CSU Wraps Up MW Road Play at League-Leader Nevada, Feb. 25

2017-18 Colorado State Men's Basketball
Game #30 - Colorado State (11-18, 4-12) vs. Nevada (24-5, 13-2)
February 25, 2018 • 2 p.m. MT • Lawlor Events Center (11,536) - Reno, Nev.

Video: CBS Sports Network -- Play-by-Play: Rich Waltz / Color Analyst: Bob Wenzel / Sideline: Evan Washburn
Channels: DirectTV: 221 / Dish Network: 158 / Comcast Digital: 412 (HD)
Colorado State Sports Network -- Play-by-Play: Brian Roth / Color Analyst: Adam Nigon (TuneIn App available for download)
Flagship: KARS 102.9 FM (Fort Collins) / Affiliates: KOCO 92.9 FM (Longmont)/ 104.7 FM (Denver), KMTS 99.1 FM (Glenwood Springs), KJME 890 AM (Colorado Springs), KKVT 100.7 FM (Grand Junction), KRFD 100.1 FM (Sterling), KKVT 100.3 FM (Rifle),/97.1 FM (Delta)

Opening Tip
•   Colorado State plays its final regular season road contest at defending Mountain West champion and current league leader No. 20/22 Nevada, Sun., Feb. 25 at 2 pm MT.
•   The contest between the Rams and Wolf Pack will be televised on CBS Sports Network, with Rich Waltz on the play-by-play, Bob Wenzel handling analysis and Evan Washburn on the sidelines.
•   The game will air across the Colorado State Sports Network (along with online at CSURams.com), with Brian Roth and Adam Nigon on the call.
• The game will also have live audio on CSURams.com in partnership with SIDEARM Sports and live stats on CSURams.com. The audio broadcast of the game is also available through the TuneIn app, available on all platforms.

Rams Quick Hits
• The 2017-18 season marks the 116th in the history of the Colorado State men's basketball program. The Rams are 1,251-1,249 (.500) in 2,500 games all-time.
• Colorado State basketball is looking for its eighth invitation for postseason play in the last nine years, advancing to the second round of the 2017 National Invitation Tournament.
• CSU lost two of last year's five starters, including Mountain West Player of the Year Gian Clavell and First Team All-MW forward Emmanuel Omogbo, who set a new record for double-doubles in league play in 2016-17.
• Overall, the Rams return three players with significant starting experience in redshirt-junior J.D. Paige, junior Prentiss Nixon and redshirt-sophomore Nico Carvacho. Nixon, an honorable mention All-MW pick by the media last year, averaged 13.2 points per game, while Paige was at 8.8 points and a team-best 2.5 assists per game. Carvacho posted 5.4 points and 5.7 rebounds per game, ranking third on the team in boards.

• For broadcasting quick hits, current averages and career highs on individual players, go to the back page of the notes for a Radio/TV chart that includes that information.

The Coaches
• Colorado State Interim Head Coach Jase Herl (Colorado Mesa, 2010) is in his second season at CSU, first at the helm of the Rams and as a Division I head coach with an 1-2 (.333) record. In 2016-17, CSU posted an 24-12 mark, including 13-4 in Mountain West play, advanced to the MW Championship game and played in the second round of the National Invitation Tournament.
•   Nevada Head Coach Eric Musselman (San Diego, '97) is in his third season as leader of the Wolf Pack and as a head coach overall with a 76-26 mark. Last season, he led the squad to a 28-7 record, the Mountain West regular season and tournament titles and a berth in the NCAA Tournament.

All-Time Against Today's Opponent
•    This will be the 21st meeting ever between the two schools, with Nevada holding a slim 11-9 lead. Last year, the Wolf Pack won the regular season meeting on the final day of the year to win the regular season title and then defeated the Rams in the MW Championship game. Nevada took this year's previous meeting in Fort Collins.
•    Against all current teams from the Mountain West Conference, CSU is 366-416, including 126-251 in road games.

A Win Over Nevada Would...
•   Give CSU its first win in the last five games against Nevada and improve the record to 10-11 in the series.
•   Give the Rams their second win the last 11 games, all in conference play.

