NS. THOMAS, US Virgin Islands – Obviously, island life with the great man from this well-known tropical paradise, Minnesota, is very enjoyable.
David Roddy of the state of Colorado continued to put on a show in the US Virgin Islands and led the Rams to a historic performance when the CSU reached the semifinals of March 22nd on Sunday.
The CSU improved to 5-0 and met Northeastern in the championship game on Monday evening at 6 p.m. MT.
“I just try to compete as hard as possible and do my best for my teammates,” said Roddy. “As long as we go on like this and win, I’ll be happy.”
Roddy achieved a high scoring career for the second straight and third time in four games, scoring 36 points for leading an all-round electric offensive effort by the Rams. CSU went a hot 20-for-34 out of the 3-point range and set a program record for 3-pointers in one game while breaking the Paradise Jam record. Roddy’s 36 points are equal for the eleventh-best single-game scoring effort in team history. The previous 3-point high of the CSU was 19 on January 15, 2020 against New Mexico.
After watching Roddy punish Bradley for 30 points in the CSU’s inaugural victory on Friday, Creighton decided to slump Roddy along the perimeter. He liked to use it. The junior striker finished 13-on-20 overall and 7-on-10 with 3-pointers. He entered the game by a 3-to-10 mark on the season from afar. Roddy joined a long list of CSU players who finished eighth all-time with seven 3-pointers.
While Roddy was a one-man demolition crew against Bradley, he received a lot more help from his friends on Sunday. Dischon Thomas knocked down five 3-pointers and achieved a career high of 21 points.
Guard Isaiah Stevens, who fought his way to a 2v12 mark with just five points against Bradley, bounced back to double-double against Creighton, who finished in 36 minutes with 17 points, 11 assists and zero Ball losses ended.
“What an all-round great performance,” said CSU head coach Niko Medved. “Our boys have found a great rhythm. I thought Creighton obviously made a lot of defensive changes there in the second half. I think our guys just did a wonderful job of doing whatever they threw at them. (Creighton) is a really good ball club. Really talented. They obviously overran us in the second half, and like our boys always, I thought they had reacted. “
CSU led 42:36 at halftime and expanded the lead to nine points directly after the break on a threesome from Thomas.
At this point, Creighton was making its run, using a 14-2 burst to take the game’s first lead. Consecutive 3-pointers from Stevens and Jalen Lake cemented momentum for the Rams, and the CSU soon afterwards began to run away with victory after an 11-0 run only from Roddy.
The Rams have set themselves a championship goal ahead of the long road trip, and while the potential showdown in the title game against the Colorado Buffaloes was wiped off the board with the CU losing on the opening day, the CSU’s ultimate goal remains unchanged.
“We came here expecting to fight for victory,” said Medved. “The only thing about our boys, in the locker room (after) there wasn’t a lot of yelling and yelling or anything like that. The boys were happy. It was a really good win for our program. But without my telling you, tomorrow night we’ll have a tough game. We’re going to have a fight tomorrow night, and that’s where we have to turn our attention. “
