Fort Collins – Second place and Mountain West Conference have been historically mutually exclusive terms for Colorado State – until junior forward Jason Smith took over Saturday’s game against Brigham Young.
Smith’s monster dunk with 11:44 left ignited a 12-1 run, capped by his own 15-footer, as CSU pulled away from BYU for a 90-78 win. The Rams (14-4, 4-2) lifted themselves into second place behind 5-1 Air Force.
CSU has finished next to last or tied for last in the previous three seasons.
“It was an open lane and I kind of didn’t know what to do with myself,” said Smith of the slam to increase a 57-56 lead. He scored 12 of his 16 points in the second half, and before it was all over he was pumping his fist to further increase the Moby Arena decibel count to levels usually reserved for a bipartisan crowd in the Wyoming game.
Smith shook off his standard first-half foul trouble to take over the game with the help of an all-out assault by CSU’s four rotating guards. In the first half, Stephan Gilling (16 points) repeatedly answered Cougar runs with 3s. In the second half, Tim Denson shed his defensive reputation to score 13 of his team-high 18.
After halftime the Rams shot 69 percent and were hitting 77.8 percent (14-of-18) with 7:21 left.
The 12-1 run sparked by Smith lifted CSU to a 69-56 lead and BYU never made it closer than seven points.
“The three halves prior (the TCU game and the first half against BYU) I don’t think Jason asserted his will on the game,” CSU coach Dale Layer said. “He’s got to step up with poise and do the things he does well. The second half was his half, the first half was not.”
The Cougars (13-6, 3-2) came in having won eight of their previous nine games. Trent Plaisted, a 6-foot-11 sophomore, led all scorers with 27, and would have easily had 30 points if not for a rancid 5-of-13 from the line.
While BYU’s 55 percent shooting clip wouldn’t attest to much defense, Stuart Creason came through with five blocked shots to give him 11 in his past two games.
It was Layer’s 100th career win in his seventh season at CSU and it might have been the most significant victory, save for the 2003 MWC championship game for an NCAA berth.
“I just think we beat a great team. I don’t care if it’s the hundredth, thousandth or first win,” Layer said. “I’m just proud of our team for stepping up in a huge way. We’re continuing to get better and that’s the mark of our team.”
BYU was supposed to be the team with the depth but virtually all the scoring came from Plaisted, Jimmy Balderson (21 points) and Keena Young (18 points).
CSU, which shot 57 percent from the field, had four in double figures and at least two baskets from four others. While Smith and Creason sat in the first half with two fouls apiece, Layer received enough production from the small lineup with forward Freddy Robinson and Xavier Kilby to stay in the game.
“We had a tough time guarding them,” BYU coach Dave Rose said. “They shot the ball well. Their post guys create problems for a defense. If you key on them, their guards respond.”
BRIGHAM YOUNG (13-6, 3-2 MWC)
Young 9-14 0-0 18, Plaisted 11-16 5-13 27, Ainge 0-1 0-0 0, Balderson 7-13 2-2 21, Cummard 2-5 0-0 6, Rose 0-1 0-0 0, Ivanovic 1-2 0-0 2, Malaman 1-1 0-0 2, Murdock 0-1 2-2 2, Tavernari 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 31-56 9-17 78.
COLORADO STATE (14-4, 4-2)
Jas. Smith 7-9 2-2 16, Creason 4-5 0-1 8, Lewis 3-6 2-2 9, Denson 5-12 5-6 18, Gilling 6-10 0-0 16, Kilby 2-2 0-0 4, T. Smith 4-10 4-7 13, F. Robinson 2-5 0-0 4, Aguilar 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 34-60 13-18 90.
Halftime – Brigham Young 39-37. 3-point goals – BYU 7-13 (Balderson 5-8, Cummard 2-2, Murdock 0-1, Tavernari 0-2), Colorado St. 9-17 (Gilling 4-8, Denson 3-3, Lewis 1-1, T. Smith 1-5). Fouled out – None. Rebounds – BYU 25 (Ainge, Cummard, Plaisted 4), Colorado St. 34 (Creason 8). Assists – BYU 17 (Ainge 6), Colorado St. 22 (Lewis 7). Total fouls – BYU 20, Colorado St. 17. A – 5,760.
Natalie Meisler can be reached at 303-954-1295 or nmeisler@denverpost.com.
