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UNM Men's Basketball: Colorado State Trumps Lobos 88-79
The Rams shoot 73 percent in the first half while guard J.R. Giddens doesn't play for UNM.
Jake Schoellkopf/The Associated Press
New Mexico's Aaron Johnson, left, and injured teammate J.R. Giddens watch as the clock winds down in the second half of New Mexico's 88-79 loss to Colorado State in a basketball game at The Pit in Albuquerque Saturday afternoon.
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Playing without its best player was bad enough. Watching the opposing team shoot 73 percent in the first half spelled complete doom for the University of New Mexico men's basketball team.
The Lobos (11-6), with J.R. Giddens in street clothes because of his sprained left ankle, lost 88-79 to Colorado State on Saturday afternoon in front of an announced crowd of 12,788 in The Pit.
New Mexico, 0-2 in Mountain West Conference play, has lost three consecutive games entering Tuesday's game at No. 16 Air Force.
Giddens, the team's leading scorer at 17.7 points per game, suffered the injury weeks ago but played the last two games and practiced Friday with no problem.
CSU, meanwhile, won in The Pit for the first time since 1993 thanks to making 19-of-26 shoots in the first half. The Rams (11-3, 1-1 in MWC), who shot 63 percent for the game and 55 percent (11-of-20) from the 3-point line, gained a double-digit lead with a 17-2 run early in the first. CSU guard Stephan Gilling's 3-pointer with four seconds left punctuated the Rams' tremendous period.
The Rams led by as many as 21 points, 81-60 with 2:08 left, before the Lobos hit a couple of 3s in the closing minutes to make it respectable.
Jake Schoellkopf/The Associated Press
Colorado State's Cory Lewis (4) shoots over the defense of New Mexico's Ryan Kersten (21) in the first half of a basketball game at The Pit in Albuquerque Saturday afternoon. Colorado State won 88-79
"We shot it the best we've ever shot it," CSU coach Dale Layer said. "Catching the Lobos without J.R. is very advantageous for us. New Mexico played extremely hard, but they weren't quite the same team. Tough for them, great for us."
Even tinkering with the starting lineup didn't help the Lobos. Coach Ritchie McKay didn't start regulars Aaron Johnson and Jamaal Smith, probably because of his claim this week that those who "pay attention to detail" will be on the floor. McKay said his players had "freakin' agendas" after Wednesday's loss to TCU.
The starting lineup was Daniel Faris and Tony Danridge at the forward spots joined by guards Darren Prentice, Chad Toppert and Ryan Kersten. This was Toppert's first career start. Johnson and Smith played a combined 30 minutes, almost 12 lower than their usual combined playing time. Smith finished with 12 points, Johnson with six.
It's obvious the Lobos missed Giddens.
"We have to wait until he gets better to play him," McKay said. "It's best for his future. I'm interested in winning games, but not at the expense of a young man's future. Hopefully he'll heal quickly."
Jake Schoellkopf/The Associated Press
New Mexico coach Ritchie McKay stares at the floor after Colorado State scored in the second half of a basketball game at The Pit in Albuquerque, N.M., Saturday, Jan. 6, 2007. Colorado State won 88-79.
Without Giddens on the floor, CSU center Jason Smith provided enough star power for both teams.
The Rams' 7-footer finished with 28 points, 11 rebounds and two blocks. Stuart Creason, another CSU 7-footer, registered eight points and five rebounds. Point guard Cory Lewis scored 10 of his 17 points in the first 10 minutes for the Rams.
The strategy, McKay said, was to thwart the big guys. CSU shooters made the Lobos pay.
"We picked our poison, and they did a nice job of knocking down shots," McKay said. "I don't know if any other team (in the conference) has two 7-footers who start and can hurt a team's cause like they do. I'm proud of our guys for the way they fought."
The Lobos started the second half on a 7-0 run, four by guard Tony Danridge, but it wasn't enough. The Rams led by double digits for most of the game.
Despite 17 points from Danridge, the 3-point shot wasn't falling for the Lobos -- at least not at CSU's pace. They finished 11-of-29 from 3 (38 percent), 45 percent overall. Seldomly used forward Kellen Walter finished with 13 points, and Kersten added 10 points and five assists.
This was UNM's first loss in The Pit this season after winning its first 10.
