The main event between Colorado State’s Jason Smith and the University of Denver’s Yemi Nicholson ended in a dead heat Saturday night. The state’s two premier big men finished with 22 points apiece, and a good time was had by all.
CSU, however, received an extra lift from its vertically challenged backcourt of 6-foot Cory Lewis, 5-10 Sean Morris and 6-1 freshman Stephan Gilling in the second half to hand the Pioneers their first loss of the men’s basketball season, 64-58 in the opening game of the inaugural Colorado Classic doubleheader at the Pepsi Center.
“Me and Yemi, it was fun. We were having a great time talking on the court,” said Smith, a 7-foot sophomore.
And while the big guys slugged it out, CSU (4-0) controlled the game last with its newfound press forcing turnovers to keep the Pioneers (3-1) from making a late run.
“It was a really fun game, but he probably had more fun because he won,” said Nicholson, a 6-11 senior center whom CSU coach Dale Layer called the most improved player in the country.
Smith had the upper hand in the scoring column until Nicholson scored DU’s final two baskets, on a slam and a layup, after the game was out of reach. Smith’s 7-foot teammate, sophomore Stuart Creason, fouled out with 5:26 left. A layup off a fast break by Nicholson lifted the Pioneers within a point of the Rams, but Lewis scored the next four points and DU didn’t score another basket until Nicholson’s slam with 20 seconds left.
Creason, who sat out the first three games because of a bone spur in his foot, helped tie up Nicholson, freeing Smith on offense. He sacrificed the fouls on Nicholson, playing much of the second half with four.
“Without Stuart, I don’t know if we would have won the game,” Layer said.
In 13 minutes, Creason had six points and three blocked shots.
“Yemi not only had to worry about me, he had to worry about Stuart and it was too much to worry about,” Smith said.
Smith knew he didn’t play his best game, going 2-of-7 from the foul line and turning over the ball six times, mostly on traveling calls by the Sun Belt Conference officiating crew. Nicholson easily won the free-throw contest, hitting all but one of nine attempts, and held the advantage in rebounding 17-13. The DU star had four blocked shots to Smith’s two.
Only the Air Force Falcons in Mountain West Conference play stand in the way of CSU sweeping the state’s Division I schools.
Nicholson had help in staking DU’s lead for most of the game until Morris rediscovered his outside shot five minutes into the second half. DU had opened its biggest lead of the game (37-30) on David Kummer’s basket with 16:34 left when the Rams responded.
Morris, quiet since a 34-point explosion against Colorado last Monday in Fort Collins, knocked down a 3-pointer and hit a free throw in the middle of a 10-0 run for the Rams.
Gilling made a 3-pointer followed by a fast-break layup for a seven- point lead with 10:23 left, 50-43. It was enough of a cushion to withstand some sloppy shooting by the Rams while the Pioneers chipped away at the foul line.
CSU didn’t create its first lead (21-20) until 4:12 remained in the first half, on a Gilling free throw.
COLORADO STATE (4-0)
Robinson 0-2 0-0 0, M. Morris 2-4 1-1 5, Creason 3-4 0-0 6, S. Morris 2-6 3-4 9, Smith 10-18 2-7 22, Patterson 1-1 0-0 2, Brown 0-0 0-0 0, Clark 0-0 0-0 0, Gilling 4-7 1-2 11, Harris 0-0 0-0 0, Harrison 1-4 0-0 2, Lewis 2-8 3-5 7. Totals 25-54 10-19 64.
DENVER (3-1)
Nicholson 7-15 8-9 22, Gordon 2-3 0-0 4, Seger 0-0 0-0 0, Kummer 1-2 3-4 5, Porch 1-6 3-4 5, Carpenter 1-3 6-6 8, Wetrich 1-6 0-0 3, Cox 2-5 0-1 6, Walker 2-10 0-0 5. Totals 17-50 20-24 58.
Halftime – Tied 26-26. 3-point goals – Colorado State 4-13 (S. Morris 2-3, Gilling 2-5, Robinson 0-1, M. Morris 0-2, Lewis 0-2). Denver 4-12 (Cox 2-4, Walker 1-3, Wetrich 1-4, Porch 0-1). Fouled out – Carpenter, Creason, Harrison. Rebounds – Colorado State 32 (Smith 13), Denver 37 (Nicholson 17). Assists – Colorado State 17 (Lewis 6), Denver 8 (Carpenter, Cox 3). Total fouls – Colorado State 22, Denver 20. A – N/A.
Staff writer Natalie Meisler can be reached at 303-820-1295 or nmeisler@denverpost.com.
