Colorado State Men Topple Denver 96-80

Center Matt Nelson scored a season-high 20-points to lead Colorado State to a 96-80 win over instate rival Denver University Wednesday night. Nelson, a seven-foot sophomore from Chicago, made 8-of-9 field goals and added four free throws plus four assists in 23 minutes in his finest outing of the year to help the Rams blow open the I-25 affair.

"I thought being able to consistently get the ball inside was the difference," said third-year Rams' coach Dale Layer. "I thought that Nelson, Ronnie Clark and Brian Greene set the tone inside early in the game."

Leading 28-24 with eight minutes to play in the first half, Colorado State outscored the Pioneers, 25-5 the rest of the period to take a commanding 53-31 intermission lead. Nelson scored 10 points during the rally, Greene added six and Clark four, respectively.

Greene added 19 points - his top scoring total in six games - while swingman Ronnie Clark added 17. Guard Andy Birley, who entered the game leading the team in scoring, had nine points but dished out a career-high 10 assists. It's the first time that a Ram has been in double figures in assists since Milt Palacio - now starting for the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers - had 10 in 1999 against UTEP.

Colorado State shot a season-best 63 percent from the field, 66 percent in the first half when the Rams made 21-of-32 field goals. DU finished shooting 41 percent, but just 37 in the first half when Colorado State's defense held the Pioneers to just 10-of-27 shooting.

Denver had four players score in double figures, led by center Brett Starkey's 17 points.

Colorado State is back in action Saturday afternoon, playing host to Washington State at 2 p.m. in Moby Arena.