Larimer News

LAS VEGAS – A team wants to celebrate any victory.

Colorado State was thrilled to get past Fresno State on Wednesday, though the Rams would have preferred to continue to cruise with a double-digit lead down the stretch rather than have to rally late and win in dramatic fashion. But they advanced, bottom line.

Their reward for doing that is a matchup with top-seeded San Diego State, ranked No. 20 in the country in the first quarterfinal game of the Mountain West Tournament at the Thomas & Mack Center.

Tip is 1 p.m. (MT) in the third matchup between the two.

The Rams lost by six at home earlier in the conference season, by 19 on the road on Feb. 21. However, they enter the game unfazed by past results.

"It sucks to lose any game. San Diego State, we're familiar with them; we've had many, many battles with them," forward John Tonje said. "We know what it's going to be and we're going to go out there and put our best foot forward."

In the history of the Mountain West Tournament, the No. 1 seed has only lost to an 8/9 seed once – back in 2004 when No. 8 Colorado State toppled No. 1 Air Force, 60-48.

That's what March is known for – upsets -- and why guard Isaiah Stevens loves this time of year the way he does.

"These games in March are super fun to be a part of. The more opportunities you get to step on that floor, especially in the conference tournament against a familiar opponent, it's going to be fun," he said. "I'm excited to get out there tomorrow."

Home Cooking

For freshman Taviontae Jackson, the tournament is a return to the roots of the Las Vegas product. In the crowd for the opening game, he figures there were about 50 people there to watch him play between friends and family.

"I feel real good. I have a lot of people who are coming to watch me play, like friends and family," he said. "They showed  lot of support, so that's also good. It was really good to see my family again, because I haven't seen them in a while. It's good overall to come back home and play in front of people you've known your whole life."

In 13 minutes off the bench, he scored two points, pulled down a pair of rebounds and had an assist. The highlight was the dunk he produced off a steal. At least during the game.

After the win, CSU coach Niko Medved gave his team the chance to leave the hotel for a bit, but be back in time for team film at 6 p.m. local time. Naturally, Jackson went home. Naturally, his mom had his favorite dish ready.

"I went with my mom, went home and chilled with them a little bit," he said. "She made me my  favorite, Hamburger Helper."

Roundup

The first day of the tournament went chalk. No. 6 New Mexico blew past No. 11 Wyoming in the second half and No. 7 UNLV needed overtime to beat Air Force.

After CSU-SDSU to open Thursday, No. 4 Nevada faces No. 5 San Jose State, followed by No. 2 Boise State and UNLV and No. 3 Utah State and New Mexico. 

Original source can be found here.