FORT COLLINS — Colorado State men’s basketball made Boise State its latest victim at Moby Arena as the Rams avenged an earlier loss to the Broncos with a 75-62 victory Tuesday night.
It was the Rams’ 12th win at home this season (12-1) and fifth win at Moby in Mountain West Conference play.
With the victory, the Rams improved to 18-5 overall and 6-4 in the Mountain West. Boise State dropped to 16-7 and 7-3.
The teams traded baskets for the first few minutes of the game, with Patrick Cartier finally giving either team a lead of more than two with a layup that gave the Rams an 8-4 advantage three and a half minutes in.
Boise State cut the CSU lead to 8-7, but a dunk by Nique Clifford and a pair of free throws by Rashaan Mbemba gave CSU a 12-7 lead. Boise State hung around, however, cutting the CSU lead to two points multiple times over the next few minutes.
It wasn’t until there was 6:35 left in the first half that the Rams were able to take a lead of more than five points. A pair of free throws by Joel Scott gave CSU a 25-18 advantage.
The Rams took their first double-digit lead of the first half on a pair of free throws by Scott that put CSU up 30-19 with 4:52 left. Boise State cut the CSU lead down to four with 2:14 left, but the Rams went into halftime with a 37-30 lead.
CSU shot 52.2% from the field in the first half after making eight of their first 10 shots. Clifford led the Rams with eight first-half points. Isaiah Stevens had seven and Scott and Cartier six each.
The Rams came out hot in the second half as well, scoring the first five points after the break to take a 12-point lead at 42-30. CSU maintained a double-digit advantage until the Broncos cut it to 44-35 with 15:39 left in the game.
Boise cut the CSU lead down to 46-40, but a three-point play by Joe Palmer increased the Rams’ advantage back to 49-40 with 11:57 remaining. A pair of free throws by Mbemba gave CSU a double-digit advantage again at 51-40.
A 3-pointer by Cartier gave the Rams their largest lead of the game at 53-40 with 9:35 remaining. CSU led 57-42 before the Broncos cut it down to nine, but that would be as close as they would get.
Stevens led the Rams with 16 points and 11 assists. Scott added 13 points and Cartier 10.
CSU will be back in action Friday night at home against San Jose State. Tip-off is at 7:30 p.m. at Moby Arena.
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