Colorado State University (CSU) concluded the nonconference segment of its basketball season with an impressive 104-54 victory over Northern New Mexico on December 3, 2023, at Moby Arena in Fort Collins. The Rams maintained control throughout the match, improving their season record to 9-2 just ahead of their Mountain West Conference opener against Utah State.
Missing key players, including big men Rashaan Mbemba and Kyle Jorgensen, did not hinder CSU’s performance. The Rams outscored the Eagles in the first half, racking up 60 points, which surpassed Northern New Mexico’s total for the entire game. CSU’s bench further contributed to the rout, scoring 56 points compared to the Eagles’ 54.
CSU head coach Ali Farokhmanesh acknowledged the challenges presented by a smaller opponent. He stated, “These games sometimes can be really hard because of the way they’re played… I thought they still responded even in the second half when they were up by as much as they were.”
From the outset, the Rams established a commanding lead, scoring the first nine points of the game and extending their advantage to 16-4 within four minutes. A three-pointer from Brandon Rechsteiner at 6:54 in the first half pushed CSU’s lead to 20 points, resulting in a 39-19 score. CSU continued to dominate, finishing the first half with a significant 60-26 lead, bolstered by Rechsteiner’s 12 points. The Rams shot an impressive 67.6% from the field compared to the Eagles’ 32.1%.
As the second half commenced, CSU maintained momentum with a 7-2 run, reaching their largest lead of the game at 67-28. Although the Rams’ shooting percentage dipped to 53.6% in the latter half, Northern New Mexico never successfully closed the gap, with their closest score being 78-49 with just over seven minutes remaining. CSU capped off the game by outscoring the Eagles 26-5 in the final stretch.
Despite their absence, CSU’s depth was evident. The Rams scored 48 points in the paint and made 11 three-pointers, showcasing a balanced offensive attack. Notably, ten players contributed at least five points each, with Darnez Slater leading the way with 17 points. Other key contributors included Jon Mekonnen with 13, Rechsteiner and Nikola Djapa with 12 each, JoJo McIver with 11, and Josh Pascarelli with 10.
Looking ahead, Farokhmanesh emphasized the importance of team involvement. “I think for Darnez and Jon and Charlie (Dortch) specifically, I thought it was huge for those three,” he said. “Not having Rashaan and Kyle, we needed everybody again… especially when we are playing 20 conference games and how quick these back-to-backs happen.”
In addition to their offensive success, CSU dominated the boards, winning the rebounding battle 40-28 and recording 24 assists to Northern New Mexico’s 11. The Rams are set to face Utah State at noon on December 9, marking the start of their Mountain West Conference campaign.