FORT COLLINS, Colo. – Dorian Green hit the go-ahead 3-pointer with a minute remaining and a three-point play with 19 seconds left as No. 24 Colorado State celebrated its first game as a ranked team in 59 years with a thrilling 66-60 win over San Diego State on Wednesday night.
The Rams (20-4, 7-2 Mountain West) matched their win total from last year and extended their home-court winning streak to 27 games.
Green's 3-pointer with 1:03 left gave Colorado State a 61-60 lead — the 15th lead change of the game. After Xavier Thames' airball, Green's three-point play made it 64-60, and the Rams capped the victory with Jon Octeus' breakaway dunk with 10 seconds left.
Green led the Rams with 16 points, the same total that Chase Tapley had for the Aztecs (18-6, 6-4).
The game was tied at 35 at halftime. The Rams outrebounded the Aztecs 22-12 and outscored them by six from the line but San Diego State hit 5 3-pointers with Tapley finding his range and sinking all three of his long-range shots.
The Rams vaulting into the rankings this week for the first time since 1954, when they were ranked for four weeks, reaching as high as No. 18, on their way to the school's first NCAA tournament berth. Back then, Colorado State was known as Colorado Agricultural and Mechanical College.
Fittingly, the Rams honored the program's heritage Wednesday night by wearing pumpkin orange and alfalfa green uniforms with the Colorado A&M mascot "Aggies" written across their chests.
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Follow Arnie Melendrez Stapleton on Twitter: http://twitter.com/arniestapleton
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