FORT COLLINS — Two months ago, the thought of Colorado State making a postseason basketball tournament seemed unlikely, if not preposterous.
The Rams were 11-8 overall and 3-3 in the Mountain West coming off back to back blowouts at home to New Mexico by 13 and at Fresno State by 21. With reserves Kimani Jackson, Che Bob and Devocio Butler — each valuable pieces off the bench — failing to meet minimum GPA requirements in the fall semester, the Rams were down to just seven scholarship players.
But instead of folding, the Rams thrived.
They won 13 of their next 16 games, coming up just one win short of capturing the regular season Mountain West title and the conference tournament championship — with Nevada the only team standing in the way of both.
That improbable run came to a screeching halt in the second round of the NIT on Monday night at Moby Arena, where the fourth-seeded Rams were no match against eighth-seeded Cal State Bakersfield. The Roadrunners claimed an 81-63 wire-to-wire victory, advancing to face No. 6 seed Texas-Arlington in the quarterfinals on Wednesday.
BOXSCORE:
“I’ll always remember this team. It’s one of the most special teams I’ve ever had. You’ve seen some teams in those circumstances quit, and that’s the last thing we’re about, is quitting,” CSU coach Larry Eustachy said after wrapping up his fifth season with the program.
“A lot of positives in spite a lot of adversity. So it’s a team I’ll remember for a long, long time. Give Bakersfield all the credit. I know (coach) Rod (Barnes) well. I coached against him when he was a player. He’s one of the unknown great coaches in the country.”
With an opportunity to host again the next round, when a trip to Madison Square Garden would have been on the line, the Rams (24-12) simply came out flat, recovered briefly for a stretch in the first half but were otherwise thoroughly outplayed by the Western Athletic Conference regular season champs.
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