LAS VEGAS - Coming down to the final seconds, the No. 9-seeded Fresno State men's basketball team dropped a heartbreaker to the No. 8-seeded Colorado State Rams 67-65 on Wednesday afternoon in the first round of the 2023 Mountain West Men's Basketball Championships in Las Vegas at the Thomas & Mack Center.
Fighting back from as far down as 12 in the second half, a floater by the Rams' Isaiah Stevens with two seconds remaining proved to be the game-winner as the Bulldogs' final possession went out of bounds.
Fresno State (11-20) was led by 22 points from Isaiah Hill and a double-double from Eduardo Andre, who finished with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Leo Colimero chipped in nine points with Anthony Holland and Jemarl Baker adding six points apiece.
Colorado State (15-17) was paced by three Rams in double figures as John Tonje led CSU with 20 points, Stevens added 19 points and four rebounds and Patrick Cartier chipped in 12 points.
How It Happened
Trailing 36-29 at halftime, the Bulldogs saw Colorado State stretch their lead to as far as 12 at 60-48 with 7:47 to play in the second half before mounting a comeback.
A 7-0 run for the 'Dogs capped by a pair of free throws from Hill cut the Rams' lead down to five and a layup from Hill and a three-pointer by Baker knotted the game at 62 with 2:32 to play.
Three free throws by Hill gave the Bulldogs their first lead of the second half - a 65-62 advantage with 1:46 to play, but those would be the final points of the afternoon as the 'Dogs came up short on a pair of field goals and the Rams secured the final five points of the contest for the win.