Rams rally, fans rocking

fort collins» Moby Madness is back.

It had been MIA for more than a year but made its triumphant return Saturday.

The nearly sold-out crowd of 7,856 clad in orange witnessed what has made this season’s CSU team so special. And on the top of that list has been Emmanuel Omogbo, who rattled home a 3-pointer with just 4.7 seconds left to lift the Rams (20-9, 12-4 MW) to a 56-55 victory over San Diego State (1612, 8-8).

“I was unconscious,” said Omogbo, who 13 months ago lost four family members in a house fire, including both of his parents. “That was probably my parents that forced that ball to go in, and my niece and nephew. So, I knew it couldn’t have been only me.”

Omogo’s 3, which sent the student sections flooding onto the floor after the final buzzer, came after San Diego State’s Zylan Cheatham blocked Prentiss Nixon’s layup with 9 seconds to go.

J.D. Paige took a baseline inbound and found a wideopen Nico Carvacho just a few feet from the rim. But instead of going for the tie, Carvacho dished it out to Omogbo, who hesitated, pump-faked and launched a shot over the outstretched arms of SDSU defender D’Erryl Williams.

“I believe what’s supposed to happen has already been determined,” coach Larry Eustachy said. “I believe the up-anddown season, and what’s transpired, is supposed to happen just to make you tougher.”

The comeback victory keeps CSU in control of its own destiny in search of the program’s first regular season title since 1990. Win their final two games — Tuesday against Wyoming and Saturday at Nevada — and the Rams will be Mountain West champs for the first time ever.