Courtesy of Colorado State Athletics
Let the madness begin – Moby style.
The rain was relentless outside, but inside the arena, an electric energy buzzed through the air as fans from both sides filled the stands. A striking contrast emerged as the seats divided—blue to green, Memphis to Colorado State. The No. 5-seeded Tigers and No. 12-seeded Rams clashed, but the boundary between the two teams was anything but clear.
The 12-5 upset: it’s a staple of March Madness, and once again, it played out on Friday. Colorado State punched its ticket to the second round with a 78-70 win over Memphis, securing their first appearance in that round since 2013.
With new opportunities come new landmarks, and the Rams were adding to their legacy.
It was a night to remember for sophomore Kyan Evans, who had a career-defining performance. His 23 points set a personal high, and his six three-pointers were a tournament record for CSU.
“I’m not even thinking about myself too much,” Evans said. “I’m just thinking of the team and how far we’ve come. Just to get a tournament win is crazy for us.”
But while the scoreboard was lighting up, the road to victory wasn’t without its bumps.
Memphis’ Dain Dainja was a force, posting a double-double with 22 points and 12 rebounds by the end of the night. The Tigers were beating the Rams to 50-50 balls and dominating the paint.
“The last 10 minutes of the first half were tough,” coach Niko Medved said. “They were more aggressive, beating us to those loose balls, and we weren’t finishing possessions the way we needed to. Dainja, he was hard to stop, but we did a much better job in the second half of denying him the ball in his spots.”
The Rams entered the break trailing by five, having scored zero points over the final three minutes – an uncharacteristic drought in an otherwise intense contest. The clouds of doubt hung over them, but they weren’t about to let the storm derail their plans.
A player who embodied that spirit in the second half was Rashaan Mbemba. His toughness and grit were evident in every possession.
“He’s just a warrior,” Medved said. “He goes after it. I was on him for not setting a screen, and he’s yelling at Kyan for not waiting on the screen. I tell him to take a deep breath, but he brings so much to this team. He’s one of our emotional leaders.”
The Rams know well that in March it’s not just about the scoreboard; it’s about fighting for every possession, every second. No matter the odds, no matter the setting – whether 1,200 miles from home with a sea of green and blue fans or in the familiar confines of Moby Arena – the goal stays the same: Play as a team, play for the fans and play for the moment.
“The energy in there was insane,” Nique Clifford said. “I saw green, and I knew our fans had traveled. It was awesome to have them with us, and to share this win with them. We need them again on Sunday, so we’re just so grateful they made the trip.”
And that, at its core, is what Ram basketball is all about.
With just two minutes remaining, CSU held a narrow lead, their morale soaring and their defense suffocating. Every shot taken, every rebound fought for, epitomized the relentless drive of a team refusing to be denied.
“We’ve got character,” Medved said. “Our guys have really found their roles, and we committed to defense. These young guys, they’ve gained confidence, and everything is coming together. We just keep getting better. We’re playing our best basketball right now and we want to keep dancing.”
As the clock wound down and the final buzzer echoed through the arena, the Rams had done what few expected: They had defied the odds and advanced, proving the only thing more formidable than their opponents was their will to win.
And though the game began under the shadow of clouds, by its end, the sun was shining, guiding the Rams to new heights outside of the unfamiliar arena.
