The best 40 minutes the CSU men’s basketball team has played all season.

No contest.

The Rams have shown flashes, but rarely put everything together for a full game this season. When they have, it’s been against inferior opponents.

Saturday was different. Saturday was a sign of a team that can truly be dangerous.

Colorado State University handled New Mexico 91-76 at Moby Arena for the best win of the season for the Rams.

The win came against a confusing New Mexico (8-8, 2-2 Mountain West) team. The Lobos destroyed top-10 Nevada last week before losing at home to UNLV before losing to CSU.

Here are takeaways from the win.

Medved’s way

The message from CSU coach Niko Medved has been consistent and unwavering. He wants unselfish, quick ball movement on offense. It’s the “way basketball should be played” he’s repeated time and time again.

The message is taking root if CSU’s two wins this week are any indication.

CSU’s offense was unstoppable early Saturday to force New Mexico out of its zone defense. The ball was whipping around and players were moving with purpose.

It continued all game as CSU (7-10, 2-2 MW) notched a season-high 26 assists after 25 assists against Air Force on Tuesday. Freshman Kendle Moore had nine assists, Kris Martin had seven and J.D. Paige had six.

The Rams used a seven-player rotation (until the final minute when Medved emptied the bench) and five of them finished in double-figure scoring and CSU shot 56 percent.

CSU outscored New Mexico 44-22 in the paint and 32-15 in bench points despite the seven-man rotation.

Hyron Edwards led CSU with 20 points, while Adam Thistlewood and Nico Carvacho had 16 each and Paige had 14.

Edwards finding footing

It’s easy to forget that Saturday was just the seventh game Edwards has played at the Division I level.

The Texas Tech transfer has been with the team for a year but sat out the last half of last season and the first 10 games of this season due to NCAA transfer rules. He was only at Texas Tech one semester and never played a game after transferring from Trinity Valley Community College.

Medved continually shared the reminder that it would take the 6-footer time to feel comfortable at this level and get up to speed by the middle of the season.

Edwards seems to be finding that now. He scored a game-high 20 points and hit 8 of 11 shots Saturday and added three rebounds and three assists.

"You're really seeing Hyron Edwards start to get his groove back," Medved said. "Every game he looks more and more comfortable. I think he does a great job for us defensively, too. He can pressure the ball, he's quick."

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Ryan shines

He didn’t have the flashiest stat line, but 6-foot-7 forward Logan Ryan was arguably the most important Ram.

He’s served to eat up minutes when Carvacho needs rest, but Ryan was thrust into a big role Saturday with Carvacho fighting foul trouble.

Ryan responded with his best game at CSU, playing smart basketball, winning hustle plays and contributing in many ways.

The sophomore had 12 points, hitting all four of his shots from the field. He added three rebounds and an assist.

"My guy right here played great for Nico," Edwards said, gesturing toward Ryan in the postgame press conference. "He played some great minutes, that was perfect for us."

Moving up the leaderboard

Carvacho needed three rebounds to move into fifth on CSU’s career rebounding chart. He did that early on, passing Mike Childress (1969-71).

The junior center now has 747 career rebounds.

Pat Durham is the leader at 851.

Carvacho finished the game with 16 points and eight rebounds despite being limited to 19 minutes due to fouls.

Follow sports reporter Kevin Lytle at twitter.com/Kevin_Lytle and at facebook.com/KevinSLytle.

CSU 91, New Mexico 76

New Mexico 38 38 — 76

CSU 48 43 — 91

New Mexico (8-8, 2-2 MW) — Jackson 18, Mathis 16, Maluach 12, Kuiper 10, McGee 8, Bragg 5, Ezzeddine 4, Manigault 2, Pinchuk 1.

CSU (7-10, 2-2 MW) — Edwards 20, Thistlewood 16, Carvacho 16, Paige 14, Ryan 12, Moore 8, Martin 5.

Attendance — 3,057

Next up — CSU at Utah State, 7 p.m. Saturday at Dee Glen Smith Spectrum