Colorado State University Athletics
Colorado State
12-10,3-8Mountain West
Wyoming
13-9,4-7Mountain West
CSU Goes Cold From Deep in Border War Loss
1/31/2026 11:38:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Rams dominate the paint but can’t overcome 17% 3-point shooting
LARAMIE, Wyo. — Sometimes when the first shot doesn't fall, the mental hurdle grows with every miss.
That was the reality Colorado State confronted Saturday night in Laramie, where the Rams fell 68-57 to Border War rival Wyoming in the first of their two meetings this season.
A rivalry road game rarely offers grace, and for CSU, the margin for error shrank quickly. Early offensive frustration compounded with Wyoming's physicality and a raucous home crowd, creating a night where the Rams never fully found their footing. When perimeter shooting deserted them, the Cowboys capitalized on every opening.
"We made a conscious effort to go inside, and on the first play we did," Coach Ali Farokhmanesh said. "But we've got to be tougher in the paint. I thought they were really physical with us and knocked us off balance. We got a little trigger happy from three to start the game, but I thought it evened out as the game went on."
The Rams opened the night 0-for-5 from beyond the arc and never truly recovered. They finished shooting just 17% from 3, a stark contrast to their season averages and a sharp deviation from the approach which has fueled much of their offensive success. Meanwhile, Wyoming's defense fed off the misses, and the energy inside the Arena-Auditorium only intensified with each empty possession.
Playing on the road always carries disadvantages, but rivalry intensity magnified every mistake. Wyoming leaned into the moment, applying constant ball pressure and crowding driving lanes, daring CSU to beat them from the perimeter. When those shots didn't fall, offensive possessions grew rushed and disjointed.
"All I can say is they punched us in the face and we kind of weren't ready for it," Kyle Jorgensen said. "They started the game off strong and we started slow and we didn't lead the whole game. So it was kind of our mentality from the start, it wasn't where it needed to be and they took off and ran with it."
Despite the early shooting woes, CSU stayed within striking distance for much of the first half by attacking the paint and limiting second-chance opportunities. Their interior scoring kept them afloat, even as Wyoming began to find a rhythm from deep.
CSU's resilience surfaced again after halftime. The Rams emerged with renewed urgency, tightening the gap to four points midway through the third quarter. Defensive stops stacked up, and finishing inside began to improve. Each push, however, was met with an immediate Wyoming response—often from beyond the arc.
"I'll give them credit, they went 12 for 25 from three," Farokhmanesh said. "They flipped the script on us. They've been a better two-point team all season, and we've been a better three-point team. We won the paint 36–14, and if you told me that before the game, I would've said no way."
That reversal defined the night. CSU dominated inside yet couldn't leverage that advantage into momentum because Wyoming consistently punished defensive rotations with timely perimeter shots. The Cowboys' efficiency from deep stretched the floor and neutralized CSU's interior success.
Much of that shooting surge came from sophomore Khaden Bennett, who delivered a season-high 22 points. Bennett's breakout performance caught CSU off guard, even within a prepared defensive game plan.
"I thought the physicality got to us early," Farokhmanesh said. "We started finishing in the paint later, and that brought us back. But we missed a lot of shots from good shooters who make those all season. That happens. And they had a guy who hasn't shot well all year go 75% from three. Sometimes that's basketball, and it just sucks."
As the game wore on, the mental challenge became just as significant as the tactical one. CSU's players are no strangers to hostile environments, but chasing a deficit in a rivalry setting can test patience. The temptation to force quick shots or revert to familiar habits loomed throughout the second half.
"There's ups and downs of a long season," Jorgensen said. "We started conference play on top of the world, it felt like, and when it tumbles down a little bit, people tend to panic. I feel like that's the opposite of what we're doing. Now we're getting closer than ever and want to make a push in these last nine games."
Jorgensen, who finished in double figures alongside Jevin Muniz, continues to shoulder heavy defensive attention. Wyoming frequently sent double teams his way, forcing quick decisions and limiting clean looks.
"Yeah, every team gives different looks and that's what conference is all about," Jorgensen said. "The scout is different every game, you're going to see different coverages and me personally, I got to be better on staying aggressive while also finding drive reads."
The turning point came with just over five minutes remaining. Clinging to a manageable deficit, CSU saw Wyoming rip off a decisive 12–0 run that effectively sealed the game. Missed shots, rushed possessions and mounting foul trouble compounded the Rams' struggles during that stretch.
Foul issues continued deep into the second half including a technical foul assessed to freshman Jojo McIver with five minutes remaining. The call further disrupted the Rams' rhythm and erased any remaining momentum as Wyoming converted at the free-throw line.
Muniz provided a late spark with a basket off the glass, but by then the hole was too deep. The Cowboys controlled the final minutes with poise, feeding off the crowd and draining the clock with disciplined execution.
Starting the season atop the Mountain West standings set a high bar for CSU. Sustaining that level through conference play, however, demands consistency through offensive droughts and emotional swings—challenges the Rams are still navigating as the season enters its final stretch.
