Colorado State scored the game’s first 13 points and held off a late San Jose State charge to pick up a 76-71 win Wednesday night at The Event Center in San Jose, Calif.
J.D. Paige and Prentiss Nixon each scored 18 points to lead four players in double figures for CSU (10-6, 2-1 Mountain West). Gian Clavell added 15 points and Emmanuel Omogbo recorded his seventh double-double of the season with 13 points and 11 rebounds for the Rams, who bounced back after losing at the buzzer Saturday night at Boise State.
Brandon Clarke scored 24 points on 10-of-12 shooting for the Spartans (7-6, 0-2), who fell to 0-14 all-time against CSU.
The Rams attempted just nine 3-pointers, making four, while outscoring the Spartans 40-26 in the paint and 18-6 at the free-throw line in the first game since the team announced that three players, Kimani Jackson, Che Bob and Devocio Butler, will become academically ineligible once the spring semester starts Jan. 17, leaving the team with just seven scholarship players.
“I just love this group of guys. I can’t say enough about them,” CSU coach Larry Eustachy said. “Under the circumstances, I think I know fans better than anybody, and as a team together, our players, our administration, our fans, will get through this, and we really need your support. We really do, and I know we’ll have it. I think we can really rally around this group, and who knows what can happen.”
The victory was the 499th of Eustachy’s career, setting up the chance for him to earn win No. 500 at home Saturday against Air Force.
Recap: Four Ram starters score in double figures to lead the Rams to a 76-71 win over a pesky San Jose State squad.
— Colorado State Men’s Basketball (@CSUMBasketball)
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