CSU Win Big Over Cold-Shooting Air Force

January 16, 2013 11:08 PM

John Octeus on Jan. 16. (credit: Don Reichert/CSURams.com)

FORT COLLINS, Colo. (AP) – Wes Eikmeier scored 14 of his 17 points in the second half to lead CSU past cold-shooting Air Force 79-40 Wednesday night.

Colton Iverson added 15 points and seven rebounds for CSU (14-3, 1-1 Mountain West). Pierce Hornung had 12 points and nine rebounds for the Rams, who extended their home winning streak to a school-record 23 games — the fourth-longest current streak in the nation.

Colorado State had a commanding 40-19 rebounding edge. The Rams have outrebounded every opponent this season.

Todd Fletcher and Michael Lyons led Air Force (9-6, 1-2) with eight points apiece. Marek Olesinski scored six and Mike Fitzgerald, who averaged 26 in his first two conference games, was limited to four points on 2-of-3 shooting. The Falcons shot 37 percent and made just 3 of 19 from 3-point range.

MORE FROM CSURAMS.COM: See a photo gallery from the game

Fitzgerald made two layups and Taylor Broekhuis made a third layup in the opening minutes, but the Falcons made only five of their remaining 17 shots of the half to trail 34-19. Iverson accounted for the Rams’ first seven points and when reserve Daniel Bejarno hit a short jumper and 3-pointer, they led 19-8.

Fletcher’s 3-pointer kept the game at 11 before Hornung’s layup off a backdoor cut put CSU up by 32-15 with 2:51 left. The Falcons did limit CSU to eight points over the final 8:18 of the half.

Air Force had only Michael Lyons’ rebound basket in the early going of the second half, while Eikmeier made two 3-pointers and scored eight points to help the Rams pull ahead 46-21. Hornung extended the margin to 57-27 with 13:42 left.

CSU had its starters out of the game after Jon Octeus made it 73-38 with 6:24 left. Fletcher’s jumper accounted for the only points for Air Force over the last six minutes.

CSU scored 30 points off 19 turnovers and finished with a 38-20 scoring advantage inside the paint.

The victory margin for a conference game was the Rams’ largest since their first season (1999-2000) in the Mountain West, when they beat San Diego State 74-46.