A bit flat from the outset, the Colorado State men's basketball team found themselves in need of a jolt. Enter Keshawn Williams and the bench crew early in Tuesday's game, injecting life into the Rams. Williams, at his best, is a true firestarter of energy. This was evident as he scored 16 points, guiding CSU to a 78 - 68 victory over Radford in the final nonconference game of the season. It was a significant scoring output for Williams, who is in his first season as a Ram after transferring from Northern Illinois.

Coach's Perspective

"His improvement is really remarkable," said CSU coach Niko Medved. "He's starting to gain confidence. This role is different from what he's been used to. I think he's becoming more settled in everything we do. Clearly, he has scoring ability and explosiveness, which our team desperately needs. Now we've witnessed a couple of games where he's been aggressively finding his rhythm. As he continues to enhance his defensive skills, he'll get more chances and more minutes on the court."

First Half Highlights

Tuesday was a night for the unsung heroes to step up and carry the team. Kyle Jorgensen scored six points in the first half, establishing control for the Rams. Big man Rashaan Mbemba once again demonstrated his importance, scoring a career-high 16 points on 6 - 7 shooting. CSU stars Nique Clifford (seven points, 10 rebounds) and Jalen Lake (11 points, seven assists) had quietly strong performances. All nine Rams who took the court scored, and CSU had 21 assists on 29 made baskets.

Second Half Struggles

It wasn't all smooth sailing. The Rams (6 - 5) played exceptionally well in the first half, taking a 10 - point (37 - 27) lead into the break. However, in the second half, they became leaky, allowing Radford (9 - 4) to consistently score in the paint. Radford had 24 second - half paint points as CSU allowed the visitors to stay in the game. CSU's lead was once trimmed to just three points (54 - 51) in the second half, but the Rams managed to maintain an advantage until the end.

Free Throw Success

CSU was 14 - 17 from the free throw line, which proved crucial in sealing the game. This consistent performance from the free throw line helped the Rams secure the victory.Follow sports reporter Kevin Lytle on X and Instagram @Kevin_Lytle.