History Versus the Broncos
•    This will be the 21st meeting ever between the programs, with Nevada holding an 11-9 lead in the series. CSU has picked up four wins in the 11 games previously played in Reno.
•   Nevada has taken the last four games, including winning both last year to take the Mountain West regular season and tournament titles. CSU had won the previous three.
NEVADA - 9-11
Conference: 5-4
(Home: 5-3 / Away: 4-7 / Neutral: 0-1)
(Complete Game-by-Game Results on Page 14)

Mountain West Record
•   Colorado State - a charter member of the Mountain West - is now 123-171 (.418) in regular-season action against MW foes since the formation of the league in 1999-2000.

CSU vs. Mountain West Conference
School   Overall   Home   Away   Neut.
Air Force   78-33   42-11   32-18   4-4
Boise State   10-11   8-3   1-8   1-0
Fresno State   17-17   13-3   2-12   2-2
Nevada   9-11   5-3   4-7   0-1
New Mexico   46-76   33-25   12-49   1-2
San Diego State   41-42   26-12   13-26   2-4
San Jose State   17-0   8-0   7-0   2-0
UNLV   16-38   11-15   5-22   0-1
Utah State   39-53   28-18   11-34   0-1
Wyoming   93-135   51-56   39-75   3-4
Totals   366-416   225-146   126-251   15-19

Last Time Out...
•   Colorado State was unable to find an offensive rhythm or slow down Boise State's as the Rams dropped the game to the visiting Broncos 87-54, Feb. 21.
•   Thanks in part to five made free throws by junior guard Prentiss Nixon, Colorado State jumped out to a quick 10-4 lead with 17:14 to go in the first half. The six-point lead would be the largest for the Rams in the game, as the Broncos battled back with a 17-2 run giving them a 21-12 lead with over 12 minutes left before halftime, a margin they would never relinquish. Boise State extended the lead behind 55.6 percent shooting from the floor to extend the lead to 50-29 at the break. The difference grew to as many as 42 in the second half, as CSU was held with just one basket in an 11-minute span.
•   On the game, Colorado State shot a season-low 28.3 percent (15-of-53) from the field, including 23.5 percent (4-of-17) from beyond the arc. Boise State was an impressive 46.2 percent (30-of-65) from the floor and just 30.0 percent (9-of-30) from the three-point line. The Broncos dominated the glass, 51-31 and outscored the Rams 25-15 off turnovers.
•   The Rams had two players score in the double digits as junior forward Deion James and redshirt-junior guard J.D. Paige netted 12 points each. Boise State had three players reach double-digit points, led by guard Chandler Hutchinson's 27, including 19 in the first half.
(See page 18 for complete box score)

This Year's Previous Meeting
•   Colorado State went back and forth with league-leader Nevada but came out on the short end of a 76-67 loss, Feb. 3. The loss marked CSU's sixth in a row.
•   CSU and Nevada traded triples to open the game and battled in a tight first half that experienced four lead changes and five ties. Nevada held the largest lead of the half at six at 27-21 with 9:08 remaining in the half, utilizing a perfect 15-of-15 at the free throw line in the opening half. However, the lead would get no larger, as CSU eventually tied the game at 35 on a pair of redshirt-sophomore Nico Carvacho free throws. Nevada hit two free throws in the final minute to take a 37-35 advantage into the halftime break.
•   The Rams grabbed their only lead of the second half when junior forward Deion James hit the second of back-to-back threes to put CSU up 41-40 with 17:32 to play. However, Nevada went on 11-2 run over the next 5:28 to take an eight-point lead at 51-43. CSU battled through the rest of the 20 minutes, cutting the margin to as few as two on two occasions and within one possession at 65-62 with 2:58 remaining. The Wolf Pack put the game away, as it hit their last three field goal and four free throw attempts to seal the victory.
•   The two teams were comparable on both ends, as CSU shot 38.2 percent (21-of-55), including 30.8 percent (8-of-26) from the three-point line. Nevada was 36.2 percent (21-of-58) from the floor and 29.6 percent (8-fo-27) behind the arc. CSU had a slight edge on the boards, 39-38, with the Rams holding a 9-4 advantage on second-chance points. Both teams had 12 turnovers, but Nevada held an 11-2 edge in fast-break points. The free-throw line was the difference maker in the contest, as the Wolf Pack outscored the Rams by nine at the stripe, going 26-of-32 (81.3 percent) while the hosts were 17-of-23 (73.9 percent).
•   The Rams had four players in double digits, with senior forward Che Bob and redshirt-sophomore guard Anthony Bonner each posting 13 points. Junior forward Deion James had 12 points and added eight rebounds, while redshirt-sophomore guard Raquan Mitchell chipped in 11 points and a game-high four assists. Redshirt-sophomore Nico Carvacho led the Rams in rebounding with 10 boards. Forward Caleb Martin led the Wolf Pack effort with 26 points.
(See page 19 for complete box score)

