Colorado State dumps Demons 72-60

FORT COLLINS, Colo. – Colorado State rebounded nicely Friday night.

The Rams, reeling from three straight road losses, came home and pounded the boards to dump Northwestern State 72-60 at Moby Arena. CSU (3-3) took a 41-30 advantage on the boards and allowed the Demons (1-5) only three offensive rebounds until the late stages of play.

“We weren’t aggressive enough,” said 19th-year NSU coach Mike McConathy, “until the closing minutes. They are an amazing rebounding team. Tonight we learned what rebounding means and how vital it is.

“Defensively they clog the (passing) lanes so well, and we struggled to get the ball inside. We didn’t have good ball movement very often at all,” he said. “But you have to give Colorado State credit for doing what they do under (head coach) Larry Eustachy. This program is built on defense and rebounding and they took us to school tonight.”

The Demons led a couple of times during the first half, and trailed only 36-32 at halftime when Iziahiah Sweeney dunked just before the buzzer off a long rebound and assist by Jalan West. But the Rams opened the second half taking advantage of cold shooting by the visitors, going on a 14-4 run into a 50-36 lead with 14:07 remaining. NSU never got closer than the final score afterward.

NSU sank only two of its first 12 shots after halftime while CSU made five of nine, and owned an 11-4 rebounding advantage, to take command.

Sweeney scored a team-best 14 points and West had 13 for the Demons, who finished with 31 percent second-half aim and just 37.5 percent in the game. The Rams shot 45 percent overall.

“We never completely sold out to guard those guys. We didn’t consistently stay in front of them,” said McConathy.

“We did fight hard. We’ve got to get better, cleaner shots, and also, hold on to rebounds and loose balls better. We had our hands on it so many times and the more aggressive team came away with possession,” he said.

The Demons ended a stretch of six games in the first 14 days of the season. They will play at home next Wednesday night at 6:30 against Lyon College, then not again until Dec. 9 at Rapides Parish Coliseum in Alexandria against Louisiana College.