Fort Collins – Unable to find a way to win, Colorado State keeps coming up with ways to lose.
The sight of CSU guard Cory Lewis, facedown on the Moby Arena floor as time expired Wednesday, told it all.
In his haste to get off a shot in the last five seconds, Lewis tripped and lost the ball. New Mexico held on for an 80-78 victory, its first in nine road games this season. CSU (12-11, 1-9) extended its Mountain West Conference losing streak to seven games, the fourth straight season with at least a seven-game losing streak.
“I just lost my footing. I just slipped,” said Lewis, who was coming off a career-high 26-point game against San Diego State.
CSU coach Dale Layer said: “He had some space to attack. I was confident he’d make a good play, but it just didn’t happen.”
The Rams led most of the way, holding an eight-point lead in the final minute of the first half and an 11-point lead less than two minutes into the second half. CSU outshot New Mexico 57.4 percent to 45.6 percent and outrebounded the Lobos 33-25. CSU just couldn’t outscore New Mexico (14-9, 5-5) after Mark Walters launched an 11-1 run starting with 4:27 left to erase a 67-62 Rams lead.
“I thought we outplayed them for 34 minutes,” Layer said. “There was a stretch they knocked down 3s, and those ones by Walters were daggers. They were shots they weren’t making all game.”
Walters, a senior guard who came in averaging 15.8 points per game, was quiet with seven points through most of the second half until the late run helped him finish with 21. Freddy Robinson, who had been playing the best individual defense on the team, kept Walters in check until fouling out with 5:43 left.
“CSU came out with more energy than us,” New Mexico coach Ritchie McKay said. “We have a senior-led team in Mark and David (Chiotti). The key to the game was we didn’t fold; we just found a way to win.”
Robinson, who sat out last season after ankle surgery and had been struggling on the offensive end while in and out of the starting lineup, finally found his shot on a night Jason Smith was held to single figures for only the second time this season. Robinson and Michael Harrison led the Rams with 15 points each. Smith had 10 rebounds and blocked three shots.
After the second of two straight Walters 3-pointers gave New Mexico its first lead of the second half, 68-67, Stuart Creason hit one foul shot to tie. Chad Toppert launched a baseline 3 for the Lobos, who never trailed again.
Down by three, Smith scored at close range to trail 77-76 with 11 seconds left. Walters was intentionally sent to the line with 9.3 seconds left. He hit both shots, and Lewis responded in kind with 6.8 seconds showing. Chiotti hit one of two foul shots before Lewis’ stumble.
NEW MEXICO (14-9)
Chiotti 6-11 2-5 14, Box 3-9 1-2 7, Walters 5-11, 8-11 21, Kersten 0-0, 1-2 1, Danridge 0-2 0-0 0, Walter 2-3 2-2 8, Collins 4-6 4-6 13, Prentice 2-3 1-1 6, Harden 1-3 0-0 2, Toppert 2-4 0-0 6, Prochaska 1-5 0-0 2, Faris 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 26-57 19-29 80.
COLORADO ST. (12-11)
Robinson 6-6 2-2 15, Smith 3-8 2-2 8, Harrison 5-7 5-8 15, Lewis 3-5 6-6 13, Gilling 4-10 0-0 11, Harris 0-1 0-0 0, Patterson 3-4 0-0 8, Creason 2-4 2-4 6, M.Morris 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 27-47 17-22 78.
Halftime – CSU 34-29. 3-point goals – NM 9-22 (Walters 3-6, Walter 2-3, Toppert 2-4, Collins 1-2, Prentice 1-2, Harden 0-1, Box 0-2, Prochaska 0-2), CSU 7-13 (Gilling 3-8, Patterson 2-3, Robinson 1-1, Lewis 1-1). Fouled out-Patterson, Robinson, Walters. Rebounds – NM 25 (Chiotti 8), CSU 33 (Smith 10). Assists – NM 19 (Chiotti 6), CSU 18 (Lewis 8). Total fouls – NM 21, CSU 23. A – 3,011.
Natalie Meisler can be reached at 303-820-1295 or nmeisler@denverpost.com.
