Colorado Rams Lose Overtime Heartbreaker To Utes

Colorado State head coach Tim Miles said before the game that the Rams needed to play 40 minutes of solid basketball in order to upset Mountain West Conference leading Utah Utes. The Rams did just that.

Unfortunately, Wednesday night’s game lasted 45 minutes after the score was knotted at 73 at the end of regulation. The Rams didn’t seem to show up after the end of regulation, losing 89-79.

The Utes (19-7, 10-2) took an early six point lead in the overtime period and never trailed. The Rams (8-18, 3-9) shot just one of seven, with its lone field goal, a Travis Franklin layup, coming with 1:08 to play. The Utes shot three of six from the floor in the extended period and a perfect 10-10 from the free-throw line.

“We can go out and play hard against anybody, but if you lose, then it's nothing but a moral victory and that's not what we're out here for,” said senior Marcus Walker.

Despite trailing by four points before connecting with its first basket of the evening, Colorado State chipped away early and took its first lead, 14-13, on an inside jumper by Walker with 12:52 remaining in the first half. Over the next 1:41, the Rams extended its lead to six, capping a 10-0 run to take a 19-13 lead. Walker scored eight of the team’s points turning the stretch, adding to his 15 in the first half.

“I loved our passion and our energy,” Miles said. “They played the way that I expect them to play every night. I think that we've proven that when we play with that energy we can play with anybody.”

The Rams led by as many as 10 in the first half, but the Utes used an 8-2 run over the final 1:53 to cut the deficit to four at the break.

With 6:40 remaining in the contest, Utah took its first lead since the first seven minutes with a Tyler Kepkay three-point basket. Kepkay led all scorers with a career-high 27 points on 9-16 shooting, including 24 points after the end of the first half.

“He (Kepkay) hurt us in transition,” Miles said. “He just ran it down our throats. I credit him. When Kepkay went on that run that was a real hurtful time for us.”

Utah led by as many as six late in regulation, but a jumper by sophomore Andy Ogide tied the game at 71 with 1:31 to play. A Carlon Brown dunk on Utah’s next possession briefly quieted the crowd to help Utah regain the lead.

Rams’ senior Willis Gardner drew a foul with 46 seconds to play, making both free throws to knot the score at 73.

Tough defense and two missed shots by Kepkay, the second one a three-pointer after a Utah offensive rebound gave the Rams the final possession of regulation. The loose ball rolled across the court, past diving Utes and out of bounds to allow Colorado State to set up its final play with 14.5 seconds to play and the chance to seal the upset.

But Walker’s drive to the basket was unsuccessful and led to 7-foot-2 Luke Nevill’s sixth (of seven on the night) blocked shot and the end of regulation.

“It's just obviously disappointing,” Miles said. “We didn't execute enough things in the end and we can’t do that to a team like Utah.”

The Rams, who were playing without freshman Jesse Carr who was out with a strained groin, were led by Walker (22 points), Gardner (18) and Ogide (15), who combined for 55 of the Rams’ 79 points.

Nevill scored 23 points on 8-11 shooting for the Utes, including eight points in overtime. The senior also collected 14 rebounds and seven blocked shots.

As fans left the stadium Wednesday night, an unidentified student commented, “Tonight just reminds me that I go to Colorado State University.”

A statement that signifies the Rams’ season. Missed game-winning shots against Minnesota and San Francisco have been two of several close losses for the Rams this season.

Close but no cigar. Almost but not quite. Better luck next time.

“The sun is going to come up tomorrow,” Miles said. “The thing that the kids need to think about is how we can get better from (Wednesday) night. How we can find a way to compete better so that next time we're in a situation like this we come out on top.”