Colorado State University (CSU) concluded its nonconference schedule with a commanding 104-54 victory over Northern New Mexico on December 10, 2023. The match took place at Moby Arena in Fort Collins, showcasing a dominant performance by the Rams, who improved their season record to 9-2 ahead of their Mountain West Conference opener against Utah State.
CSU maintained control throughout the game, leading from the opening buzzer. Despite the absence of key players, including Rashaan Mbemba and Kyle Jorgensen, the Rams outperformed their opponents significantly. Notably, CSU scored 60 points in the first half, surpassing Northern New Mexico’s total points for the entire game.
Strong Performance from the Rams
The Rams quickly established their dominance, scoring the first nine points of the game. Their momentum continued as they extended their lead to 16-4 shortly after the game’s start. A 3-pointer from Brandon Rechsteiner pushed the lead to 20 points at 39-19 with just under seven minutes remaining in the first half. CSU concluded the opening period with a commanding 60-26 lead.
CSU’s shooting efficiency was remarkable, hitting 67.6% of their shots in the first half compared to Northern New Mexico’s 32.1%. Rechsteiner led the Rams at the break with 12 points, and the team’s bench contributed significantly, outscoring the Eagles’ bench 56-54 by the game’s conclusion.
Teamwork and Preparation for Conference Play
Rechsteiner emphasized the importance of discipline as the team prepared for upcoming conference challenges. “It’s just us versus ourselves,” he stated. “They’re a good team, but we’re trying to get ready for conference play.”
In the second half, CSU maintained its lead with a 7-2 run, reaching its largest advantage at 67-28. Although their shooting cooled slightly to 53.6% in the final period, the Rams never allowed Northern New Mexico to close the gap significantly. The Eagles managed to narrow the score to 29 points at 78-49 late in the game, but CSU finished strong, outscoring their opponents 26-5 in the final seven minutes.
With ten players scoring at least five points, CSU displayed a balanced attack. Leading the scoring was Darnez Slater with 17 points, followed by Jon Mekonnen with 13, and Rechsteiner and Nikola Djapa each contributing 12. JoJo McIver added 11 points, and Josh Pascarelli chipped in 10.
Head coach Ali Farokhmanesh noted the significance of having all players involved, especially with the team facing a challenging conference schedule ahead. “I think for Darnez and Jon and Charlie [Dortch] specifically, I thought it was huge for those three,” he remarked. “We’re going to need everybody at some point.”
CSU dominated the rebounding battle, securing 40 boards to Northern New Mexico’s 28, while also providing 24 assists against just 11 for the Eagles. With the Rams’ next challenge being the Mountain West opener against the Aggies on Saturday, they are poised to carry this momentum forward.
