Nov 21, 2001

Box Score

By NICHOLAS K. GERANIOS
AP Sports Writer

SPOKANE, Wash. - Matt Brown's two free throws with a minute left lifted Colorado State to 79-75 win over Washington State on Tuesday night.

The Rams (2-0) trailed 74-73 when Brown was fouled by Mike Bush and sank both free throws to give Colorado State a lead it never relinquished. The Rams added four more free throws in the closing seconds.

Washington State (0-1) was outscored 21-13 in the final eight minutes of the game. The Cougars are trying to break a string of five consecutive losing seasons.

Brown finished with 13 points while Matt Nelson, a 7-foot freshman, had 16 points and led both teams with 11 rebounds.

Trailing by three points, Washington State went on a 9-0 run midway through the second half to take the lead for the first time since the opening minutes. J Locklier hit a lay-up with 8:46 left to lift WSU to a 57-56 lead that was later stretched to 62-56.

But Nelson kept the Rams close by scoring eight points around the Cougar run. John Rakiecki's 3-pointer lifted Colorado State to within one at 74-73, setting the stage for Brown.

Justin Lyman, a junior college transfer, led WSU with 17 points, 15 in the first half.

Bush, who three days ago was catching passes for Washington State in the Apple Cup football game against Washington, played 21 minutes and finished with 12 points.

Colorado State, which had a 39-34 halftime lead, hit 46 percent of its field goals. Washington State made just 38 percent.