CSU Defeats Lamar 86-71

FORT COLLINS, Colo. (AP) - J.J. Avila scored a career-high 33 points with four assists and eight rebounds as Colorado State took an early lead and held it to defeat Lamar 86-71 on Saturday.

Daniel Bejarano scored 19 points and led the Rams (9-4) with 18 rebounds. Joe De Ciman scored 12 points with three assists and four rebounds.

Colorado State jumped to an early 19-6 lead and maintained a 10-point advantage for most of the first half to lead 43-33 at the break. The Rams continued to dominate in the second half as well, finishing 51.5 from the field and 50 percent from the free-throw line.

Colorado State had extended its lead to 20 with less than a minute to play when Lamar's Nimrod Hilliard sank two 3-pointers in the last 30 seconds to bring the Cardinals to within 15.

Hilliard scored 15 points for the Cardinals (1-11) and Rhon Mitchell had 12.

(© Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)