Colorado State basketball goes cold as Nevada wins on road | Takeaways

Too many significant stretches of poor shot-making.

In a tight game where thin margins were going to make the difference, the Colorado State men’s basketball team had too many mini stretches of mistakes Dec. 30 in its first home Mountain West game of the season.

It cost the Rams in a 75-62 defeat to Nevada as the Wolf Pack had a 13-0 run late in the second half to take the win.

CSU was without top two centers Kyle Jorgensen and Rashaan Mbemba due to injury, but Nevada was also without its second-leading scoring and second-leading rebounder.

Here are takeaways from the game.

Cold shooting costs CSU

The Rams (9-3, 0-2 Mountain West) began each half ice cold.

In the first, it’s not really surprising. It was the first game in 10 days with the holiday layoff and first with both Jorgensen and Mbemba out (meaning new lineups and rotations).

CSU missed its first five of the first half and shot 4-16 early before getting hot. The Rams seemed settled in and trailed by just one (37-36) at half.

Then it happened again in the second half, with CSU hitting just one of its first nine shots as Nevada rebuilt its lead.

Still, CSU came back again.

The most costly cold stretch came late, though.

CSU took a 57-56 lead with 7:18 to go on Josh Pascarelli’s first 3-pointer of the game.

But then the Rams iced out. CSU went scoreless for more than 6 minutes after that as Nevada (10-3, 2-0 MW) went on an extended run to take over.

CSU's shooting was poor in about every way. The Rams entered the game first in the nation in 3-point percentage at 44% and shot 6-24 (25%) from deep. CSU entered No. 2 in free throw percentage (81%) and was just 18-29 (62%) from the line.

On the whole, CSU shot 37% (19-51).

CSU facing big adjustments

Jorgensen was CSU’s leading scorer on the season when he went down injured last time out against Utah State.

Not only does he score it, but he’s a good facilitator and spacer for the offense. The Rams clearly looked out of sorts at times in this one.

Needless to say, missing two centers hurts inside. CSU started undersized Augustinas Kiudulas (at 6-foot-8, more a small or power forward than a center). Nikola Djapa was the center often.

But it changes things. Nevada 21 second-chance points and 24 paint points. CSU defense was often good, but beat at some important times and this time out the offense couldn’t bail CSU out.

CSU needs big Mountain West response

The Rams are already in a hole in the Mountain West with an 0-2 record. The loss at Utah State was very ugly, but losing in Logan is something most teams will do.

But losing at home to a team likely to be right around the same area of the standings as Nevada is will hurt the Rams.

First-year head coach Ali Farokhmanesh is facing a battle of trying to find the best ways to piece together wins while battling key injuries.

Mbemba is closer to a return to action. Jorgensen is “week to week” and likely to miss a number of games.

The Rams play at Mountain West newcomer Grand Canyon at 6 p.m. Jan. 3.

Follow sports reporter Kevin Lytle on X and Instagram @Kevin_Lytle.

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Colorado State men's basketball goes cold as Nevada wins on road