FORT COLLINS, CO. — The bigger they are, the harder they fall.
Boise State entered Wednesday night’s matchup as the hottest team in the Mountain West. With a 13-game winning streak to their name and a top 15 NET ranking, the Broncos have quickly established themselves as one of the conference’s best chances for an at-large bid with an aggressive approach on defense and an exhausting ability to make shots on offense.
With a star-studded roster featuring a true NBA talent in Derrick Alston, it’s easy to see how the Broncos have been able to make light work of opponents like New Mexico, San Jose State and Wyoming. In fact, aside from their opening loss at Houston, it had been two months since the Broncos had even trailed by double digits.
As Boise State found out on Wednesday night, though, Colorado State is considered “giant slayers” for a reason; and the Rams are no Lobos or Spartans. In front of a national TV audience, the Rams (12-3, 9-2) handed the Broncos (13-2, 9-1) their first league loss of the season in what was a dominant showing for the Green & Gold.
In the 78-56 victory, the Rams were led by sophomore forward David Roddy, who was an absolute monster on both ends of the floor. The versatile big man was a menace in the paint, often bullying his way to the rim through the taller but slimmer defenders. He knocked down a couple of clutch jump shots, made his presence felt on the glass, and he arguably had the two biggest highlight plays of the game — the first being a monster block to start the second half, and the second being a vicious dunk just moments after getting called for a questionable charge. When it was all said and done, Roddy led the Rams in scoring (27 points), rebounds (15) and free throw attempts (8).
“He makes a play at least once per game that just shocks you,” Isaiah Stevens said of Roddy’s performance.
Along with Roddy, Stevens proved to be an iron man in the victory as well. Stevens led all players in the game with 40 minutes, as he never once left the floor for Niko Medved’s Rams. The reigning MW Freshman of the Year had a relatively quiet night when it came to scoring but his presence as a facilitator was a big reason the offense was able to function so smoothly. In the end Stevens finished with 12 points, 10 assists, and an efficient shooting performance from the floor (57 percent).
As a team CSU shot 56 percent from the floor, 40 percent from 3-point land and 75 percent from the charity stripe — all of which were better showings than the visiting Broncos. Despite being the smaller team, the Rams also managed to completely control the glass, finishing with 16 more rebounds than their counterparts — a big reason why the transition offense was able to click. Ultimately, though, this one came down to stellar team defense.
“I thought our defense was outstanding,” Niko Medved said postgame. “It was the reason we won won the game.”
After taking down the Broncos in the first of two games this week, the Rams will be looking to put themselves in the driver’s seat for a regular season conference title with another win on Friday night. Considering CSU has already split on the road with Utah State and San Diego State, a pair of wins over the Broncos would be massive in setting CSU apart from the rest of the field with roughly six weeks to go.
Beyond NCAA Tournament implications, however, Friday night will be even more important for the local community. CSU will have a chance to pick up an important Quad 1 victory but with the Rams once again teaming up with UC Health to honor local cancer patients on the backs of their jerseys, the home contest will be much bigger than just basketball.
“It’s going to be the biggest moment of the season,” Roddy said postgame.
Next Up: Boise State on Friday (9:00 p.m. MT).
