FORT COLLINS – Colorado State probably didn’t think they would be in such a dogfight Tuesday night in their exhibition game against Regis. After a relatively close contest to start, the Rams pulled away in the second half to defeat the Rangers 75-60.
The game started out as the Gian Clavell show, as the senior guard scored eight points and grabbed seven rebounds in the opening nine minutes. CSU got off to a solid start from the field, shooting 43 percent.
But the Rangers worked their way back with some long offensive rebounds and missed open shots from the Rams. And toward the end of the first half, Regis grabbed the lead at 27-26.
CSU ended the half on an 8-2 run, making it 34-29 at intermission. The Rams shot 37 percent in the first 20 minutes of action and just 21 percent from beyond the arc. Maybe more alarming though was that Eustachy’s crew out-rebounded the Rangers by just one and had the same amount of turnovers (seven).
Despite some sloppy play in the second half, CSU started to take control with about seven minutes to play. The Rams got some easy baskets inside the paint and forced Regis to take difficult shots. And with 2:41 remaining, CSU had a commanding 67-56 lead.
At that point, there was no doubting that the Rams would get the win.
PLAYERS OF THE GAME
Emmanuel Omogbo – One of the team leaders, Omogbo totaled 16 points to go with nine rebounds. He also nailed all six of his free throws.
Gian Clavell – The Rams go-to scorer finished with 13 points and 12 rebounds. He played a team-high 36 minutes.
J.D. Paige – The lefty had a line of 13 points, four rebounds and five assists.
QUOTE OF THE GAME
“It never is written, but I want to be the best teacher at Colorado State. And with that said, we’ve got world-renowned teachers. But I need the best classroom, or a very receptive classroom to teach these guys. And at halftime, I was just able to go in there and not raise my voice, but just make my points. After the game, I just make my points. I just love these guys.” – Larry Eustachy on how teachable this CSU team is
BY THE NUMBERS
22 – Percent the Rams shot from three-point range. CSU was just 4-of-18 from long distance, a far cry from their success last season
11 – The rebounding difference in the game. While both teams managed to grab 12 offensive rebounds, the Rams edged the Rangers 30-19 on the defensive side.
17 – Turnovers for CSU. Regis, on the other hand, had 14.
LASTING IMPACT
It was an exhibition, but the Rams have some work to do. Whether it’s finding a rhythm on offense, taking care of the ball, or rebounding from start to finish, CSU has plenty to shore up between now and Sunday.
WHAT’S NEXT
CSU opens regular season play Sunday afternoon when they host visiting New Mexico State. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. at Moby Arena.
