BASKETBALL BORDER WAR Friday, February 19, 2016 Volume 125, No. 19 • collegian.com True Gritt Charity Stripe Young Guns Former CSU star returns as Senior Tiel Daniels showing Freshman guards Nixon, Paige graduate assistant improvement at the line playing big minutes for men’s team PAGE 4 PAGE 12 PAGE 8-9 PHOTO BY ABBIE PARRCOLLEGIAN Go Rams! BEAT the Cowboys!! 2 S SPORTS Friday, February 19, 2016 “As far as the win-streak, it’s nice, but its not like a championship or anything. It’s just a win-streak. I mean, it’s a little history, but a championship is a lot better. That’s just our mindset right now.” KEYORA WHARRY SENIOR GUARD CSU women’s hoops still focused on season goals heading into Border War By Sam Lounsberry @samlounz Nothing has been won yet. Though the CSU women’s hoops team is on a record-break- ing win-streak, the Rams know they still have a long way to go before achieving their goals for this season. CSU vs. WYOMING Where: Arena Auditorium Laramie, Wyoming When: Saturday, 2 p.m. Watch: csurams.com/videos After falling as favorites in the quarterfinal of the Mountain West Tournament last year and missing out on the NCAA Tour- nament as a result, CSU clearly stated its goals from the begin- ning of the season. Most import- ant among them, return to the MW Tournament and emerge as champions to secure an auto- matic bid to the Big Dance. “Obviously, we want to get better,” senior guard Keyora Wharry said. “As far as the win- Colorado State players Elin Gustavsson (22), and Gritt Ryder (11), defend a Wyoming player during a previous game against Wyoming. streak, it’s nice, but its not like a COLLEGIAN FILE PHOTO championship or anything. It’s just a win-streak. I mean, it’s a lit- tle history, but a championship is 63-42 Jan. 30 at Moby Arena, cerned with not beating them- tum for the team. This has been all about that, we trust ourselves a lot better. That’s just our mind- head coach Ryun Williams is ex- selves. Williams does not want noticed in the past three games and we believe we’re going to set right now.” pecting some dierent strategies his team to become the least bit especially with how well CSU make it.” A goal the Rams have added from UW coach Joe Legerski. satisfied with entering the record has shot the 3-ball. The Rams Right now, the Rams also be- since starting out the season 23-1 “Joe is a great coach,” Wil- books, and to instead keep focus have made at least 12 3-pointers lieve they are on the right track and 13-0 in the MW is ending un- liams said. “I’m sure they’ll on perpetual improvement. in each of their past three games, toward a third straight confer- defeated in conference play. make some adjustments. We’ve “Well, we have a lot of season going 37-for-71 from deep for a ence championship and all their Standing in their way Sat- seen some zone lately. They’ll left, so we have to keep improv- shooting clip of 52 percent. other goals, including complet- urday is Wyoming (12-12, 5-9 do things dierently, but we’ve ing,” Williams said. “That’s just “Every time you win a game, ing a season sweep of Wyoming MW). Though the Cowgirls’ seen a lot of dierent approach- our charge everyday in practice. it gives you extra energy, it gives on Saturday. conference record certainly es in our 24 games so far. I feel If you take your foot o the gas you extra confidence,” forward “We’re still focused up here doesn’t look intimidating, they like we’ve seen a lot, and our pedal right now, everything that Elin Gustavsson said. “I feel like and have the right mentality,” have a weapon CSU still has to kids have done a great job of you want and that’s ahead of you we’re building up. When I pass Gustavsson said. contain in Marquelle Dent. The recognizing, getting organized can be negated.” to Jamie (Patrick), when I pass Tipo against the Cowgirls is guard averages 16.8 points per and executing against really While such a long win-streak to my teammates, I trust them. set for 2 p.m. in Laramie at Arena game and a league-best 5.5 as- whatever has been thrown at might make it seem like the In my mind, I’m like, ‘they’re Auditorium. sists. them.” Rams are due for a loss, it has going to make it,’ even though Sam Lounsberry can be Since CSU beat the Cowgirls But, the Rams are more con- also built some serious momen- I go for the rebound. I think it’s reached at [email protected]. 