Nov. 17, 2007

FAIRBANKS, AK- Colorado State paved their way into the BP Top of the World Classic championship game as they cruised to a 87-68 victory over Tennessee State while making a bit of history along the way. Junior guard Marcus Walker wrote his name into the tournament record books with a 43-point performance for the Rams: the most ever scored in a single BP Top of the World Classic game.

Ironically, the record Walker bested was previously held by a member of Rams' rivals Colorado. The Buffaloes' D.J. Harrison put up 38 points against Austin Peay at the 2000 BP Top of the World Classic, a record that had stood for seven years.

Walker hit 15 of his 18 shots from the floor, finishing the game at a staggering .833 clip, including five of eight from beyond the arc and eight of nine from the free-throw line.

Colorado State trailed just once in the contest, and though the Tigers attempted to turn up the pressure in the second half, the CSU lead was never in real danger, as they shot 65.3 percent (32-49) for the game. Despite 12 second-half points from Tennessee State's Bruce Price, the Tigers could never get within eight points of the runaway Rams, as 23 second-half points from Walker was enough to see them through.

Colorado State now await the winner of tonight's Akron/Portland State encounter to see who they will meet in Sunday's tournament championship game, which will be held at the Carlson Center beginning at 6:00 p.m. Tennessee State will play for third place against the loser of the same contest tomorrow at 12:30 p.m.