Effort, energy and emotion; Rams hoops have lacked them all this season.
The Colorado State Rams have been lackadaisical, played the game half-hearted, pussy-footed around instead of attacking contests with the raw intensity needed to overwhelm an opponent.
On Wednesday night, Prentiss Nixon had that intensity and energy which was infectious as the freshman led by example. Sure, he didn’t score a point, but this still will go down as the freshman’s breakout game, no doubt about it.
Nixon brought the needed extra effort on defense early on which provided the spark for the Rams 97-72 victory over the Lions.
To begin the contest – much as they have all season long – Colorado state slept walked and found themselves down in their own house, mighty Moby Arena. In fact, the Rams trailed to the DII Arkansas-Fort Smith Lions for nearly the first 14 minutes of the game, until someone changed the dynamic completely.
Nixon’s not a crook, but he did steal the momentum of the game thanks to his all-out effort on both ends, but most notably on defense.
While everyone stood and watched, there was Nixon poking a pass away, diving on the floor and almost creating a turnover. Then the 6-foot-1, 180-pound guard took a charge, and later another one, allowing his body to be bulldozed by bigger opponents to give his team the ball back. But Nixon’s most memorable play came when a rebound was poked out past half court and he came running and jumping in, saving the ball as he flipped over the scorers table. Nixon sold out, the rest of the Rams had to, as well.
His energy was clearly infectious, as Gian Clavell started playing harder on the defensive end, as did others.
“What changed in the whole game was freshman Prentiss Nixon,” senior leader Joe De Ciman said following the win. “We came out slow, which, as seniors, we can’t do that. It starts with me. We need to come out more energized. But, Prentiss was the difference in the game. You saw him flying all over the place, flying out of bounds, so that what I attribute that to.
“He’s special, 18, 19 years old,” De Ciman continued. “A freshman and we’re feeding off him. We saw him diving on the floor. He’s the only one diving on the floor, taking charges. I think he drew two charges that game. Every game he’s been in I think he’s drawn a charge. Seeing that makes us go harder but, it’s crazy it’s a freshman. He already has that kind of senior leadership already.
“When someone’s not there mentally, physically, having a bad night; we’re there to pick each other up. And Prentiss had us tonight,” De Ciman finished.
Nixon’s three assists, two charges and that remarkable rebound all came in the first half as his Rams mounted their comeback to take the first lead of the game with 6:12 before the break. He was the catalyst, he was the x-factor; Prentiss Nixon was the reason the Rams won 97-72.
“If they all played like Prentiss…he changed the game,” head coach Larry Eustachy said after the win. “He was terrific. We’re worried he could have a concussion, so that could effect us, but I could see him beating out one of our guards before it’s over.”
Of course, only 2,523 people saw it unfold, so he will certainly be a focal point for fans the next time CSU plays inside Moby Arena when USC Upstate comes to Fort Collins Monday, Dec. 21 with tip-off scheduled for 7 p.m. MT.
And, when they do go to Moby, it’s likely fans will fall in love with the freshman Prentiss Nixon as he grows over the next four years in Fort Collins.
