FORT COLLINS, Colo. (AP) J.J. Avila scored a season-high 29 points, on 12-of-16 shooting, to help Colorado State hold off a late surge by San Diego State for a 79-73 win Saturday night.
Colorado State (18-2, 5-2 Mountain West) led by as many as 12 in the second half and Stanton Kidd's 3-pointer with 9:40 to go gave the Rams a 65-55 advantage.
Malik Pope, who led San Diego State (15-5, 5-2) with a career-high 22 points, scored eight during a 17-8 run over the next five-plus minutes and the Aztecs trailed 73-72 with four minutes remaining.
San Diego State, however, went 0 for 5 from the field and 1 for 4 from the line from there and Colorado State closed the game with a 6-1 run.
Kidd and Daniel Bejarano scored 14 apiece for Colorado State, which made 12 of 21 (season-high 57 percent) from 3-point range.
