CSU Downs Wyoming, Sweeps Border War
Travis Franklin (left) and Andy Ogide walk off the court after defeating Wyoming Saturday night.
Photo by Mike Laughlin, Mile High Hoops
Rams Drain Ten Three-Pointers
FORT COLLINS—For the first time since the 1999-2000 season, Colorado State swept the season series with its cross-border rival Wyoming after defeating the Cowboys 80-64 Saturday night at Moby Arena.
Clad in throwback orange and green jerseys (Pumpkin and Alfalfa to be exact), CSU played the game as the Aggies, which was the team’s original mascot, to honor former athletes as part of the second annual Ram Legends Week.
“I think we might wear those jerseys one more time,” CSU head coach Tim Miles said with a smile after the win. “But that’s the least of my concerns right now.”
What Miles is likely more concerned with is the Rams’ standing in the Mountain West Conference as CSU moved into the second half of its conference season.
The Rams improved to 5-4 with the win, good enough to tie San Diego State for fourth place out of nine teams.
“This was a big win. We need to be 8-8 plus if we want to play in the postseason, and that’s our goal,” Rams forward Andy Ogide said. “We just have to keep trying to get these wins.”
In front of a crowd donning orange shirts, the teams got off to an even start, as the Cowboys matched CSU’s early intensity.
After trading blows for the first nine minutes, CSU exploded, hitting four straight three-point shots, and propelled themselves from a one-point deficit to a nine-point lead, 25-16. The first two shots were drained by Andre McFarland, who scored 11 points off the bench, followed by a pair from point guard Dorian Green, who continued to log heavy minutes, 37 in this game.
CSU ended the night 10-for-15 from three-point range.
“Andre was key tonight… he came out and went three-for-three in the first half,” Miles said. “Three-point shooting was really the story of the game tonight. That’s how we got separation.”
In the second half, as the Rams pulled away, the game began to get a bit tense as the crowd continued to stay involved and the referees blew their whistles often—53 fouls called in total.
“Those guys can be a little chippy, but we know not to let them get in our heads and we came out on top,” CSU forward Travis Franklin said.
Miles said he was pleased with the way his team kept its composure in an emotional situation. “We want to be a physical team,” he said. “There’s always going to be confrontations but it’s all about how you handle yourself… I think we did a better job in the second half with our poise.”
Although the Cowboys pulled within ten points with just over eight minutes to play, the Rams held on the rest of the way to get the win.
Franklin led the team with 20 points and Ogide posted a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds.
The Rams dominated Wyoming inside, outscoring the Cowboys 18-3 on second chance points and out-rebounding them 42-26.
Looking forward from the Wyoming game, CSU is faced with a key stretch in the next two weeks.
After a trip to last-place Air Force, who has only one win in the conference, the Rams will play the top three Mountain West teams: BYU, UNLV and New Mexico.
“We know Air force can play. We’re not going to overlook them,” Ogide said. “But we have every intention of coming back 6-4.”
Miles said he is excited for the Rams next home game, a Feb. 17 rematch against 12th ranked BYU, who defeated CSU by 44 points earlier this season in Utah.
“We’re tough at Moby. We’re real tough at Moby,” he said. “We owe them at least a good game, and then some.”
Contact the writer at mlaughlin@milehighhoops.com