey Booth (L) & Kyle Jorgensen (R) Post-Game (Denver)
Friday, November 21
Colorado State Basketball (M): Ali Farokhmanesh Post-Game (Cal Poly)
Wednesday, November 12

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