SAN FRANCISCO—Wes Eikmeier scored a career-high 19 points and Colorado State made a 12-point halftime lead hold up for a 69-61 victory against San Francisco in the Hilltop Challenge tournament Tuesday night.
The Rams (9-3) have won five consecutive games, the school’s longest streak since coach Tim Miles took over in 2007.
Andy Ogide had 15 points and five rebounds for Colorado State, which took control with a 19-3 run to end the first half. USF (4-9) closed to within two points on multiple occasions after halftime, but never regained the lead.
Angelo Caloiaro tallied a team-high 17 points and 10 rebounds for the Dons, who have dropped four straight.
Colorado State took advantage of 20 USF turnovers, converting them into 22 points. The Rams built a 44-32 halftime lead as the Dons went 1 for 9 with four turnovers in a 6-minute stretch.
The Rams were equally stingy in closing the second half. Colorado State held a 61-59 lead with 6:14 left after Rashad Green hit two free throws for USF, but the Rams outscored the Dons 8-2 the rest of the way. The Dons went 0-for-5 with four turnovers in that span.
Colorado State won despite getting only six points from leading scorer Travis Franklin, who came into the contest averaging 17.3 points per game. Franklin, who also had five rebounds and three assists, battled foul trouble all night before fouling out with 1:48 remaining.
The Dons stayed close early by making seven of their first 10 3-point attempts, but went 4 for 14 behind the arc after that and shot 40 percent in the game. Michael Williams knocked down five 3s as part of a 16-point night and Green finished with 12 points and 10 rebounds for San Francisco.
