Fort Collins – Colorado State had every reason for concern despite a three-point halftime lead over Boise State. The Rams’ franchise, 7-foot junior center Jason Smith, was saddled with early foul trouble. The catalyst, Tyler Smith, was burdened by an 0-for-7 first-half shooting performance.
Tyler Smith’s best friend from Baltimore, Nuggets megastar Carmelo Anthony, knew he had an impending dinner from his coach, George Karl, who was courtside at Moby Arena to watch his son, Coby, play for Boise State.
As if on cue, Tyler Smith started to click at the start of the second half, and his six steals, four assists and 12 points helped lead the Rams to a 67-50 nonleague win over the 1-2 Broncos. Anthony won the friendly wager.
“I wasn’t concerned because I know the type of player he is,” said Anthony, a regular at CSU games when the Nuggets’ schedule permits. “He got it going when it counted.”
Tyler Smith, point guard Cory Lewis and freshman forward Xavier Kilby helped the Rams (3-2) pull ahead.
It was a particularly satisfying win for Lewis, who has had to compete with Tim Denson for playing time when the Rams aren’t in a three-guard lineup. Last season, Lewis had the point guard job to himself.
“It shows how much of a better team we are this year to do it without Jason and Tyler,” Lewis said. “They are the focus on this team, but they are not the whole team.”
CSU coach Dale Layer said the Rams were determined to slow the Broncos’ pace and shut down Boise State’s Karl-led outside game. The Rams limited the Western Athletic Conference visitors to 2-of-16 shooting on 3-pointers.
It was a physical, often sloppy contest, with the team combining almost evenly for 55 turnovers and 42 fouls.
“I don’t think either team feels it played its best game,” Layer said.
Jason Smith certainly didn’t. Although he finished with three fouls, he had the third at the 14:53 mark of the second half. Stuart Creason assumed much of the inside game and had eight points and seven rebounds before fouling out with 6:02 left and the Rams in control, 58-44.
Denson opened up the second half with a 3-pointer on an assist by Jason Smith. A steal and layup and quick 3-pointer by Tyler Smith gave CSU its first 10-point lead. Although Karl cut it back to six points at the foul line, Lewis and Tyler Smith returned the lead to 10 with 13:47 left.
Then Kilby, a freshman two years removed from high school, exerted himself and finished with a career-best 12 points and seven rebounds in 21 minutes.
“Xavier is an energy guy. He has toughness. I’m not surprised. He is an opportunistic scorer,” Layer said. “That was the key with Stuart and Jason in foul trouble.”
BOISE STATE (1-2)
Robinson 1-5 2-2 4, Nelson 6-13 3-5 15, Wilson 1-5 0-0 3, Lane 1-6 0-0 2, Karl 2-6 4-4 8, Thomas 0-0 0-0 0, Tiedeman 1-3 0-0 2, Larry 5-8 1-2 11, Cunningham 1-3 0-0 2, Bauscher 1-3 0-0 3. Totals 19-52 10-13 50.
COLORADO STATE (3-2)
Jas. Smith 2-6 2-2 6, Creason 3-4 2-2 8, Lewis 2-7 5-6 9, T. Smith 5-16 0-0 12, Denson 3-5 2-2 10, Jar. Smith 0-0 0-0 0, Kilby 4-6 4-7 12, A. Robinson 0-0 0-0 0, Surratt 0-0 0-0 0, F. Robinson 1-2 0-0 2, Gilling 3-6 0-0 8. Totals 23-52 15-19 67.
Halftime – Colorado State 33-29. 3-point goals – Boise St. 2-16 (Bauscher 1-1, Wilson 1-5, Robinson 0-1, Larry 0-1, Tiedeman 0-2, Karl 0-3, Lane 0-3), Colorado St. 6-16 (Denson 2-3, T. Smith 2-5, Gilling 2-5, Lewis 0-3). Fouled out – Creason. Rebounds – Boise St. 28 (Larry 10), Colorado St. 39 (Creason, Kilby 7). Assists – Boise St. 10 (Robinson 3), Colorado St. 13 (T. Smith 4). Total fouls – Boise St. 20, Colorado St. 22. A – 3,080.
