ALBUQUERQUE — Colorado State freshmen Greg Smith and Dorian Green each scored 13 points Saturday but the Rams were unable to overcome a scoring drought late in the first half and lost 82-64 to New Mexico in a Mountain West Conference men’s basketball game.
Dairese Gary led New Mexico with 17 points and five assists. The Lobos’ bench contributed 27 points and 17 rebounds. Each player on the roster scored at least five points.
The game was close, with seven ties and six lead changes, until New Mexico (18-3, 4-2 MWC) went on a 16-1 run late in the first half to lead 36-22.
New Mexico’s lead never was in single-digits again.
“We knew we would get a good shot from them,” New Mexico coach Steve Alford said of the Rams. “They shook up their lineup and started five guards, which I don’t think they have done this year. I thought our guys really handled it well.”
The Rams (11-8, 2-3) changed their starting lineup to get better activity on the court, but it didn’t pan out quite the way CSU coach Tim Miles planned. New Mexico had a 48-30 rebounding advantage, including 17-5 on the offensive end.
“It didn’t help us because we got hurt on the boards,” Miles said. “But we got hurt on the boards because we didn’t guard the ball.”