Last Year's Meetings
•   In its first Mountain West Championship game appearance in 14 years, No. 2 seed Colorado State could not get the offense going early, battled back to tie it but eventually lost to No. 1 seed Nevada, 79-71, at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas.
•   The Wolf Pack got off to a hot start, connecting on its first four shots from the field and opening a 9-0 lead just over two minutes into the game. CSU kept edging back but Nevada had the early answers through solid shooting, eventually building a 32-21 lead with just over five minutes to play in the opening half. Colorado State kept battling on both ends of the floor, but Nevada still managed to finish the half shooting 57.6 percent (19-of-33). Trailing by as many as 16 late in the period, the Rams got a running three from redshirt-sophomore guard J.D. Paige as the buzzer went off and headed into the halftime break trailing, 44-32.
•   CSU came out with a little momentum to start the second half and cut the lead down to six with the first six points of the half. The Rams eventually tied it at 51 with 11:31 left in the game on sophomore guard Prentiss Nixon's three pointer. CSU had three chances to take its first lead of the game but couldn't convert, and a Nevada 3-point play for the Wolf Pack put the top seed up for good. The Wolf Pack pushed the lead back out to six at 57-51 with three straight free throws on a foul and a bench technical, a lead the Rams could not overcome. CSU did get it back to within one in the final three minutes but could not get over the top.
•   Colorado State finished at 38.0 percent (27-of-71) for the game, including 11-of-33 from the three-point arc. Nevada shot 41.8 percent (23-of-55) from the game but took over at the free throw line in the final period, going to the line 34 times and hitting on 26 of them in the final 20 minutes. The Wolf Pack won the battle of the boards, decisively at 45-34.
•   Senior guard Gian Clavell led all scorers with 30 points but was just 3-of-12 from beyond the arc. Nixon had 23 points, while senior forward Emmanuel Omogbo contributed 10 points and 12 rebounds. For Nevada, Jordan Caroline led the Wolf Pack with 23 points, while Marcus Marshall had 21.
(See page 20 for complete box score)

•   In a battle for the regular season Mountain West title, Colorado State could not hold off host Nevada and fell to the Wolf Pack, 85-72, March 4. With the loss snapping a seven-game winning streak and five straight on the road, the Rams got the No. 2 seed in the upcoming tournament.
•   In the second half, CSU led by as many as four on two occasions, with the last a 48-44 advantage with 16:56 to play. From there, the Wolf Pack used a 14-1 run over 4:34 to take a 58-49 advantage with 11:47 to go in the contest, a lead it would never relinquish. The hosts pushed it to as many as 14 points at 71-58, as the Rams could get no closer than eight the rest of the way.
•   CSU grabbed the early lead on its first possession on a layup by senior forward Emmanuel Omogbo and never trailed in the opening stanza. The Rams built it to 19-11 before a 7-0 Wolf Pack run cut it down to one at 19-18 with 9:43 to go in the period. However, the Rams had answers and eventually got it to double digits at 39-29 with 3:40 to go. The hosts then closed the half on a 11-3 surge to make it a two-point CSU lead at the break, 42-40.
•   CSU shot just 38.7 percent (24-of-62) from the field, including a slim 25.8 percent (8-of-31) in the second half. Nevada was 43.5 percent (30-of-69) from the floor in the game, improving in the final period with 45.5 percent (15-of-33) . Nevada took over the boards in the second half, getting a 44-36 advantage overall and 25-18 in the final period.
•   Senior guard Gian Clavell led the Rams with 33 points, including 18 in the first half, and nine rebounds. Sophomore guard Prentiss Nixon had 12 points, while Omogbo and redshirt-sophomore guard J.D. Paige added 10 and 9, respectively. Cameron Oliver led the Wolf Pack with 29 points and 17 boards, with Jordan Caroline and Marcus Marshall adding 18 points each.
(See page 21 for complete box score)

