CSU trounces NAU with dominant second half performance

FORT COLLINS, Colo. —  The Rams (2-0) started slow against the Lumberjacks (0-3) Monday night. Colorado State missed eight 3’s in a row — most of which were wide-open looks — before Isaiah Stevens finally cashed a difficult step-back jumper with 1:45 remaining in the first half. Once Stevens broke the seal, though, those same open looks that weren’t falling early started to go in. 

“I thought our defense was terrific to start the game. We just couldn’t make a shot,” Niko Medved said postgame. “I thought Adam (Thistlewood) had three of the best looks that he’s had in a year and a half and they didn’t go in.”

Medved continued by crediting Northern Arizona for taking advantage of CSU’s inability to capitalize on the early defensive success and making a run on the Rams right before halftime; but he then emphasized that he was proud of his team for coming out of the locker room and immediately responding in the second half. After leading by just 3 points at halftime, CSU dominated the final 20 minutes, closing the game on a 31-2 run, and ultimately leaving with a 91-52 victory. 

“I absolutely loved their approach,” Medved said. “They really guarded their tails off and then sure enough Kendle (Moore) makes a 3, Adam makes a 3, and the next thing you know you really start to get into a rhythm that way. That was fun to watch.”

As a team CSU finished 11-of-22 from 3-point land for the game. In the second half, though, the Rams shot a blistering 77 percent from deep (10-of-13) — a testament to how dangerous the perimeter offense can be when things are really clicking. But what’s also encouraging is that after recording just 5 fast break points in the first half, CSU more than doubled that total in the second (12) — showing what the Rams can do when they attack in transition.  

“It really was a (strength) of ours last year. When you look at the numbers, we were one of the more efficient teams in the country in transition,” Medved said. “That’s always been something that’s a huge emphasis and I really believe in that — defense to offense. 

“We let multiple guys handle the ball and we space it. I think with good offensive teams, oftentimes you get your best shots in the first 8-10 seconds of the shot clock. And then sometimes it’s the last 8-10 seconds. So that’s what we want is to get out and run and really share the ball. I thought we did that well at times. I think we can be even better that way.”

Medved explained that he felt that there were times when guys dribbled a little too much in transition rather than moving the basketball. But ultimately he thought that the Rams really did well in this area — especially in the second half when guys were running the floor, spacing things out and sinking shots. 

“It’s really fun to play that way,” Medved said. “And then what you want to see is the defensive energy continuing to pick up. Knock a ball loose or get a defensive rebound and get out and run. So, I thought that was really good.”

In particular, Medved credited CSU’s two most experienced players, Moore and Thistlewood, for their defensive effort and willingness to put their bodies on the line. Both players dove for loose balls in the second half and according to the third-year Rams coach, those were the sequences that really stood out. 

“Just that mindset of getting a little gritty and getting on the floor — I thought that was awesome,” Medved said. 

Really, though, there wasn’t much for Medved to gripe over because his team took care of business in every way imaginable. The Rams out-shot the Lumberjacks by nearly 20 percent from the floor. They were the better 3-point shooting team and committed half as many turnovers. CSU also won the glass and owned the paint with a scoring differential of +26. Simply stated, it was total domination. 

“I didn’t have much to complain about in the second half,” Medved said. “I thought our approach was awesome.”

Following a dominant home victory, the Rams will now head out on the road for the first time this season. After beating a pair of smaller programs, the Rams have their first real test with Saint Mary’s on Saturday night (6:00 p.m. MT). 

“I really admire them, what they do, how they build their program,” Medved said of Saint Mary’s.

“We’re a team that loves to compete and Saint Mary’s is a really good team,” Isaiah Stevens added. “We’re going to have to prepare, we’re going to have to be locked in, and we’re going to have to put together a game plan that helps us go out there and be successful.”

A win over the Gaels would be massive for CSU’s reputation across the country — which could always come into play if the Rams are in contention for the postseason this spring. Really, though, it’s just good to see the Green & Gold back on the hardwood. 

“At this point, I’m sure y’all have heard it a million times, but we just want to play,” Stevens said. “Regardless of who it is or where it is, we just want to get out there and play — and Saint Mary’s is going to be a great test for us because they’re a really good basketball team.”