Joel Scott delivered a standout performance, notching a season-high 23 points and grabbing 11 rebounds as Colorado State secured its first NCAA Tournament victory in 11 years, overpowering Virginia with a decisive 67-42 win in the First Four on Tuesday night.
Nique Clifford contributed 17 points and 10 rebounds for the Rams (25-10), propelling them forward as a No. 10 seed to face seventh-seeded Texas in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Thursday.
“I’ll tell you what, it’s hard to imagine tonight going any better for us,” remarked Colorado State coach Niko Medved. “Just a terrific performance, really, on both ends of the floor, from the opening tip.”
Reece Beekman led Virginia with 15 points on 4-of-16 shooting, but the Cavaliers struggled to find their footing, extending their NCAA Tournament victory drought since their 2019 national title. This disappointing stretch includes two first-round exits as a No. 4 seed.
The Cavaliers’ lackluster display prompted further discussion about their tournament berth, given their limited success throughout the season despite finishing third in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
“It is a hard tournament to qualify (for), and you want to be playing your best when you get into it,” remarked Virginia coach Tony Bennett, acknowledging the challenging circumstances. “And obviously, we did not do that.”
Colorado State asserted dominance on the boards, out-rebounding Virginia 43-24 and capitalizing on its shooting efficiency with a 55% field goal rate. The Rams also capitalized in the paint, amassing 36 points compared to Virginia’s struggles.
“We took away their strengths that they’re good at,” noted Clifford. “And then we didn’t let them take us out of our game plan. We stuck to what we do and just were confident in it.”
Virginia’s offensive woes were evident from the outset, with Colorado State commanding a 27-14 lead at halftime. The Cavaliers struggled to convert, shooting a mere 17% in the first half and failing to secure a basket in the final 9:20 before the break.
“Of course, we weren’t hitting shots, and then they used a lot of the clock as well, to get their good shots,” observed Beekman. “So kind of broke us down. I feel like they were just never rushed throughout the game. Credit them for that.”
Colorado State surged in the second half, scoring the first eight points and maintaining control as Virginia struggled to find offensive momentum.
