Lytle: CSU basketball’s Isaiah Stevens is on the hunt, gearing up for a huge final season
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Isaiah Stevens hit a 3-pointer and turned and made one of his patented screams toward his fans.
A few minutes later, he dished to teammate Rashaan Mbemba for a 3-pointer. As it hit the net, Stevens turned to the Colorado State basketball bench and put his hands together under his ear for the “sleep” gesture.
Game over, and he knew it.
Stevens lives for the big moment, and he’s a Ram once again for times just like Thursday at T-Mobile Center.
The star guard led the Rams in an eye-popping 69-48 win over a Creighton team ranked No. 7 (coaches poll)/8 (AP poll) in the country.
It looked all night like a top-10 team vs. an unranked foe, but it was the unranked Rams playing the role of the big dog.
Stevens was magical once again. His 22 points, seven assists and six rebounds told just part of the story. He scored 16 of his total in the second half and always had an answer to stop any Creighton momentum.
After Stevens was named MVP of the Hall of Fame Classic, Creighton coach Greg McDermott called him one of the best players in the country.
Stevens tested the NBA waters this offseason but didn’t get the right feedback and came back to aim for a special season.
Record-setter: A look at all the records Isaiah Stevens owns or is close to taking the lead in
Make no mistake, this kid is a killer on the floor and he wouldn’t have been back for a team he thought wouldn’t have a chance for a big season.
“It’s the games that you live for, the games you work so hard for. It’s a big reason why I wanted to come back this year. I knew the schedule that we had in front of us,” Stevens said.
“I feel like we work so hard day in and day out, at some point you want to go out and compete against some of the best teams in the country. Today was one of our nights. I was just happy to be part of it.”
CSU will now be ranked come Monday with huge tests ahead, including a home game Wednesday, Nov. 29, at 7 p.m. against rival Colorado.
Coach Niko Medved’s gift to Stevens for his encore season was a roster ideally built around him. The Rams have a ton of length, depth, athleticism and versatility.
Colorado transfer Nique Clifford and Black Hills State transfer Joel Scott have fit perfectly.
“Man, it’s fun. It’s special. It’s what you dream of, playing big-time games on big-time stages,” Scott said.
There are many challenges ahead and surely there will be bumps in the road, but Thursday’s blowout of Creighton shows how good this team can be.
The phrase “Zay Mode” is well known around the program for when Stevens hits his fully locked in mode.
This is the Zay Mode season.
He’s coming for everything he can get.
Follow sports reporter Kevin Lytle on Twitter and Instagram @Kevin_Lytle.
This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: CSU basketball's Isaiah Stevens is gearing up for a huge final season
