Rams win one for Emmanuel Omogbo, beat Air Force 83-79

It was a weird one down in Colorado Springs, but not because of the game, because of the tragedy the day before.

Forward Emmanuel Omogbo’s parents, along with his two-year old niece and nephew, died in a house fire the night before. But, there was Omogbo playing for his Colorado State Rams against the rival Air Force Falcons, somehow, some way. Interestingly, Omogbo didn’t start the game, like he usually does, because head coach Larry Eustachy decided to shake up the starting lineup before the tragedy.

There was absolutely no way the Rams were going to lose this game. They had to win it for Omogbo, and they did just that, winning 83-79 in the end.

Colorado State started on roll, taking the 18-11 lead seven minutes into the game, and then Prentiss Nixon drew a charge, like he almost always does. Air Force went on a 6-0 run to bring it to a one-point game before power forward Tiel Daniels scored six straight points alone, then Antwan Scott nailed a 35-footer and Joe De Ciman hit a 3-pointer of his own for the 30-19 lead. The name of the game in the first half for CSU was their 3-point shooting, making 8-14 from the field while Air Force made only 4-10 from downtown. At halftime, the Rams led 41-31.

And the second half started out just as the first half ended; Colorado State actually increased their lead to 17 on the strength of Antwan Scott’s phenomenal 3-point shooting. But then the Falcons awoke. Air Force went on a 9-2 run to bring it to 57-49 Rams, and then, with CSU up 62-51, the Falcons went on a 13-0 run to take the 64-62 lead with 10 minutes to go. During Colorado State’s drought, they missed eight straight shots and went through five-plus minutes scoreless from the field. Finally, Scott hit field goal, a 3-pointer to give the Rams the 71-67 lead with five minutes to play. It was close all the way down the stretch as the Falcons wouldn’t let CSU pull away. But, clutch free throw shooting by Colorado State – especially by freshman J.D. Paige led to the victory.

STAR OF THE GAME

Antwan Scott was the star of the game yet again. Scott scored 27 points on the night to lead all scorers, making 9-14 shots from the field. He also hit 6-11 from downtown, adding four rebounds with three assists.

PLAY OF THE GAME

Antwan Scott’s 3-pointer with 5:01 to go in regulation was the play of the game. CSU was on a crazy long scoring drought, going 6:40 without a field goal, when Scott finally canned the deep shot to push CSU’s lead to four, at 71-67.

TURNING POINT

Again, the turning point was Colorado State’s scoring drought in the middle of the second half. The Rams let the Falcons back into the game and Air Force even took the lead, but a scoring drought of their own allowed CSU to win the contest.

BY THE NUMBERS

Air Force actually out-shot CSU 52-46 percent from the floor and 45-40 percent from 3-point range.

The Falcons also out-rebounded the Rams 37-28; but somehow Colorado State won the game.

CSU turned the ball over only six times on the game.

LASTING IMPACT

Emmanuel Omogbo's reaction at end of game tonight. #heartbreaking! #csurams pic.twitter.com/mxlD22i7Hh

— Eric Christensen (@cbseric) January 21, 2016

This is the Rams ninth straight win over the Falcons.

WHAT’S NEXT

Colorado State is off on Saturday, when they usually play. Larry Eustachy is traveling with Omogbo back east to Maryland to be with the player and his family. Then, sometime later in the week, the rest of the team will join Omogbo as the service.

Give money to Emmanuel Omogbo following his heartbreaking tragedy here. At the time of publication, over $38,000 had been raised for him.