|
|
|
Colorado State Advances To Title Game
Greene and Nelson combine for 48 points in, 86-80, upset over Cougars.
March 14, 2003
LAS VEGAS (AP) - Matt Nelson scored six of his 28 points in overtime as Colorado State got its second upset victory in the Mountain West Conference tournament, beating Brigham Young 86-80 Friday night in the semifinals. Michael Morris hit the go-ahead 3-pointer and Brian Greene scored 20 points for the sixth-seeded Rams (18-13). They complemented Nelson's post play by making almost every important free throw for the second straight day to move within a victory of an improbable NCAA tournament bid. The Rams, who had a seven-game losing streak late in the regular season, beat Wyoming on Thursday. They scored 19 points in the extra period against BYU, making 12 of 14 free throws. When it was over, players and coaches hugged each other in a frantic celebration dance at midcourt. Colorado State made a 21-1 run while holding BYU scoreless for nearly 10½ minutes spanning halftime, but the second-seeded Cougars (23-8) fought back to force overtime despite the Rams' 62-percent shooting in the second half. Travis Hansen scored 22 points for BYU, which could have advanced to the tournament final for the third time in the conference's four years of existence. The Rams lost in the first round in each of the past three years. Colorado State, which hasn't made the NCAAs since 1990, will face No. 1 seed Utah or hometown favorite UNLV in Saturday's final. Nelson, the Rams' promising sophomore center, was outstanding in the low post. He went 10-for-14 from the field and 8-for-12 from the line, while Andy Birley scored 15 points. In a game with two wild swings of momentum early on, the lead changed hands several times late in regulation. Greene hit a 15-foot baseline jumper with 43 seconds left to give Colorado State a 67-65 lead, but Mark Bigelow got an offensive rebound and drove through the paint for a layup with 15 seconds left.
Matt Williams missed an off-balance jumper for the Rams shortly
before time expired. Neither team took a big lead in overtime until
Morris, a freshman who took just four shots in 30 minutes, hit a
3-pointer with 1:37 left.
Bigelow scored 21 points for BYU. Rafael Araujo had 14 points and 10 rebounds, but Nelson dominated the Brazilian center. Early on, BYU appeared headed for the easy victory its regular-season sweep of the Rams suggested. The Cougars took a 38-24 lead on Luiz Lemes' basket with 2:32 left in the first half but it was their last field goal for nearly 11½ minutes. With a visible difference in their defensive intensity, the Rams scored the final five points of the first half and the first 16 of the second half, taking a 45-39 lead on Nelson's layup with 11:32 to play. Hansen finally ended the drought, and BYU reclaimed the lead on Bigelow's 3-pointer with 6:12 left. The Rams are now certain to receive at least an NIT berth, which would be their first postseason trip under third-year coach Dale Layer and with one more win, they would become another surprise NCAA entrant.
|
|