Road Improvement Showing
•   CSU picked up its first win away from Moby Arena this year in eight tries, six of them true road contests, with the victory at San Jose State, Dec. 30. The Rams added back-to-back road wins at Utah State, Jan. 10, and Wyoming, Jan. 13, for three consecutive Mountain West road victories before the loss at San Diego State, Jan. 24.
•   Last season, CSU picked up its fifth straight MW road win and sixth in conference play at New Mexico, Feb. 21, a streak snapped at Nevada March 4, but the Rams finished 9-6 in games away from home in 2016-17.
•   In 2016-17, the Rams won five straight MW road games for the second time in school history.
•   The only other time CSU won five consecutive conference road games occurred over the last four games of the 1988-89 and first game of the 1989-90 season in the WAC.

Moby Arena Homecourt Advantage
•   CSU has a record of 546-225 (.708) record all-time at Moby Arena.
• CSU completed the 2016-17 regular-season home slate at 14-5 (7-2 in Mountain West), giving the program a winning home record for the eighth straight season.
•   Colorado State finished the 2015-16 regular season 12-5 at Moby Arena.
•    At 15-5 in 2016-17 at Moby Arena, it marked the fifth time in program history that CSU won at least 15 home games. Last season's 15 victories was the sixth season of 15-plus wins at the Rams' arena.
• The Rams finished the 2014-15 regular-season one win shy (15-2) of the best home mark in program history (16-1 in 2012-13). CSU went 15-2 at Moby in 1987-88.
•   CSU has struggled in conference action at home this year, dropping the first six games by a combined 36 points, with four of those six losses decided by five points or less.

Non-Conference Highlight
•   CSU was undefeated in non-conference home games this season at 7-0.

Fall Semester Wrapped Up
•   The Rams concluded the fall semester of classes in a solid way with a team GPA of better than 2.5.
•   All student-athletes also have met NCAA and CSU standards for eligibility, including progress towards degree requirements.

Rebounding Emphasis Noted
•   The Rams won the battle of the boards in 22 of their 36 games last season, going 19-3 in those contests.
•   Colorado State was +2.6 on the glass in its 36 games with at least one player with a double-figure rebounding total in 26 of 36 games.
•   Last season, CSU finished third in the Mountain West and at 38.2 rebounds per game as well as second in the MW a +2.7 rebounding margin.
•   This season, it is again a key for the Rams, as they have on the boards 17 times, including eight of the 11 wins.

Carvacho Growing On the Floor
•   Redshirt-sophomore center Nico Carvacho is showing his increased comfort level on the floor for the Rams.
•   Carvacho had a breakout game at Colorado, Nov. 30, 2016, scoring 14 points on 5-of-7 shooting and grabbing 9 rebounds.
•   Against Northern Colorado Dec. 10, 2016, he posted his first collegiate double-double of 13 points (5-of-6 FG) and 11 boards.
•   In the win over Wyoming, Feb. 28, 2017, Carvacho posted his second double-double of his collegiate career with 10 points (3-3 FG) and 10 rebounds.
•   This season, Carvacho is the leader on the glass for CSU with 296 boards (109 offensive) in 29 games (the only Ram to start all 29 this year). His 10.2 boards per game average leads the Mountain West, as he has double-digit boards in the last 13 games (averaging 13.8 per game in that span). He also has cracked the top-20 single-season rebounding performances in CSU history.
•   He is averaging 11.4 points and 12.3 rebounds in Mountain West play, leading by a wide margin in rebounding for league games only (next is 9.4 per game). He also has seven of the top 14 single-game totals in MW action.
•   He has double-doubles in nine of the last 13 games he has played in and has a higher rebound average through 14 league contests than Emmanuel Omogbo had last season at this time (11.0).
•   He had his third career double-double with 11 points and a career-best 20 boards (still a league season-best mark) in the home win over Winthrop, Nov. 14.
•   In the win at Utah State, Jan. 10, Carvacho had 10 points, a game-high 15 rebounds for his second straight double-double and a career-high four assists.
•   Carvacho posted a career-high 26 points and tied a career best with 20 rebounds in the win over San Jose State, Feb. 10. The last Ram to have a 20-point/20-rebound game was current Washington Wizards' Jason Smith, with 27 & 22 in a win over Wyoming on Feb. 24, 2007.
•   With his 20-rebound game against San Jose State, he moved up from 17th to eighth on CSU's single-season list. He now sits at sixth at 296 boards, surpassing former standout and current interim assistant coach Pierce Hornung in seventh.

