Second half comeback rallies Rams to season opener win

FORT COLLINS – Just days after their star player was arrested for the second time in the last 16 months, Colorado State found a way to win a basketball game without Gian Clavell. The Rams knocked off New Mexico State in Moby Arena 64-61 Sunday afternoon.

CSU couldn’t have looked much worse offensively in the first half, shooting just 26 percent from the field, including 1-of-11 from three-point range. Couple that with the Aggies’ struggles to put the ball in the basket and it made for an ugly first 20 minutes.

The Rams and Aggies combined for 23 personal fouls and 16 turnovers heading into halftime with New Mexico State leading 32-29.

But Larry Eustachy got clutch performances from a number of guys, including Braden Koelliker. The junior college transfer made a living at the free throw line, hitting 13 of 15 attempts from the charity stripe. He finished with 21 points and nine rebounds.

More importantly though, Koelliker seemed to take on a leadership role that the Rams desperately needed with all the uncertainty surrounding Clavell’s situation.

“It just came to me on the court,” Koelliker said, referencing where his newfound leadership came from. “I think that we weren’t talking and someone needed to talk and so I just said I need to speak up. And it just fell into place. Whether that be my role or whether it’s not, I think it helped. And I think we can all step up, no matter what the day is and take a role just like that.”

Koelliker wasn’t the only Ram who stepped up. Che Bob, who Eustachy admitted was pressing in Tuesday’s exhibition against Regis, came off the bench and scored 11 points off the bench to go with eight rebounds.

Eustachy said postgame that Bob, another junior college transfer, exchanged texts with him for several hours after the Regis game. The Rams’ head coach said it was all about the “love, believe-in, buy-in.”

Said Eustachy: “I just love his attitude about being a student. I’m probably happiest for him because he’s really struggled. He’s like a thoroughbred that wants to run and take the lead the whole time and just outrun everybody. Now he’s at a level where he really has to think why he plays and play him in more of a way that impacts winning. And he’s bought totally into it.”

This was just game one, but the Rams can take a lot of positives despite the offensive woes. CSU shot an unsightly 33 percent for the game and still managed to come away with the win.

They did it with defense and rebounding, the two cornerstones of Eustachy’s coaching. The green and gold out-rebounded the Aggies 47-35 and outscored them 16-2 in second chance points.

“We were dancing in the locker room,” said Eustachy. “I made them put Johnny Cash on. I mean I would never do that. But I feel like I can do that with these guys and then bust their fannies tomorrow morning in practice.”

PLAYER OF THE GAME

Braden Koelliker – Of all the players Eustachy may look at to fill the scoring void left by Clavell, Koelliker showed that he can be that guy.

QUOTE OF THE GAME

“This is the type of team I’ve always loved. They’re hard, physical, can not shoot the ball and still win.” – Larry Eustachy

WHAT’S NEXT

CSU hosts Fort Lewis as non-conference play continues Wednesday night. Tipoff is at 7 p.m.