Colorado State Stays Undefeated With Win Over Boise State
FORT COLLINS, Colo. (AP) — John Gillon scored a career-high 25 points, converting a critical three-point play in the final minute as No. 24 Colorado State overcame a 10-point, second-half deficit to beat Boise State 71-65 on Wednesday night.
J.J. Avila had 13 points and Daniel Bejarano added 11 for Colorado State (14-0, 1-0 Mountain West), which extended its winning streak to 14 games, the longest single-season run in school history.
Boise State (10-4, 0-1) got 20 points from Mikey Thompson but fell to 6-43 all-time against ranked teams.
Up by five at the half, the Broncos stretched their lead to 42-32 on Thompson's second 3-pointer of the game.
Colorado State rallied back, going in front for the first time since the game's opening minutes on a 3-pointer by Gillon that made it 47-46 with 12:45 to play.
The game remained closely fought down the stretch.
Thompson's driving layup pulled Boise State to 64-63 with 1:31 left to play.
Gillon, who had scorched the Broncos from the perimeter, drove the lane, muscled in a contested layup and then sank the free throw to complete a three-point play to give the Rams a four-point edge with under a minute left.
Another layup by Thompson got the Broncos within four points with 9.5 seconds remaining but Gillon, fouled on the subsequent inbounds, made a pair of free throws to help fend off Boise State.
Boise State led by as many as 14 points early before settling for a 33-28 halftime lead.
Nick Duncan hit a 3-pointer to cap a 14-0 run that put the Broncos up 22-8.
The Rams responded with a 10-3 burst that got them back in the game, starting with a 3-pointer by Gillon, who made all four his tries from beyond the arc.
TIP-INS
Boise State: Senior guard Anthony Drmic, the Broncos scoring leader each of his first three seasons, is slated to undergo season-ending ankle surgery. The school said it will seek a medical hardship waiver from the NCAA to allow him to return next season.
Colorado State: Forward Tiel Daniels missed his second straight game with a calf injury. Guard Gian Clavell was back in action after missing the last game with a shoulder injury. . J.J. Avila has scored in double figures in each of his 14 games.
UP NEXT
Boise State: hosts Utah State on Saturday
Colorado State: at New Mexico on Saturday night.
By Dennis Georgatos, AP Sports Writer
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