Funny video for Colorado State basketball. The Rams played this on the video screen during its defeat of TCU on Saturday.

You’ll have a hard time finding a crazier first half than what we’re seeing at The Pit tonight between Colorado State and New Mexico.

First, there was a possession in which New Mexico scored a deep two-point basket, but upon further review, the Lobos had SIX players on the court, which earned them a team technical. CSU’s Dorian Green hit both free throws, but it was ruled that the prior basket with six players on the floor would still stand, so the New Mexico lead was 19-17 rather than 17 all.

Then here comes the real kicker.

With 1 second remaining in the first half, CSU senior forward Andre McFarland is fouled and goes to the line for two shots. He hits the first and New Mexico’s Steve Alford elects to use his first time out of the game — likely to draw up a play for a desperation three-pointer before half.

Well that play, along with McFarland’s second free throw, would have to wait because a fire alarm at University Arena went off so the entire building is being evacuated. This means EVERYONE: Players, coaches, fans, media — everyone.

This process will likely take at least 30 minutes to complete, then McFarland will shoot his free throw, then we’ll have half time.

Might as well switch to CBS College Sports for a while to watch San Diego State and UNLV, because this CSU vs. New Mexico game is on hiatus.

As the defenses rose to the challenge during Monday’s BCS National Championship Game in Glendale, Ariz., there was a certain defender for the Auburn Tigers who has a strong tie to the Mountain West Conference.

Auburn starting redshirt sophomore cornerback T’Sharvan Bell is the older brother of Colorado State corner Shaq Bell, who started nine games for the Rams as a true freshman in 2010 in place of Momo Thomas — who practically grew up in the same house with the Bell brothers in Central Florida.

T’Sharvan finished the 2010 season with 38 tackles, 1 interception and 4 pass breakups.

Shaq had 39 tackles for Colorado State this past season.

And as if there was any question, yes, Shaq was in Glendale watching his brother become a national champion, as Auburn squeaked by Oregon 22-19, sending the Ducks back to Eugene quietly into the desert night.

Colorado State’s Travis Franklin knows that when you go 7 of 7 at the free throw line in a game your team won by 10, you’re allowed to dance.

The Colorado State Rivals.com does a brief blog breakdown of the Border War between CSU and Wyoming.

The Rams’ Adam Nigon led CSU with 21 points, all of which came from downtown. He’s a senior and Colorado native, so you had to expect him to be pumped for this game. Nigon is also a former walk-on.

Wyoming - 60
Colorado State - 73
FINAL

It’s the first Mountain West match up of the 2010-11 season and it couldn’t be between two school that hated each other more, Colorado State and Wyoming.

This is the second consecutive season the two teams have opened up conference play against each other, the only difference is tonight’s game is in Fort Collins and 2010’s first match up was in Laramie.

If you don’t live in a metro area that has a MWC school or you don’t have DirecTV, good luck finding a place to watch this one (televised on The Mtn.), because most bars will likely have their TVs tuned to the Sugar Bowl.

However, you can listen to CSU’s radio broadcast for free (just click the “Listen Live” button on the right):

• 560 AM KLZ The Source

Colorado State Rams (10-4, 0-0 MWC)

• Leading scorer: Andy Ogide (15.7 ppg)
• Key wins: Ole Miss, Southern Miss

Wyoming Cowboys (7-7, 0-0)

• Leading scorer: Desmar Jackson (15.5 ppg)
• Key wins: None

Tip off is scheduled for 7 p.m., MT

Vegas Odds: Colorado State by 10.5

Mountain West Blog Prediction:

Wyoming - 60
Colorado State - 81

It’s the start of the Mountain West college basketball schedule, which can only mean one thing, another year of Colorado State’s athletic department apparently having no idea when students are on campus.

Even though classes for the Spring 2011 semester at CSU don’t begin until Jan. 18, the Rams have their big rivalry game against Wyoming scheduled for Tuesday (Jan. 4) at Moby Arena.

To compensate for the waves of fans CSU expects to attend, the athletic department is requesting fans who have already purchased tickets to enter through the lightly trafficked south concourse.

First, fans that arrive Tuesday with tickets in hand, especially those that arrive in the minutes before tipoff, are encouraged to avoid lines and enter the arena from the south concourse, across from the Rams’ softball field. Those fans with $1 ticket vouchers from the UNC win don’t need to wait to redeem their vouchers. They can do so at the McGraw Center ticket office during normal hours (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) Monday or Tuesday.

I know it’s a big rivalry game, but Wyoming is an embarrassment disappointment to MWC men’s basketball (Air Force is truly an embarrassment). Last season’s Border War “Orange Out” in Fort Collins wasn’t even the most attended game.

• CSU men’s basketball 2009-10 top attendances:

1. Colorado: 5293
2. Wyoming: 5277
3. New Mexico: 4303

Actually, the most fans that have been in Moby Arena for a sporting event in at least three years was the CSU volleyball team’s 2010 home-opener against Duke (6333).

Is CSU basketball on its way to the best season since 2003? Absolutely. The Rams are the team on the rise in the MWC. But I think the athletic department may be shooting a little high in terms of expected attendance with virtually no students on currently campus.

Brian Lepak signed with Colorado State’s 2006 recruiting class as a 3-star offensive guard from Claremore High School, located just east of Tulsa, Okla.

After two seasons in Fort Collins, redshirting in 2006 and playing in all 12 games of the Rams’ 3-9 2007 season, Lepak decided to transfer to Oklahoma and went on to become a starting guard and center of the Sooners’ offensive line.

The former CSU Ram played his final game on Saturday night, helping protect quarterback Landry Jones as Oklahoma steamrolled Connecticut 48-20 in the Fiesta Bowl.

According to the Tulsa World, it was Lepak that helped dump the water cooler on Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops.

Just before the final gun, Stoops got an ice-water bath - and some emotional hugs - from senior offensive linemen Brian Lepak and Eric Mensik. Then came another trophy ceremony, and another team photo under the scoreboard.

Congratulations to Lepak on a solid college career.