Carvacho's MW/National Rankings   Stat   MW   NCAA
Rebounds Per Game   10.2   1st   18th
Offensive Rebounds Per Game   3.72   1st   9th
Defensive Rebounds Per Game   6.45   5th   48th
Double-Doubles   10   4th   51st
Total Rebounds   296   1st   11th

Carvacho's '17-18 Double-Doubles   Date   Pts   Reb
Sacramento State    11/10/17   11   20
Fresno State    1/6/18   10   19
at Utah State   1/10/18   10   15
Air Force   1/17/18   12   13
at San Diego State   1/24/18   14   12
at New Mexico   1/27/18   14   15
Wyoming   1/31/18   10   13
at Air Force   2/6/18   16   12
San Jose State   2/10/18   26   20
at Fresno State   2/17/18   14   11

Current CSU Single-Season Total Rebounding Ranks
1.       392   Mike Childress (23 Games)   - 1969-70
2.   373   Emmanuel Omogbo (101O-272D)   - 2016-17
3.   349   Mike Childress (25 Games)   - 1970-71
4.   342   Colton Iverson (117O-225D)   - 2012-13
5.   304   Jason Smith (98O-206D)   2006-07
6.   296   Nico Carvacho (109O-187D)   2017-18
7.       293   Pierce Hornung (133O-160D)   2012-13
8.   288   Gary Hibbard (23 Games)   1955-56
9.   271   Pat Durham (52O-219D)   1986-87
10.   269   Tim Hall (26 Games)   1973-74

Current CSU Single-Season Defensive Rebounds
1.       272   Emmanuel Omogbo (101O-272D)   2016-17
2.   225   Colton Iverson (117O-225D)   2012-13
3.   219   Pat Durham (52O-219D)   1986-87
4.   206   Jason Smith (98O-206D)   2006-07
5.   194   Daniel Bejarano (73O-194D)   2013-14
6.   187   Nico Carvacho (109O-187D)   2017-18

Current CSU Single-Season Offensive Rebounds
1.       133   Pierce Hornung (133O-160D)   - 2012-13
2.   121   Tiel Daniels (121O-139D)   - 2015-16
3.   117   Colton Iverson (117O-225D)   - 2012-13
4.   109   Nico Carvacho (109O-187D)   2017-18
5.   102   Emmanuel Omogbo (102O-163D)   - 2015-16

CSU Career Rebounding Ranks
19.   555   Gary Hibbard (73 Games)   1953-56
20.   531   Greg Smith (156O-375D)   2009-13
       501   Nico Carvacho   2016-18

Nixon Does It All
•    Junior Prentiss Nixon became an integral part of the CSU lineup the last two seasons.
•    The guard averaged 13.2 points per game in 2016-17 (13th in MW), scoring in double figures in 27 games, including a current streak of 10 straight.
•    In all MW contests, he averaged 13.3 points per game - 17th in regular-season league only.
•    He scored a then-career-high 30 points against Kansas State and surpassed his high from 2015-16 six times.
•    In the Mountain West Tournament, Nixon averaged 14.7 points per game, earning All-Tournament honors.
•    Against Nevada in the MW championship, Nixon scored 23 points, including tying the school record for a MW Tournament game with six three-pointers.
•    This year, Nixon continued his double-figure scoring streak, moving it to 12 with a pair of 16-point performances before it was snapped against Tulane, Nov. 17. However, he started a new streak with 22 points, including five three-pointers, against Florida State, Nov. 19, followed by 15 at New Mexico State, Nov. 22. He missed the Northwestern State game with a concussion but returned to the lineup with 20 points at Missouri State, Nov. 28.
•   He scored a career-high 31 points on 8-of-13 field goal attempts (5-of-8 three pointers) and 10-of-11 free throws along with four rebounds at Arkansas, Dec. 5. He then followed it up with 25 at Oregon, Dec. 8.
•    In double-figure scoring 19 of 23 games played, Nixon leads CSU in scoring at 15.5 points per game and has hit a team-best 54 three-pointers. He also has led the Rams in scoring in 13 games this season.
•   He returned to action with 18 minutes of play against Nevada (scoring four points) after having been out due to an ankle injury in the final minute against Air Force, Jan. 17.
•   With 990 career points, he needs just 10 points to surpass the 1,000 point mark and become the 28th Ram to accomplish that feat.
•    He also continues to do the job on the defensive end, as he has drawn 52 offensive fouls (a season-high five against Fresno State, Jan. 6) in his 24 games played along with grabbing a team-best 33 steals (career-high four in the win at Utah State, Jan. 10) -- a staggering total of 85 turnovers created. Last year, he finished with 37 drawn fouls.

