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Second Half Surge Powers Rams Over North Dakota State

Rams move to 3-0 with 79-62 win Wednesday night

Nov. 23, 2005

Box Score

Guard Cory Lewis scored 14 second half points to spark Colorado State in a 79-62 win over visiting North Dakota State Wednesday night in Moby Arena.

Just two nights after an emotional, come-from-behind win over in-state rival Colorado, coach Dale Layer's team was sluggish at the outset.

"We were sluggish. We were tired. It felt like we were running in mud all night," said Layer following the game.

After leading by a point, 28-27 at intermission, Lewis helped break the game open by scoring 14 of his 16 points in the final half.

Along with Jason Smith, who finished with a team-best 20 points, they helped the Ramsa outscore NDSU, 20-7, over the final 6 minutes, 29 seconds of the game.

NDSU had whittled CSU's 11-point lead down to four, 59-55, at the 6:29 mark on Ben Woodside's two free throws.

Smith scored CSU's next seven points to push the lead back to 11, and the Bison would come no closer than nine the rest of the way.

"Cory Lewis had a terrific second half," said Layer.

He also praised the play of Michael Harrison, who finished with 17 points and six rebounds.

"Michael Harrison gave us some juice in the second half."

Colorado State never trailed in the game. Sean Morris hit a three-pointer nearly two minutes into the game. The teams were tied twice before Colorado State settled for the one-point halftime lead.

Smith finished the game with 10 rebounds, his second career double-double game in scoring and rebounding, and his third career double-figure rebound game - first t his season.

Colorado State returns to action Saturday at 6 p.m., playing Denver University in the first game of the Colorado Classic at the Pepsi Center in Denver.

Following that contest, the Rams are back in Moby Arena Monday night, facing Auburn at 7 p.m. Tickets are available by calling 1-800-491-RAMS, or online at CSURAMS.com. Tickets are also available at any King Soopers or City Market grocery store location throughout the state of Colorado.