Fort Collins – Mountain West Conference defending champion Utah came in fairly defenseless Saturday against Colorado State. CSU’s 64 percent shooting from the floor translated into an 84-78 win, the first for the Rams in conference play.
Not coincidentally, it was CSU’s first MWC game at Moby Arena this season. With a season-high crowd of 6,680, guards Cory Lewis and Sean Morris stepped up unlike they had on the road.
Lewis scored a career-high 19 points after he had combined for 16 points in the two MWC road losses. Morris chipped in 18. It was his best outing since the second game of the season, when he torched Colorado for 34.
“We just wanted to step up our guard play from the last two games,” Lewis said. “We took it on ourselves to do the little things – hit the big shots and play defense. We needed to come home and relax. Everyone kind of got shell-shocked with the (road) crowds.”
Unlike recent road trips to San Diego State and New Mexico, the Rams (12-4, 1-2) took the lead early and had a 48-40 lead at halftime. With center Jason Smith saddled with two first-half fouls, Lewis and Morris took over from the outside. Smith didn’t draw another foul and finished with 17 points.
With the attention Utah gave Smith and the other two inside players, Stuart Creason and Michael Harrison, Lewis and Morris were able to drive inside when needed.
“We didn’t play good defense, and on offense they got a lot of good open shots,” Utah forward Bryant Markson said.
When Johnnie Bryant tied it for the Utes (8-7, 1-3) at 53 with 15:10 remaining, Morris answered with two foul shots. Markson tied it again but Morris’ layup restored CSU’s advantage.
Utah’s lone second-half lead of 66-65 came with 9:05 left on a tip-in by center Chris Jackson. Lewis forced a turnover at the Utah end and took it down the floor to regain the lead.
The game wasn’t decided until Micheal Morris rebounded Markson’s missed 3-pointer and handed the ball to his brother Sean just before drawing the foul. Micheal Morris hit both foul shots with nine seconds left for the final score.
The improvement on the other end of the court made the difference for the Rams. CSU’s defense on the road ranged from nonexistent to coach Dale Layer’s description of “atrocious.”
“They really beat on us in practice,” Sean Morris said of the coaches’ emphasis on defense. “Our guard play hadn’t been up to par.”
Payback is coming fast and furious for the team that dominated the league last year, when Utah had eventual first-round pick Andrew Bogut and point guard Marc Jackson in the lineup.
“Chris Jackson and I were talking about how everyone is looking out for us because of last year,” Markson said. “They still hold that grudge, but they are living in the past. It’s time to move on.”
Markson could see a difference in CSU’s guard play along with improvement inside.
“Their guards are more offense-minded,” he said. “Last year they were more laid-back, just looking for (ex-Rams center Matt) Nelson.”
UTAH (8-7, 1-3 MWC)
Markson 6-12 7-7 19, Jackson 4-5 1-3 9, Bryant 6-9 0-0 15, Grant 3-6 0-0 7, Green 3-5 0-0 9, Borha 0-0 0-0 0, Iverson 1-1 0-0 3, Johns 2-3 0-0 4, Nevill 4-9 2-3 10, Langvad 1-5 0-0 2. Totals 30-55 10-13 78.
COLORADO STATE (12-4, 1-2)
Smith 7-12 3-7 17, Harrison 5-7 2-4 12, Lewis 8-11 1-2 19, Patterson 0-0 0-0 0, M. Morris 2-3 2-2 6, Clark 0-0 0-0 0, S. Morris 5-8 5-5 18, Harris 0-0 0-0 0, Robinson 0-0 0-0 0, Creason 3-5 0-0 6, Gilling 2-4 0-0 6. Totals 32-50 13-20 84.
Halftime – Colorado State 48-40. 3-point goals – Utah 8-18 (Bryant 3-4, Green 3-5, Iverson 1-1, Grant 1-3, Markson 0-2, Langvad 0-3), Colorado St. 7-12 (S. Morris 3-5, Lewis 2-3, Gilling 2-4). Fouled out – Green. Rebounds – Utah 28 (Markson, Nevill 6), Colorado St. 23 (Harrison 5). Assists – Utah 13 (Markson 5), Colorado St. 17 (S. Morris 5). Total fouls – Utah 18, Colorado St. 13. A – 6,680.
Natalie Meisler can be reached at 303-820-1295 or nmeisler@denverpost.com.