Nixon's MW/National Rankings   Stat   MW   NCAA
Three-Point FG Per Game   2.25   8th   206th
Free Throw Percentage   84.1   4th   96th
Steals Per Game   1.38   6th   245th

CSU Career Scoring
1.       1980   Pat Durham (125 Games)   - 1985-89
-------
24.   1031   George Price (71 games)   1969-72
25.   1027   Andy Birley (121 games)   1999-03
26.   1025   Larry Hoffner (70 games)   1957-60
27.   1009   Marcus Walker (59 games)    2007-09
28.   995   David Evans (55 games)   1994-96
29.   990   Prentiss Nixon (91 games)   2015-18

James Making An Impact
•   Junior forward Deion James is getting more comfortable on the court in his first year at CSU, and the stats show it.
•   James is second on the team in scoring at 10.5 points and third in rebounding at 5.2 boards, while shooting 46.9 percent on his field goal attempts.
•   He has scored in double figures 15 times and grabbed five or more boards on 15 occasions.
•   He tallied a then-season-high 22 points and grabbed nine rebounds in the win over Arkansas-Fort Smith, Dec. 19.
•   He scored 14 points and had seven boards in the win over Long Beach State, Dec. 23.
•   He posted his first CSU double-double of 11 points and a season-high 14 rebounds against Air Force, Jan. 17.
•   He followed it up with a season-best 24 points and 14 rebounds (tying season-high) against Wyoming, Jan. 31.
•   In CSU's 10 wins he played in, his numbers go up as he is averaging 10.0 points and 5.7 rebounds per game.

Bob Learning the Ropes
• Senior Che (said CHAY not SHAY) Bob is figuring out ways to contribute to the Rams' effort in all phases.
•   Getting the start in 25 of 29 games played this year, Bob is averaging 10.0 points per game (fourth for CSU) and 6.2 rebounds per contest (14th in the Mountain West).
•   Bob had a streak of four straight games with a double-double (five total in his CSU career), with the performance of 13 points and 12 boards at Missouri State, Nov. 28. He added the sixth of his career with 13 points and 12 rebounds in the win over Long Beach State, Dec. 23.
•   He tied a career high with 21 points at New Mexico State, Nov. 24, including connecting on seven free throws and a pair of three pointers.
•   In the win over Colorado Dec. 2, Bob scored 11 points, grabbed six rebounds and blocked three shots.
•   In the last two road wins at Utah State (Jan. 10) and Wyoming (Jan. 13), Bob has averaged 18.0 points per game while connecting on 10-of-15 field goal attempts and 14-of-18 at the free throw line.

Bob's MW/National Rankings   Stat   MW   NCAA
Blocks Per Game   1.28   5th   146th
Double-Doubles   5   10th   169th
Total Blocks   37   5th   124th
Free Throw Attempts   126   10th   221st

