FORT COLLINS, Colo. (AP) — Conner Smith threw a fourth-quarter touchdown pass, and Kevin Pierre-Louis batted away a last-play pass in the end zone as Colorado State held on to defeat New Mexico 24-20 Saturday night.
With the Rams trailing 20-17 with 3:06 left, Smith, who was 19 for 26 for 254 yards and two TDs passing, took over at the Colorado State 24. It took seven plays and a key 6-yard run on fourth and 2 by Chris Nwoke to set up a 30-yard pass to Joe Hansley with 1:29 left.
Donnell Alexander ran for 112 yards for the Rams (4-8, 3-5 Mountain West).
After Hansley’s touchdown, B.J. Holbrook was 5 of 6 passing and ran for 6 yards in driving the Lobos (4-9, 1-7) to the Colorado State 16, but missed his next two passes.
After a timeout, Holbrook, who was 12 of 21 for 205 yards and a touchdown, attempted to get a pass to Cory Wiggins in the end zone, but Pierre-Louis got in the way.