CSU men run Utah State off floor for critical win at Moby

FORT COLLINS >> A few days removed from a secondhalf collapse on the road, the Colorado State men’s basketball team left no doubt Saturday inside a sold-out Mody Arena.

Led by senior Isaiah Stevens’ 18 points and eight assists, the Rams blew the doors off Mountain West Conference leader Utah State for a 75-55 win that strengthened their NCAA resume.

Stevens broke the school record for career 3-pointers (236) with a pair of 3s, transfer Joel Scott added 17 points and eight rebounds on 7-of-9 shooting, and CSU held Utah State to 38.6% shooting from the floor to secure their fifth win in six games.

The Rams (8-5 Mountain West, 20-6) moved within a game of the firstplace Aggies (9-4, 21-5) in the conference standings, with Utah State dropping into a two-way tie with San Diego State (9-4, 206).

Those same Aztecs held the Rams to 11 second-half points in a 71-55 comefrom-behind victory on Tuesday night in San Diego.

But CSU had no such issues on Saturday, jumping ahead 43-26 at halftime and never allowing the Aggies to get within single digits the rest of the way.

Transfer Nique Clifford was 4-of-10 shooting to finish with eight points, while adding 10 rebounds.

Great Osobor led the Aggies (21-5, 9-4) in scoring, finishing with 15 points, 13 rebounds and two steals.

Ian Martinez added 14 points for Utah State. In addition, Javon Jackson had 10 points.

DENVER 77, NORTH DAKOTA

STATE 71>> Tommy Bruner scored 30 of his 41 points in the second half for Denver in a 77-71 victory over North Dakota State on Saturday night at Magness Arena.

Bruner was 14 of 21 shooting, including 3 for 8 from 3-point range, and went 10 for 14 from the line for the Pioneers (1513, 6-7 Summit League).

Touko Tainamo scored 13 points and added six rebounds. Deandre Craig had eight points and shot 4 of 4 from the field.

Tajavis Miller led the way for the Bison (13-14, 6-6) with 21 points and two steals.

Jacari White added 13 points, eight rebounds and five assists for North Dakota State.

In addition, Noah Feddersen finished with 12 points and three blocks.

NORTHERN COLORADO 80, SACRAMENTO STATE 75>> Dejour Reaves scored 24 points, Saint Thomas added 23 and Northern Colorado beat Sacramento State 80-75 in Sacramento, Calif..

Thomas added nine rebounds, five assists, and three steals for the Bears (16-10, 9-4 Big Sky Conference). Brock Wisne had 12 points

Austin Patterson led the Hornets (6-21, 2-12) in scoring, finishing with 29 points and four assists.

Sacramento State also got 19 points, eight rebounds and four assists from Duncan Powell.

The loss is the 10th straight for the Hornets.