Colorado State secured a decisive victory over Virginia in the NCAA Tournament First Four game held in Dayton, Ohio. The Rams, led by Joel Scott's impressive performance with 23 points and 11 rebounds, clinched their first NCAA Tournament win in 11 years by defeating Virginia 67-42.
Nique Clifford also made a significant contribution to the Rams' success, scoring 17 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. Colorado State, with a season record of 25-10, will now advance as a No. 10 seed to face seventh-seeded Texas in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Thursday.
On the other hand, Virginia struggled throughout the game, shooting a mere 25% from the field. Reece Beekman led the Cavaliers with 15 points but struggled with a 4-of-16 shooting performance. Virginia, the 2019 national champions, failed to secure an NCAA Tournament victory since their title win.
Colorado State's dominance was evident in their performance on both ends of the court. The Rams out-rebounded the Cavaliers 43-24, shot an impressive 55% from the field, and scored 36 points in the paint. Virginia's offensive woes were further highlighted by their inability to keep up with Colorado State's pace.
The game's first half set the tone for Colorado State's victory, with the Rams building a commanding 27-14 lead by halftime. Virginia struggled immensely, shooting a dismal 17% from the field in the first half and failing to score a basket in the last 9:20 of play.
Looking ahead, Colorado State is set to face Texas in the next round on Thursday at 6:50 p.m. EDT. The Rams will aim to carry forward their momentum from this impressive victory and continue their journey in the NCAA Tournament.
For more updates on the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, you can follow the AP March Madness bracket at this link and access comprehensive coverage at this link.
