Late run pushes Colorado State past UTEP

After exchanging baskets all game, it came down to one final push by Colorado State to defeat host-team UTEP 56-53 in the 2011 Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational Dec. 28 at the Don Haskins Center.

"If you look at the game, it had 19 lead changes, nine ties, it was a back-and-forth contest and we just had some plays down the stretch that separated us a little bit and we were very fortunate to get a win tonight over a very quality opponent," Rams' head coach Tim Miles said.

With the game tied at 47 and 5:43 remaining, Colorado State reeled off six-consecutive points to give them their largest lead of the game. Junior guard Wes Eikmeier capped off the run with a three in transition, which was part of his game-high 16 points.

"That one transition shot we worked on a lot, just attacking and transitioning to not let their defense get set," Eikmeier said.

The Miners answered with a three on their ensuing possession with 3:24 left but Eikmeier put his team back up six with another 3-pointer and two minutes remaining.

Coming off the bench, freshman guard C.J. Cooper knocked down his third shot from the perimeter to cut it to 56-53 with 39 seconds to go. The Rams missed their next shot with 10 seconds to go and Cooper corralled the rebound. He dribbled down the court and missed the potentially tying three with a hand in his face.

"In those situations, the other team is probably going to put you at the line and go foul up three, make you go shoot two free throws then go and you have to go foul the best free throw shooting team in the country," UTEP head coach Tim Floyd said.

Miles said there was a "distinct possibility" that he would have done just that had UTEP called a timeout.

Colorado State had not played a game in six days, which Miles said allowed them to scout the Miners for one extra day. That extra day seemed to have paid off as they held UTEP to 43.6 percent from the field. They also held the Miners' leading scorer, sophomore guard Michael Perez, to 10 points.

"I thought on the defensive end they did a good job. They took away a lot of what (Perez) likes to do, a lot of what (sophomore center John Bohannon) likes to do, (freshman forward) Julian Washburn likes to do," Floyd said. "Colorado State is a good basketball team. They're veteran and poised and they didn't turn it over and we did in key situations."

The first half played out similarly to the second as no team took full possession of the first half but UTEP was able to finish the half on top, holding a 29-27 lead.

After taking a quick 4-0 lead, Colorado State responded with six unanswered points until the Miners answered with an 8-0 run. Senior forward Gabriel McCulley had six of his team-high 13 points during that span.

A tightly called half resulted in 20 fouls and 19 attempted free throws. The Rams hit four consecutive free throws then junior forward Greg Smith knocked down his team's lone 3-pointer of the half to regain cap off a 7-0 run.

After UTEP took the lead at 18-17, went on another 6-0 run that was rebutted by a Miner 6-0 run. Cooper, who played just 10 minutes in the half, hit the last two field goals for UTEP to give them the 29-27 lead at the half.

The Miners will take on the loser of the Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Jacksonville State game at 5 p.m. Dec. 29 at the Don Haskins Center for third place.

William Vega may be reached at prospector@utep.edu.