FORT COLLINS — It was almost a perfect game before taking a red-eye flight to Cancun.
The Rams burst out front, then came up with the plays when UNC threatened in the last 10 minutes.
But it wasn’t enough of a scare to cost any sleep on a cramped plane ride. Colorado State dominated Northern Colorado from start to finish to win 75-61 Monday in the Rams’ final Moby Arena appearance of 2010.
CSU was scheduled for a post-midnight trip to DIA for the one-stop flight to Mexico for Wednesday’s start of the Cancun Governor’s Cup against Appalachian State.
Rams coach Tim Miles reached deep into the bench early, using 11 players in the first half, including three freshmen.
Wes Eikmeier (17 points) and Travis Henry (16 points) led the scoring for the Rams. No one could match UNC senior guard Devon Beitzel’s 29 points.
Northern Colorado’s only lead came on Beitzel’s opening basket behind the arc. Dorian Green answered to start a 16-4 early run. UNC refused to let the Rams turn it into a rout in the second half. Chris Kaba cut into the double-digit lead twice and Beitzel turned it into a seven-point game.
Then Greg Smith, CSU’s 12th player into the game, knocked in a 3-pointer from the corner to give the Rams a 70-59 lead. That was it for UNC.
CSU improved to 5-3 heading into the only extended road swing of the season. The Rams play three games in the Mexican tourist destination. There will be barely any time for Christmas before heading out to San Francisco for another three-game tournament.
UNC, rebuilding after the best season in school history, dropped to 4-6.
The next Moby Arena game will be CSU’s Mountain West Conference opener Jan. 4 against Wyoming.
Natalie Meisler: 303 954-1295 or nmeisler@denverpost.com
