Colorado State holds off New Mexico State late, wins 64-61
FORT COLLINS, Colo. (AP) Braden Koelliker scored 21 points and grabbed nine rebounds and Colorado State opened its season by successfully holding off New Mexico State, 64-61 on Sunday.
Colorado State held a 10-point lead with 3:28 left, 59-49. Ian Baker and Braxton Huggins each hit 3-pointers to cut the lead to four, 61-57, and Eli Chuha converted a layup with 46 seconds left to make it a two-point game, 63-61. But the Aggies (1-1) could get no closer.
Koelliker converted 13 of 15 attempts from the free-throw line and the Rams collectively shot 25 of 31 from the line. New Mexico State was 11 of 14.
Che Bob finished with 11 points and eight rebounds for Colorado State and Emmanuel Omogbo grabbed nine boards.
New Mexico State, coming off a 100-52 win over Arizona Christian, got 16 points from Baker and a dozen more from Chuha.
