FORMER O'HARA BASKETBALL PLAYER LEADS HIS TEAM WITH 31 POINTS

Marcus Walker leads Colorado State over Northern Colorado 85-74 O’HARA ALUMNUS IN PLAYING FOR COLORADO STATE WAS WRITTEN UP WITH THE FOLLOWING REPORT: A worn-out Marcus Walker struggled to the sidelines with 5:19 left in the game. Having to play every second to that juncture had taken its toll on the Colorado State guard. But after a two-minute breather, Walker returned and took over the game. Walker had a 3-pointer and key steal in the last two minutes and scored 31 points to lead Colorado State to an 85-74 victory over Northern Colorado Tuesday night. "Any time you play 30-plus minutes, I don't care who you are, you are going to be tired" said Walker, who played all but two minutes of the game. "Just knowing that you're going to hit a brick wall, and that if I could get over the hump, pushed me through in the end." Walker was 9-for-18 shooting and added three assists, three rebounds and three steals. "Marcus started 3-for-12, but made his last shots," Colorado State coach Tim Miles said. "Pretty salty numbers for a guard at the end of the game and playing the point, which he's not accustomed to doing." Walker was forced to move to point guard when starter Willis Gardner sprained his left ankle in the first half and never returned. The win avenged a 72-59 loss for the Rams last year in Greeley. "I can't talk enough about our defensive effort," Northern Colorado coach Tad Boyle said. "We had no answers for Marcus Walker.. Walker's short jumper gave the Rams the lead, 54-53, and two free throws with 5:48 left completed a 15-4 run that put them ahead 67-57. Walker went gasping to the bench with 5:19 remaining and returned two minutes later to watch Northern Colorado storm back to get within 74-70 on a basket and free throw with 2:03 left. Walker followed with a 3-pointer. And after two free throws by Will Figures made it 77-72, Walker stole an errant pass and converted it into a layup with 43.6 seconds to go. The layup made it 79-72. "I'm just out there playing for my life," Walker said. "This is my last year, and I don't have any time to take off."