Paige Wheels & Deals
•    Redshirt-junior J.D. Paige adjusted well to his new role within CSU's offense the last two years.
•   Last year, Paige led CSU assists (2.5 apg), was third in steals (0.9 spg) and blocked shots (0.7) and fourth in scoring (8.8 ppg).
•   The Denver, Colo., native had a solid outing against Alcorn State (11/23), recording career bests of 23 points and six assists in the home victory.
•   Paige tied his career high with 23 points, including a career-best five three-pointers in the win over Fresno State, Feb. 11, 2017.
•   This season, Paige picked up a season-high 22 points versus San Diego State (1/2), making a career-high field goals.
•   He tied for team-high honors with 16 points and earned a career-best seven boards in the win over Colorado, Dec. 2.
•   Paige has scored in double figures in five of the last six games, including the performance at San Diego State and a 14-point, six-rebound outing in the win at Wyoming, Jan. 13. He also had 19 points against UNLV, Jan. 20.
•   After missing six games with a broken hand suffered at San Diego State on Jan. 24, Paige returned to the lineup against Boise State (Feb. 21) with 12 points and is now averaging 10.4 points per game, third on the team, and has a team-high 2.6 assists per game.

Mountain West Tourney Around the Corner
•   The 2018 Mountain West Men's Basketball Championship is back in Las Vegas, March 7-10. All-session and single game passes are available for the postseason tournament that includes a NCAA Tournament berth to the winner by going to theMW.com.

CSU All-Time Vs. 2017-18 Opponents
       Overall   Home   Road   Neutral
Air Force   78-33   42-11   32-18   4-4
Arkansas   0-1   -   0-1   -
Arkansas-Fort Smith   4-0   4-0   -   -
Boise State   10-11   8-3   1-8   1-0
Colorado   38-89   28-36   9-53   1-0
Florida State   0-2   -   -   0-2
Fresno State   17-17   13-3   2-12   2-2
Long Beach State   3-2   2-1   1-1   -
Missouri State   1-1   -   0-1   1-0
Nevada   9-11   5-3   4-7   0-1
New Mexico   46-76   33-25   12-49   1-2
New Mexico State   5-2   4-0   1-2   -
Northwestern State   3-0   2-0   1-0   -
Oregon   1-9   0-1   0-5   1-3
Sacramento State   5-0   4-0   1-0   -
San Diego State   41-42   26-12   13-26   2-4
San Jose State   17-0   8-0   7-0   2-0
Texas State   2-0   2-0   -   -
Tulane   0-1   -   -   0-1
UNLV   16-38   11-15   5-22   0-1
Utah State   39-53   28-18   11-34   0-1
Winthrop   1-0   1-0   0-0   0-0
Wyoming   93-135   51-56   39-75   3-4
Totals   429-523   272-124   139-314   18-25

Coaches Shows Back at Lucky Joe's
•   The Coors Light Basketball Coaches' Show is back again, hosted at Lucky Joe's Sidewalk Saloon in Old Town Fort Collins. The show starts at 6 pm with women's coach Ryun Williams, followed by interim men's coach Jase Herl for the second half-hour. Remaining date of the shows are: March: Thursday, March 1

Returning/Lost...By the Numbers
•   The Rams added several key newcomers for 2017-18 as Colorado State looked to fill some gaps from last year's production on the floor.
•   Here is a quick look at what the Rams returned in major statistical categories:
   Category   Total (R/L)   % Returning
   > Scoring   2611 (1255 / 1356)   48.1%
   > Rebounding   1293 (518 / 775)   40.1%
   > Assists   397 (235 / 162)   59.2%
   > Blocks   123 (62 / 61)   50.4%
   > Steals   218 (98 / 120)   45.0%
   > Minutes   7200 (3941 / 3259)   54.7%

Roster Size... But Inexperienced
•   CSU has 11 players available for action during the 2017-18 season. Of those, eight were part of the program last season, with six having played, with two newcomers to the lineup.
•   However, the Rams combine for just 7.5 seasons of NCAA Division I experience to start the season, four of those coming from juniors J.D. Paige and Prentiss Nixon.

Looking Ahead
•   Colorado State plays its final regular season contest against New Mexico, Wed., Feb. 28 at 7 pm MT.
•   The contest between the Rams and Lobos will be televised on AT&T SportsNet, with Drew Goodman on the play-by-play and Sed Bonner handling analysis.
•   The game will air across the Colorado State Sports Network (along with online at CSURams.com), with Brian Roth and Adam Nigon on the call.
•   CSU Sports Network broadcasts can be also accessed on mobile devices through the Tune In app (free app  - available on all Apple, Android, Windows, Blackberry and Amazon Kindle devices) – once app has downloaded, then search "Colorado St. Rams Sports Network" in the app for the games and coaches' show broadcasts.

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