FORT COLLINS — By the numbers Dwight Smith had the best game of his Colorado State career.
His 21 points on and eight rebounds were both career bests — in the spotlight of the Mountain West tournament, no less.
The junior guard scored a variety of ways, making contested layups in traffic, sinking off-balanced jumpers to beat the shot clock and even sinking a 3-pointer, just his fourth of the season.
But after his team blew a 10-point lead with less than two minutes left, Smith was left in shock.
His injury-plagued season that included him missing 10 of the first 11 games looked like it was going to end on a great note. But instead, Smith and the Rams were left trying to make sense of what caused their season to end so abruptly after Utah State ended the game on a 16-3 for a stunning 73-69 win.
“I didn’t want our season to be over right now. We had the worst breaks this entire year,” Smith said. “We just needed a situation to help prove what we could really do, and we still haven’t.
“It just wasn’t even close to what this group of guys could do. It just (stinks) that it had to end like that.”
Smith’s career game was a bit of a repeat performance from two years ago when he scored 13 points to help the Rams beat TCU in the quarterfinals of the conference tournament.
Colorado State desperately needed Smith’s scoring with Daniel Bejarano and J.J. Avila combining to shoot just 5-for-28 from the floor.
“He was huge. I think it started two years ago in the Mountain West when he played well. He came in and helped us huge. He stepped up and we needed him,” CSU guard Bejarano said. “Obviously me and J.J. and Jon (Octeus) have to score a lot, but it’s nice to have Dwight come in and be a big impact. It helps him out with his confidence, and I wish we could go to the next game.”
Smith wasn’t the only CSU role player to give the Rams a solid effort in the disappointing loss. Junior forward Marcus Holt helped the Rams contain the Aggies’ low-post offense with three of the Rams’ seven blocks.
“Marcus was the reason we had the lead. Him and Dwight, you know, that’s what we haven’t had all year. We just haven’t had that,” CSU coach Larry Eustachy said. “They’ve had opportunities, but they’ve struggled given those opportunities.
They really stepped up. Marcus stepped up today and was a factor around the basket. I don’t know how many blocks he had, but he changed shots also.”
Contact Reporter-Herald Sports Writer Sean Star at sstar@reporter-herald.com or
