Box Score FORT COLLINS, Colo. -  In their second exhibition game of the year, the Regis University men's basketball team quarreled with the Colorado State University Rams on Tuesday night, their second Division I opponent in as many games.
 
Regis made a statement on Tuesday night hanging tight with CSU for a majority of the contest. The Rangers came out hot and traded baskets with the home team until the Rams took a 18-7 lead at the 12 minute mark of the first half.
 
With the score at 12-24 in favor of the Rams, RU went on a run of their own. Sophomore Ryan Beisty hit a three-point jumper to cut the lead to single digits. Two minutes later, Beisty connected on another trey bringing the visitors within six points, 18-24, with seven minutes to go in the half.
 
Beisty's third straight basket from beyond the arc silenced the arena as Regis was within three points for the first time since the opening minutes of the game. Two free throws from junior Dexter Sienko cut the lead to one point with a little over five minutes to go in the opening half.
 
CSU responded with a small run and carried a 34-29 lead into halftime. Both teams were finally settled down, and comfortable with the flow of the game as they started the second half.
 
The Rams and the Rangers each moved the ball around looking for open shots, but the defense on both ends locked in for the start of the second period. Freshman Christian Little netted two free throws to keep the visitors in the game at 35-40 five minutes in.
 
A baseline jumper from senior Elijah Sanders followed by a layup from Beisty minutes later brought RU within a three points yet again. However, CSU had another answer extending their lead to eight points at the midway point.
 
For the next ten minutes the teams would exchange baskets, fouls, turnovers and missed baskets with the margin not changing much. The Rams used the final minutes to extend their lead and finish the game with a 15-point victory 75-60.
 
Sienko and Beisty were the high-point men for Regis at 15 and 14 points, respectively. Freshman Kon Anguik tracked down a team-high seven boards as he chipped in with five points on the night. Junior Kevin Metoyer had a great all-around game scoring nine points, grabbing four rebounds and dishing out three assists.
 
Senior Noah King added a team-high four assists on a night that saw the Rangers shoot at a 37.5 percent clip from the field including 6-22 (27.3 percent) from beyond the arc. The visitors limited their mistakes on offense by only committing 14 turnovers, but it was not enough in the end.
 
The men's basketball team will open the regular season this Friday at 7 p.m. as they make the journey to Lubbock, Texas for the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC)/Heartland Conference Challenge. On Friday, November 11, the team will face Lubbock Christian University in a rematch from the season opener a season ago. The following night Saturday, November 12, the team will match up with St. Mary's University at 5 p.m.