USAToday CSU preview

[The PonyGrad]

GAME NOTES: Regional action in the 2011 NIT Season Tip-Off kicks off tonight, as the Colorado State Rams clash with the SMU Mustangs in non-conference action at Maples Pavilion in Stanford, California.

The Mustangs got off on the right foot on Friday when they captured a convincing 78-49 win, albeit against little-known McMurry at home in Dallas. The same goes for Colorado State, although the Rams had a bit more trouble in their opener with just a 64-58 triumph over Montana at Moby Arena on Friday as well.

With respect to the all-time series between these two schools on the hardwood, the Mustangs lead by a count of 4-2.

The winner of this game will take on the survivor of the Fresno State/Stanford matchup in the regional championship round on Tuesday.

The Mustangs shot just 43.9 percent from the field against McMurry in the opener, but the defense came up big for the hosts as they limited the visitors to a mere 29.6 percent shooting from the floor. In addition, McMurry connected on just 6-of-28 behind the three-point line and finished with 25 turnovers which resulted in 27 points for SMU. The Mustangs scored the first points of the game and never looked back as Robert Nyakundi posted a game-high 18 points and also pulled down a team-best eight rebounds, while London Giles and Aliaksei Patsevich chipped in 12 and 11 points, respectively. The Mustangs shot the ball well from three-point range at a 41.9 percent clip, but where they must focus more of their energies is at the free-throw line where SMU made a mere 15-of-26 on the night.

Colorado State led by as many as five points in the first half, but the team overcame just eight total field goals in the period by hitting on 12-of-15 at the free-throw line to put up a 30-23 halftime lead, en route to the six-point home win. The Rams shot just 38.8 percent from the floor the entire game, yet saved themselves by outscoring Montana at the charity stripe overall, 22-11. Pierce Hornung logged his second career double-double with 10 points and a game-high 12 rebounds, his efforts on the glass giving CSU a huge 43-24 edge in rebounding. Wes Eikmeier accounted for a game-high 21 points, thanks to a perfect 10-of-10 at the line, while Greg Smith and Jesse Carr chipped in with 14 and 12 points, respectively. If there one area of the game that the Rams need to focus on more heading forward it was in setting up teammates, since the squad was credited with just four assists in the opener.

SMU may hold the series advantage over the Rams, but in this case CSU has to be given the edge with how many experienced players are on the roster.

http://content.usatoday.com/sportsdata/ ... 14#preview

[The PonyGrad]

From the CSU site (sounds like they already beat us)

Opening tip
• Colorado State heads to Palo Alto, Calif., for the regional rounds of the [deleted]'s Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off at Stanford's Maples Pavilion, Monday and Tuesday.
• The Rams open the tournament on Monday night against Conference USA foe, SMU. Tipoff between the Rams and the Mustangs is set for 6 p.m. MT.
• The seventh-seeded Rams then face either future Mountain West member Fresno State, or host and third-seeded Stanford the following night at either 6 p.m. or 9 p.m. MT.
• CSU's second-round matchup, regardless of time, will be broadcast live on ESPNU.

About SMU
• SMU enters play at the [deleted]'s Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off with a 1-0 record after collecting a 78-49 home victory over McMurry.
• The Mustangs went 20-15 in 2010-11, finishing tied for seventh in Conference USA and advancing to the semifinal of the CollegeInsider.com tournament (CIT).
• Senior F Robert Nyakundi, a C-USA third-team all-conference selection, averaged 14.3 points per game and 4.3 rebounds per contest last season, and led the team with 18 points and eight boards in the Mustangs' season-opening win.
• Matt Doherty is in his sixth season as the SMU head coach, where he has posted a 68-90 mark. Overall, Doherty is 158-161 in his 11th season as a head coach.

http://www.csurams.com/sports/m-baskbl/ ... 11aab.html

[Harry0569]

gracias pgrad

[2ndandlong]

Go Mustangs. I'm stoked for basketball