In a surprising turn of events, Colorado State, a double-digit seed, claimed a victory over Memphis with a score of 78-70 in the first round of the NCAA men’s tournament held in Memphis. The game was closely contested in the first half, with the Tigers leading 36-31 at halftime. However, the Rams, riding on a 16-4 run in the second half, secured the lead and maintained it till the end.
Although Nique Clifford shone for Colorado State, his shooting performance was not at its peak. Fortunately, sophomore guard Kyan Evans stepped up, contributing six 3-pointers and a career-best 23 points. In contrast, Memphis relied on Dain Dainja and Colby Rogers in the initial half, but their success dwindled in the latter half, resulting in a subpar shooting percentage below 35%.
Colorado State’s triumph marks the fourth time a team seeded No. 10 or higher has advanced in the tournament, joining the likes of McNeese State (No. 12), Drake (No. 11), and Arkansas (No. 10) in the first round. This article was originally published on USA TODAY covering the exciting March Madness matchup where Colorado State emerged victorious against Memphis in the NCAA Tournament.
