Colorado State Rams Put Away New Mexico Lobos, 87-73 Behind Roddy’s Near Triple Double
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New Mexico had just six scholarship players available.
The Colorado State Rams (17-4, 14-3 MW) secured an 87-73 victory over the New Mexico Lobos (6-15, 2-15 MW) on Wednesday night within Moby Arena in Fort Collins, CO.
The Rams’ David Roddy (12 points, 14 rebounds, 9 assists) nearly scored the program’s first ever triple-double, just barely unable to shore up the remaining assist needed to elevate the all-conference player to the relatively rare status of having achieved a triple-double during his collegiate career. The 6’5 G/F had his passing numbers beat only by Isaiah Stevens (9 points, 4 rebounds, 10 assists) and Adam Thistlewood (27 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists) led all scorers. Kendle Moore added 17 points of his own on the way to the Rams’ double digit win over the Lobos, which had only six scholarship players available for Wednesday night’s game.
For New Mexico, it was the always-consistent Makuach Maluach (20 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists) that powered the way throughout the game, with only Jeremiah Francis III (10 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals) chipping in double digits. Notably, two of the four walk-ons that played for New Mexico (Logan Padgett and Eloy Medina) combined for 14 points on five-of-seven shooting.
The Rams led by 17 going into the second half and were able to extend their lead to 51-31 with 18:01 remaining in the game and growing the margin to as many as 21 points (81-60 with just 2:59 remaining), before the Colorado State reserves came in and were outscored 13-9 in the closing minutes of the contest.
The win maintains second place status for the Rams, which face Nevada on Friday, a team that swept Boise State in early February. A loss makes the top-of-conference race increasingly interesting with Utah State, Colorado State and Boise State vying for the best seeding possible in next week’s conference tournament and maintaining current status as a likely at-large bid in the NCAA tournament.
The loss places New Mexico squarely in last place in the conference, an uncommon and unfamiliar place for the program in the last two decades. In fact it’s only happened once in that time frame, in former head coach (and now successful Liberty basketball head coach) Ritchie McKay‘s final season with New Mexico in 2006-2007 which was a prelude of sorts to Steve Alford‘s six-straight 20-plus-win seasons with the Lobos.
After this season, and the parting agreement between Paul Weir and the University of New Mexico, Lobo fans are surely hoping for another Alford-esque hire.
Be sure to check out Larry Muniz’ article on coaching candidates for the Lobos and let us know what you think on Twitter @MWCwire.
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