UPDATE: The CSU Rams have suffered their first loss of the season, falling to the Denver Pioneers 83-81 in a nail-biting finish at Moby Arena on November 17, 2023. Despite a valiant effort, the Rams missed a last-second chance to clinch victory, leaving them with a 4-1 record.
Both teams struggled with their shooting, as CSU converted only 79.5% of their free throws and managed 44.4% from three-point range. The game remained tightly contested, but the Rams could not capitalize on critical opportunities down the stretch.
Trailing 41-33 at halftime, CSU surged back in the second half with a 12-2 run, tying the game at 45 with 15:36 left. The momentum shifted constantly, as both teams exchanged leads. The Pioneers pulled ahead late in the game, going on a scoring spree that gave them a 61-56 advantage with under ten minutes remaining.
With just 43 seconds left on the clock, the Rams closed the gap to 80-79 after a critical pair of free throws by Carey Booth. However, a missed layup by Jevin Muniz following a blocked shot left CSU scrambling for points. The teams traded free throws, but the Rams found themselves down by two as the clock wound down.
In a dramatic final moment, Josh Pascarelli attempted a game-winning three-pointer as time expired, but it fell short, sealing the Rams’ fate.
“It’s tough to lose like this, especially when we had a chance at the end,”
Pascarelli stated post-game.
Leading the Rams was Kyle Jorgensen, who scored a remarkable 29 points, marking his third career high in just five games this season. Booth added 18 points while Brandon Rechsteiner contributed 11 points to the effort.
The game started promisingly for CSU, who jumped to an early lead at 19-11 before the Pioneers clawed back to take their first lead at 21-20. Despite a late dunk by Booth closing the first half, a buzzer-beating three from Carson Johnson of DU gave the Pioneers a 41-33 lead heading into halftime.
CSU will regroup quickly as they prepare to face Virginia Tech next on Wednesday at the Battle 4 Atlantis in Paradise Island, Bahamas. Fans will be eager to see if the Rams can bounce back from this heart-wrenching loss and regain their winning momentum. The team’s ability to learn from this close game will be crucial as they look to improve their performance in upcoming matchups.
Stay tuned for updates on CSU’s next challenge!
