Sunday, December 17
Fort Collins, Colo.
3 pm MT
Colorado State
66
vs
58
Texas State
Photo by: Javon Harris
Rams Hang On For 66-58 Win Over Visiting Texas State
12/17/2017 7:36:00 PM | Men's Basketball
CSU uses outstanding free throw shooting to come away with their fifth straight home win this season
FORT COLLINS, Colo. – Colorado State found a way to survive poor field goal shooting in the second half to survive and earn a 66-58 win over visiting Texas State, Dec. 17. Snapping a two-game skid, the Rams improved to 5-6 overall with the Bobcats dropping to an identical 5-6 mark.
The Rams built an 11-point halftime margin but struggled to make it stick in the second half due to an inability to make shots from the floor. Texas State also had its challenges in making shots as CSU held the visitors to a season-low point total for an opposing team and the second-lowest field goal percentage. The Bobcats kept chipping away at the margin, getting it down to a single possession on two occasions, the last coming at 61-58 with 2:29 to play in the game. However, the hosts had the answer on a pair of free throws by junior guard Prentiss Nixon and then a three-pointer by redshirt-sophomore guard Anthony Bonner in the final minute that sealed the deal.
The opening 20 minutes saw five ties and six lead changes, as the two teams saw their first action after a week of final exams. Texas State saw its last lead of the game at 24-23 with 6:52 remaining in the first half. From there, CSU took the lead for good on a layup by senior forward Che Bob and outscored the Bobcats 19-7 the rest of the way to enter the locker room at half with a 42-31 lead on the strength of 55.6 percent (15-of-27) from the field.
For the contest, Colorado State finished at 40.9 percent (18-of-44) from the floor, also going 35.3 percent (6-of-17) behind the three-point line. Texas State was limited to 37.8 percent (17-of-45) from the field and 26.1 percent (6-of-23) behind the arc. The Rams were stellar at the charity stripe, connecting on 80.0 percent (24-of-30), while the Bobcats were just 69.2 percent (18-of-26). Texas State held a slim 32-30 advantage on the boards.
Bonner led the Rams with a career-high tying 17 points on the afternoon, going 5-of-7 from the field, 4-of-5 beyond the arc and 3-of-4 at the free throw line. He also added three rebounds, two assists and a pair of steals in a career-high 33 minutes of play. Nixon finished with 15 points, going a perfect 10-of-10 at the free throw line and chipping in five rebounds. Nijal Pearson led the Bobcats with 14 points, while Alex Peacock tallied 13.
STAT OF THE GAME…
The Rams overcame 3-of-17 (17.6 percent) on field goal attempts in the second half by connecting on 17-of-21 free throw attempts (81.0 percent) in the final 20 minutes to come away with the win.
NOTES…
• The Rams improved their home winning streak to five games and regular-season home win streak to eight.
• CSU has now won both meetings all-time with Texas State, both occurring in Fort Collins.
• Nixon is the first CSU player to play all 40 minutes in a game since Gian Clavell did it against Charleston in the first round of the NIT on March 14, 2017.
• The win moves head coach Larry Eustachy within five wins of Stew Morrill for second on the CSU career coaching chart and ahead of former Utah coach Rick Majerus on the NCAA Division I all-time list with 518.
NEXT UP…
• Colorado State is back on the court quickly with the second of three consecutive home games to conclude non-conference play, hosting Arkansas-Fort Smith, Tuesday, Dec. 19 at 7 p.m. MT.
• The contest between the Rams and Lions, currently ranked as high as No. 5 in NCAA Division II, will be televised on the MW 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.
The Rams built an 11-point halftime margin but struggled to make it stick in the second half due to an inability to make shots from the floor. Texas State also had its challenges in making shots as CSU held the visitors to a season-low point total for an opposing team and the second-lowest field goal percentage. The Bobcats kept chipping away at the margin, getting it down to a single possession on two occasions, the last coming at 61-58 with 2:29 to play in the game. However, the hosts had the answer on a pair of free throws by junior guard Prentiss Nixon and then a three-pointer by redshirt-sophomore guard Anthony Bonner in the final minute that sealed the deal.
The opening 20 minutes saw five ties and six lead changes, as the two teams saw their first action after a week of final exams. Texas State saw its last lead of the game at 24-23 with 6:52 remaining in the first half. From there, CSU took the lead for good on a layup by senior forward Che Bob and outscored the Bobcats 19-7 the rest of the way to enter the locker room at half with a 42-31 lead on the strength of 55.6 percent (15-of-27) from the field.
For the contest, Colorado State finished at 40.9 percent (18-of-44) from the floor, also going 35.3 percent (6-of-17) behind the three-point line. Texas State was limited to 37.8 percent (17-of-45) from the field and 26.1 percent (6-of-23) behind the arc. The Rams were stellar at the charity stripe, connecting on 80.0 percent (24-of-30), while the Bobcats were just 69.2 percent (18-of-26). Texas State held a slim 32-30 advantage on the boards.
Bonner led the Rams with a career-high tying 17 points on the afternoon, going 5-of-7 from the field, 4-of-5 beyond the arc and 3-of-4 at the free throw line. He also added three rebounds, two assists and a pair of steals in a career-high 33 minutes of play. Nixon finished with 15 points, going a perfect 10-of-10 at the free throw line and chipping in five rebounds. Nijal Pearson led the Bobcats with 14 points, while Alex Peacock tallied 13.
STAT OF THE GAME…
The Rams overcame 3-of-17 (17.6 percent) on field goal attempts in the second half by connecting on 17-of-21 free throw attempts (81.0 percent) in the final 20 minutes to come away with the win.
NOTES…
• The Rams improved their home winning streak to five games and regular-season home win streak to eight.
• CSU has now won both meetings all-time with Texas State, both occurring in Fort Collins.
• Nixon is the first CSU player to play all 40 minutes in a game since Gian Clavell did it against Charleston in the first round of the NIT on March 14, 2017.
• The win moves head coach Larry Eustachy within five wins of Stew Morrill for second on the CSU career coaching chart and ahead of former Utah coach Rick Majerus on the NCAA Division I all-time list with 518.
NEXT UP…
• Colorado State is back on the court quickly with the second of three consecutive home games to conclude non-conference play, hosting Arkansas-Fort Smith, Tuesday, Dec. 19 at 7 p.m. MT.
• The contest between the Rams and Lions, currently ranked as high as No. 5 in NCAA Division II, will be televised on the MW 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.