Game Recap: Colorado State prove too strong for Utah State
Colorado State secured fifth win in their least six games thanks to a late offensive explosion by senior guard Gian Clavell.
A late offensive explosion by senior guard Gian Clavell has helped the Colorado State Rams to a 69-52 win over Mountain West rivals Utah State on Tuesday night.
Clavell scored 14 straight points for the Rams late in the second half, connecting on four straight attempts from downtown with under seven minutes to play on his way to scoring a team high 24 points.
He was among three other players who scored in double digits for the Rams as the team shot 40 percent from the field overall including a blistering 43 percent from three.
However, it was the defense that Rams head coach Larry Eustachy was most pleased about after the win.
“I thought our effort overall was terrific the whole game from that side,” Eustachy said post game.
“We played a lot of plays right. Overall a terrific effort from start to finish.”
The Rams forced 12 turnovers which they were able to turn into 11 easy points, something that was critical in the early stages of the game when both teams were struggling to score.
The Rams put up the first seven points of the of the contest while keeping the visiting Aggies scoreless through the first five minutes of action. Utah State rallied late in the first half to tie the game at 23 before the Rams went on an extended 19-2 run that spanned through halftime to take control of the game.
Colorado State led the Aggies by 17 points early in the second half after a pair of free throws from Clavell put the team up 41-24 before Utah State reeled off a 10-2 run of their own to pull to within nine with 12 minutes to play.
Sophomore guard Prentiss Nixon, who set career highs in both assists and rebounds with seven apiece, steadied the Rams by finding Braden Koelliker for the open three then dishing it to Nico Carvacho in the paint for the dunk on consecutive offensive plays.
Clavell then quickly dismantled any hopes the Aggies had of making a comeback by connecting on five of his last six shots down the stretch to open up a 66-48 lead with just under four minutes to play.
Colorado State big man Emmanuel Omogbo recorded his third straight double-double, putting up 10 points and bringing down 14 rebounds.
Sophomore forward Quinn Taylor came off the bench for Utah State to lead the team in scoring with 11.
The win is the fifth in the last six games for the Rams and sees them move to 16-9 overall and 8-4 in conference play this season.
Colorado State will be back in action on February 11 when they take on defending Mountain West champions Fresno State in Fort Collins.