3 S SPORTS Friday, February 19, 2016 Colorado State looking to turn the corner against rival Wyoming in Border War matchup By Keegan Pope Josh Adams, a Colorado native and keep him from getting into a @ByKeeganPope The only hope for either of bo and others to step up if CSU these teams making the NCAA who wasn’t heavily recruited rhythm, they’ll have a good shot has a chance to beat the Cow- Tournament this year is to win by the Rams. If it weren’t for at slowing down the Pokes’ at- boys. Three years ago, the Colora- the conference title, but it could the emergence of New Mexico’s tack. do State men’s basketball team go a long ways in deciding where Elijah Brown, Adams would be Get the home crowd involved dominated rival Wyoming in the teams are seeded in the up- the runaway choice for Moun- Work for good shots The crowds at Moby have both of its meetings during the coming Mountain West tour- tain West Player of the Year. But This seems a like a no-brain- been disappointing this season, 2012-13 season by an average of nament. Currently, CSU sits in ,while Adams is most multi-tal- er, but all too often CSU gets to say the least. But, there always 20.5 points per game. sixth place, while Wyoming is in ented player the Cowboys have, comfortable settling for contest- seems to be a little extra energy CSU was on its way to a sec- ninth, but the teams are separat- their biggest concern should be ed 3-pointers, much like they did in the building when Wyoming ond-consecutive NCAA Tourna- ed by just two games with five to the 3-point shooting of Jason against Utah State Wednesday comes to town. Albeit, part of ment berth, while the Cowboys play. McManamen. night. CSU is at its best when that comes from the contingent finished their season the low- Following a pair of losses to The Torrington, Wyoming the Rams involve every option of Wyoming fans who come er-level College Basketball Invi- UNLV and Utah State in which native has been on a tear recent- on oense instead of waiting for down from Laramie. However, tational. But, since then, Wyo- the Rams weren’t particularly ly, and CSU fans should remem- Antwan Scott or John Gillon to if CSU can get the home crowd ming has owned the Border War, impressive, CSU now looks to get ber him well for putting a dagger make plays. involved, unlike it did last year winning the last four matchups, back on track in one of its biggest in the Rams last year when these Balance is key for this CSU during the loss to the Cowboys, including a season sweep a year games of the year. Here’s how the two teams played at Moby Are- team, and they can’t rely on it could be a huge help in getting ago when the Cowboys stole Rams can do it: na. He’s considered by many to any single player to carry their some momentum going. And, CSU’s spot in the NCAA Tourna- be the best pure shooter in the oense. Antwan Scott has been how does CSU do that? By get- ment. Protect the 3-point line league, and should command a a huge part of the CSU oense ting defensive stops and making There’s still no love lost be- Wyoming has maybe the lot of CSU’s defensive attention. since the loss of Gian Clavell, shots. tween these teams, but to put it most dynamic player in the If the Rams are able to run Mc- but CSU will need Gillon, Joe Keegan Pope can be reached simply, it hasn’t been much of a Mountain West in senior guard Manamen o the 3-point line De Ciman, Emmanuel Omog- at [email protected]. rivalry as of recent. Neither team is anywhere near where it was last year, talent or record-wise, but that doesn’t mean this one shouldn’t be just as heated, espe- cially after the Cowboys disman- tled the Rams in Laramie earlier this year. 4 S SPORTS Friday, Febraury 19, 2016 Gritt Ryder’s real injury pushed her to return to CSU By Sam Lounsberry @samlounz 2014, she sat out the next game been a total disappointment for Nystrom “That just tells you how about what-ifs because what a week later. By the start of MW Ryder, as she has enjoyed her re- mentally tough she is.” happened, happened,” Nystrom play against Boise State Dec. 31, turn to CSU’s program in a grad If Ryder had been at full said.