GAME NOTES: The Colorado State Rams continue their three-game homestand to kick off the new season as they host the Mercer Bears as part of the Great Alaska Shootout at Moby Arena.

The Rams are already off to a 2-0 start to the 2014-15 campaign thanks to victories over Montana (83-66) and Georgia State (80-70). The team will head to Anchorage, Alaska this coming week to continue a tournament that dates back to 1978.

The Bears are hitting the road for the second time in the first four games of the season, already having lost at Seton Hall by a score of 63-47. Last Wednesday, the team rebounded with a 74-66 victory versus Kennesaw State.

This is the first-ever meeting between these two schools on the basketball court.

Against Kennesaw State, the Bears shot an impressive 55.6 percent from the field, but managed to get by with only 4-of-11 beyond the arc and 10-of-20 at the free-throw line in front of the hometown crowd. Except for Ike Nwamu who tallied nine points, every starter for Mercer stepped up with double-digit scoring, led by Jibri Bryan with 15 points, followed by Darious Moten with 14, Phillip Leonard 13 points and T.J. Hallice 11.

For a team that is averaging just 69.7 ppg, it might make sense that there is only one double-digit scorer through the first three outings, as Nwamu puts up 17.0 ppg as he shoots not only 54.5 percent from the floor but also 41.7 percent on the perimeter. The good news is that the Mercer defense has managed to limit the competition to only 59.0 ppg in the early going.

The Rams put together a crucial 14-0 run in the second half in order to put some distance between themselves and Georgia State at home two nights ago. The team went from shooting only 31.0 percent from the field in the first half to 53.3 percent after the break and it also helped that CSU outscored the visitors at the free-throw line by a 21-8 margin as well.

Stanton Kidd registered a double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds, Daniel Bejarano also scored 16 points, Gian Clavell and J.J. Avila 13 points apiece, the latter also handing out eight assists. Joe De Ciman pitched in with 11 points, while fellow starter Tiel Daniels struggled with a mere two points in 17 minutes of action.

Through the first two games of the season, Kidd accounts for a team-best 17.5 ppg and 7.5 rpg, his efforts on the glass matched by Bejarano who is second with 15.5 ppg for a squad that is outscoring the competition by 13.5 ppg and crushing them on the glass by 11.0 rpg as well.

With so many offensive options and a strong presence in the paint, it is hard to imagine the Rams being tripped up by Mercer in this meeting.