GAME NOTES: The first installment of this season's Border War between the Colorado State Rams and the Wyoming Cowboys is slated to take place at Moby Arena on Wednesday night.

The Rams are taking the floor as an unranked team after losing their first game of the season over the weekend, a 66-53 defeat at the hands of the New Mexico Lobos at WisePies Arena. Colorado State was off to the best start in program history, winning 14 in a row out of the gate, but now with a mark of 1-1 in Mountain West Conference play the team finds itself behind, of all opponents, Wyoming.

The Cowboys have the second-best overall record among MWC members with 13 wins in 15 opportunities. Since suffering that second loss, a 45-42 outing versus California at home last month, the Pokes have rattled off five straight victories.

Off to a 2-0 conference start for the first time since the 2006-07 campaign, Wyoming did struggle a bit in the most recent triumph, a 64-59 decision against lowly San Jose State, a school that has yet to defeat another member of Division I.

As far as the all-time series is concerned, Wyoming is in charge with a 129-92 advantage dating back more than a century (1911). However, in Fort Collins the Rams are ahead by a 55-51 margin. Last March, the Pokes snapped a four-game slide versus CSU and won for just the second time in the last 10 meetings with an 83-75 decision at home.

A team in crisis, fraught with suspensions and injuries, the Spartans actually led Wyoming by eight points in the first half of their meeting before the Cowboys converted a sizzling 61.1 percent from the floor in the second half, en route to the five-point victory. Larry Nance Jr. turned in a double-double with 18 points and a game-high 13 rebounds, while Josh Adams accounted for a game-high 20 points. Also scoring in double figures for the visitors were Charles Hankerson Jr. and Riley Grabau with 12 and 10 points, respectively, the latter scoring all of his points at the free-throw line (10-of-10).

Nance Jr. has become one of the top interior players in the MWC as he leads the Cowboys in both scoring (15.7 ppg) and rebounding (6.5 rpg), while also notching 17 blocked shots and 20 steals. Adams brings another 10.6 ppg to the table and is tops with 58 assists. The Cowboys generally keep the score low (64.3 ppg) and yet they show potential for bigger and better things with 50.5 percent accuracy from the field, compared to just 40.2 percent for the competition.

Not only were the Rams off to their best start ever, their 14-game run also happened to be the nation's longest winning streak when they ended up going down against New Mexico on the road. No longer one of the nation's last unbeaten programs, Colorado State shot just 32.7 percent from the field and 6- of-25 behind the 3-point line in the road defeat.

Daniel Bejarano managed to produce 13 points and 11 rebounds, but he made good on just 4-of-13 from the floor, including 1-of-6 out on the perimeter, and was charged with five of the team's 13 turnovers as well. John Gillon tacked on 10 points and five rebounds off the bench. The team played almost the entire game without Stanton Kidd, who suffered a twisted ankle in the opening minutes and eventually took a permanent seat on the bench.

There's no word on whether or not Kidd will be held out against Wyoming, but should he be unable to go, the Rams will have to find a replacement for his 11.4 ppg. Bejarano (11.3 ppg, 6.9 rpg) is capable of raising his game, although he'll have to do better than hitting 37.2 percent from the floor. J.J. Avila remains the top overall scorer for the Rams with 13.8 ppg and is also first with 7.1 rpg and 29 steals, not to mention tied with Bejarano for the lead in assists (49), so already he is doing everything possible to keep the Rams competitive.

Wyoming hasn't received the same level of national recognition this season as have the Rams, but that could all change with a quality win tonight in Fort Collins.