MISSOULA, Mont. - The Tim Miles era began for Colorado State Friday night in the loud and rowdy Dahlberg Arena, and for the Rams it was a slow start as they fell 75-39 to Montana.
The Rams kept pace with the Grizzlies early, but fell behind after a 6-0 Montana run eight minutes into the game.
Montana played tough defense allowing only 19 points in the first half and limited the Rams to 33 percent from the field including 0 for 7 from behind the 3-point point line.
Even with poor shooting, the Rams kept it close. The defense held Montana to 26 firs- half points on 36 percent shooting.
"We were battling inside; that's how we kept it close in the first half," CSU senior center Stuart Creason.
The second half turned into a different story as the Rams' defense fell apart, allowing Montana to score 49 second-half points. The Grizzlies also shot 59 percent from the field in the second half.
"In the second half, we let the scoreboard get to us," Miles said. "It went from a seven-point deficit to 15 real quick, and it snowballed."
The crowd also was a factor, with the Montana student section full of boisterous fans, all with white T-shirts on that read "The ZOO".
"They got the crowd into it and they got momentum and they started to roll," CSU guard Willis Gardner said.
The Grizzlies defense did roll, holding the Rams scoreless in the last five minutes.
Creason and Gardner led the Rams with 10 points apiece.
The Rams start this season as newcomers. Coach Miles comes from North Dakota State where he lead his team from division II to a winning division I team.
The players consist of one returning starter, Creason, and only one other returning player. All others are ether junior college transfers, incoming freshman or walk-ons.
"I have a file on my desk called 'Humble Beginnings' we can put this one in that file," Miles said. "When things are going great for us, we can look at that file to keep our heads from getting too big."
The atmosphere wasn't very kind to the Rams.
"Any time you've got a bunch of new guys and 7,000 screaming fans it's going to get to you," Creason said.
The Rams have been playing together as a team for less than a month, and have known each other for less than six. That fact was obvious Friday night but the players want to use it as nothing but motivation.
"We could use that as an excuse, but you can't make excuses if you want to be a better team," Said Walker.
The Rams' struggles on defense and execution on offense are not going to fix themselves over night, but Coach Miles is still confident in his players and their abilities.
"Tonight was an aberration," Miles said. "I really think this team is going to be alright."
For now the Rams head back to Fort Collins to work hard and get ready for the rest of the season.
"When it comes to execution and defense you can only do a little better every day," Miles said. "So we'll practice and get a little better and a little better and hopefully we will be a heck of a lot better next week for Oregon State."
Miles is now preparing his team for a trip to Alaska and the "Top of The World Classic" in Fairbanks, and with the opening game opponent of Pac-10's Oregon State the road doesn't get any easier.
"Hopefully this will be a wake up call that exhibition is over," Creason said.
