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Colorado State University Athletics
Friday, November 21
Fort Collins, CO
7:00 p.m.
Colorado State
4-1,0-0Mountain West
81
vs
83
Denver
2-3,0-0Summit League
1
2
F
Denver
41
42
83
Colorado St.
33
48
81
Rams Caught in the Undertow Against Denver
11/21/2025 10:41:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Despite a late surge, defensive lapses condemned the Rams to a 83-81 loss
When it's been smooth sailing, a big wave in the distance is harder to anticipate.
On Friday, Colorado State took on Denver in an 83-81 loss. There were signs of stormy weather in the distance, but the clear skies the Rams had experienced so far were the main thing in view.
CSU had just come off its first road win against Loyola Chicago ready for more. DU had just lost their home opener and had only won one of its three road games.
Most all signs had pointed to a CSU advantage, but the first half didn't flow that way.
There was a stretch where the Rams' normal offensive dominance wasn't hitting in the way it needed to, making only three of their seven 3-point attempts. On the other hand, the Pioneers continued to sink shots from all around the floor making 12-of-19. Their lead only grew larger as time went on with the first half ending 41-33.
The eight-point difference represented bigger waves forming in the distance.
"I knew we needed a fiery start," Kyle Jorgensen said. "I feel like we had a lack of energy in the first half, whether that was on offense or defense. I feel like that's something I can bring to the team night in and night out. Just competing with passion. I love the game, and I want to be competitive."
The urgency to right the ship grew deeper in the second half, and breaking through the suffocating DU defense became priority number one.
But when looking at the bigger picture, coach Ali Farokhmanesh gives credit where it is due.
"Starting out, I give a ton of credit to Denver," Farokhmanesh said. "I thought their defensive gameplan, they executed it well. It was clear they were trying to take away Josh's (Pascarelli) and Brandon's (Rechsteiner) 3s more than anybody else and they were effective in that."
Normally high-scorers, Rechsteiner ended the night with 11 and Pascarelli with four. The majority of the offensive load laid on the shoulders of Kyle Jorgensen who ended the night with 29—27 of which he scored in the second half, a personal surge that nearly pulled CSU back to calmer waters.
It all proved too much, however, as the clock kept ticking down and lead continued to switch deeper into the second half. Some might say the Rams overlooked the intensity of the Pioneer team, but for them, it came down to defensive lapses.
"Nothing really surprised us, we take every scout with the same seriousness," Carey Booth said. "At the end of the day, we have to play better defense. They were making some tough shots and some shots that were late to close out on. They hooped the whole game, so we have to be better."
Better doesn't necessarily mean ruminating on the things that didn't quite go right, but taking action to fix them in the practice space. Tightening the sails so to speak, before the next storm rolls in.
And in basketball, the next wave always comes sooner than you think.
"Stuff like this happens and you have to come with a 'next game' mentality," Jorgensen said. "You can dwell on the game overnight but as soon as you wake up the next day, you have to put this one behind you and look forward."
Looking ahead to the ebbs and flows of the coming season can feel daunting, but it's all a part of navigating the long journey.Â
Sleep off the loss, break out the film and prepare harder for the next swell. It's something the 2024-25 team knew all too well starting the season 5-5.
"Losses suck," Farokhmanesh said. "(But) it's part of basketball. It's the beauty of sports. You're feeling different about it but how do you handle that? I think the biggest thing for us going forward is understanding that we did have some really good defensive possessions but at the end of the day it's the consistency of doing it over and over again.
"It's our fifth game of the season; we have 27 left."
Because seasons, like oceans, aren't defined by one wave—but how a team learns to stay steady within the rise and fall of them. For CSU, Friday's loss didn't capsize them but taught them something.
Defensively, they have to be better.
As well as a reminder: even in calm stretches storms can form quickly. The important thing is to stay ready for them.
On Friday, Colorado State took on Denver in an 83-81 loss. There were signs of stormy weather in the distance, but the clear skies the Rams had experienced so far were the main thing in view.
CSU had just come off its first road win against Loyola Chicago ready for more. DU had just lost their home opener and had only won one of its three road games.
Most all signs had pointed to a CSU advantage, but the first half didn't flow that way.
There was a stretch where the Rams' normal offensive dominance wasn't hitting in the way it needed to, making only three of their seven 3-point attempts. On the other hand, the Pioneers continued to sink shots from all around the floor making 12-of-19. Their lead only grew larger as time went on with the first half ending 41-33.
The eight-point difference represented bigger waves forming in the distance.
"I knew we needed a fiery start," Kyle Jorgensen said. "I feel like we had a lack of energy in the first half, whether that was on offense or defense. I feel like that's something I can bring to the team night in and night out. Just competing with passion. I love the game, and I want to be competitive."
The urgency to right the ship grew deeper in the second half, and breaking through the suffocating DU defense became priority number one.
But when looking at the bigger picture, coach Ali Farokhmanesh gives credit where it is due.
"Starting out, I give a ton of credit to Denver," Farokhmanesh said. "I thought their defensive gameplan, they executed it well. It was clear they were trying to take away Josh's (Pascarelli) and Brandon's (Rechsteiner) 3s more than anybody else and they were effective in that."
Normally high-scorers, Rechsteiner ended the night with 11 and Pascarelli with four. The majority of the offensive load laid on the shoulders of Kyle Jorgensen who ended the night with 29—27 of which he scored in the second half, a personal surge that nearly pulled CSU back to calmer waters.
It all proved too much, however, as the clock kept ticking down and lead continued to switch deeper into the second half. Some might say the Rams overlooked the intensity of the Pioneer team, but for them, it came down to defensive lapses.
"Nothing really surprised us, we take every scout with the same seriousness," Carey Booth said. "At the end of the day, we have to play better defense. They were making some tough shots and some shots that were late to close out on. They hooped the whole game, so we have to be better."
Better doesn't necessarily mean ruminating on the things that didn't quite go right, but taking action to fix them in the practice space. Tightening the sails so to speak, before the next storm rolls in.
And in basketball, the next wave always comes sooner than you think.
"Stuff like this happens and you have to come with a 'next game' mentality," Jorgensen said. "You can dwell on the game overnight but as soon as you wake up the next day, you have to put this one behind you and look forward."
Looking ahead to the ebbs and flows of the coming season can feel daunting, but it's all a part of navigating the long journey.Â
Sleep off the loss, break out the film and prepare harder for the next swell. It's something the 2024-25 team knew all too well starting the season 5-5.
"Losses suck," Farokhmanesh said. "(But) it's part of basketball. It's the beauty of sports. You're feeling different about it but how do you handle that? I think the biggest thing for us going forward is understanding that we did have some really good defensive possessions but at the end of the day it's the consistency of doing it over and over again.
"It's our fifth game of the season; we have 27 left."
Because seasons, like oceans, aren't defined by one wave—but how a team learns to stay steady within the rise and fall of them. For CSU, Friday's loss didn't capsize them but taught them something.
Defensively, they have to be better.
As well as a reminder: even in calm stretches storms can form quickly. The important thing is to stay ready for them.
Team Stats
Denver
CSU
FG%
.509
.487
3FG%
.476
.444
FT%
.789
.795
RB
22
33
TO
4
11
STL
4
2
Game Leaders
Pts
29
FGM
7
3FGM
3
FTM
12
Pts
18
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
10
Pts
11
FGM
3
3FGM
3
FTM
2
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's BasketballColorado 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
Colorado State Basketball (M): Jase Butler (L) & Carey Booth (R) Post-Game (Cal Poly)
Wednesday, November 12