SMU 93, Colorado State 89

Tuesday, March 4, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

SMU overcame an 20-point second half by Bryan Christiansen and a 3-point barrage that helped the Rams get back into the game to advance to a quarterfinal game against No. 3 Utah on Thursday.

Colorado State set a tournament record by making 15 of 23 3-pointers in the loss, including a tournament record eight 3-pointers by Jameel Mahmud, who led all scorers with 30 points.

Colorado State managed to pull to within 88-84 on a basket by Mahmud with 32 seconds left, but was able to get no closer as the Mustangs held on for the win.

"We didn't get worried," Rich said. "We were executing our offense and everybody was hitting their free throws down the stretch."

SMU made 10 of 14 free throws in the last 1:47 to help protect the lead. SMU scored 21 points at the free throw line to only eight by Colorado State.

SMU led 51-32 at halftime, but Colorado State got to within 66-60 on a 3-pointer by Mahmud midway through the second half.

"We didn't handle their quickness very well and that was the ball game," said Colorado State coach Stew Morrill. "When you're down by 19 at halftime it's tough to come back."

Christiansen, who was scoreless in the first half, scored 10 straight points at one point during a 21-9 Colorado State run at the UNLV campus arena.

But the Rams were never able to get any closer than four points, which was the final margin of score when Scott Benson hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer.