Colorado State University (CSU) defeated Dartmouth College 76-55 on December 5, 2023, at Moby Arena, marking the Rams’ fourth consecutive victory. Despite a slow start, CSU improved its season record to 8-2, with only one non-conference game remaining before commencing Mountain West Conference play.
CSU, recognized as one of the top three-point shooting teams nationwide, struggled from beyond the arc, converting just seven of 18 attempts. Nevertheless, the Rams’ defense held the Big Green to their lowest scoring output of the season. First-year head coach Ali Farokhmanesh attributed the team’s initial challenges to the emotional aftermath of a recent win against Colorado. He expressed satisfaction with how the Rams regrouped in the second half, expanding their lead after halftime.
Brandon Rechsteiner led the scoring for CSU with 14 points, all in the first half. Other key contributions came from Kyle Jorgensen with 12 points, Jevin Muniz with 11 points, and both Josh Pascarelli and Jase Butler scoring 10 points each.
Game Highlights and Team Performance
The game began with a tight contest, but back-to-back three-pointers by Rechsteiner shifted an 8-6 deficit into a 12-8 lead for the Rams. CSU’s largest first-half lead of 11 points came after a jumper by Rechsteiner, bringing the score to 25-14 with 5:19 left in the opening period. Dartmouth mounted a late charge, reducing the deficit to five points just before halftime. However, a layup by Jorgensen and a buzzer-beater by Rechsteiner restored CSU’s nine-point advantage at the break, 33-24.
Dartmouth cut CSU’s lead to 35-31 early in the second half. In response, the Rams launched a decisive 14-3 run, extending their lead to 49-34 with 10:46 remaining. CSU continued to dominate, reaching their largest lead of 24 points at 74-50 with just over a minute left in the game.
Despite their victory, the Rams acknowledged areas for improvement, particularly on defense. Jace Butler noted that while the team won, they did not defend to their full potential, emphasizing that strong defense will be crucial as conference play approaches. The Rams limited Dartmouth to 40% shooting and forced 15 turnovers, while also edging the Big Green in rebounds 25-23.
Looking Ahead
CSU displayed a balanced team effort, with contributions from all 12 players who scored at least two points. The Rams shot an impressive 61.1% from the field and managed to make all three of their free throw attempts, while Dartmouth converted 4 of 8.
The Rams will play their final non-conference game of the season against Northern New Mexico on December 10, 2023, at 1:00 PM. Following this matchup, CSU will open Mountain West Conference play against Utah State on December 20, 2023. The team’s recent performances suggest they are poised for a strong conference run as they continue to develop under Farokhmanesh’s leadership.
