Happy birthday, Colorado — and Colorado sports.

Leading into the state’s 150th birthday Aug. 1, The Denver Gazette has partnered with the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame to publicize the definitive list of Colorado’s top 150 sports moments.

Colorado Sports Hall of Fame historian Dave Plati and a committee of 10 compiled and will release the list every week until the No. 1 moment on July 31. Plati and Broncos icon Jim Saccomano will unveil the list weekly on a Colorado Sports Hall of Fame podcast at coloradosports.org/podcast/.

No. 109

March 4, 1989

Heading into the final day of the regular season, Colorado State men’s basketball was 11-4 in Western Athletic Conference play, tied atop the standings with New Mexico and one game up on Texas-El Paso. Coach Boyd Grant, seeking to ease the tension among the team, took the Rams to a Friday night movie: “Lean on Me.” Pat Durham scored 31 points to lead CSU to an 89-72 win. The Rams shot 78% from the field in the second half (14-of-18, including six threes) to pull away for a decisive triumph. Later that day, New Mexico was upset at home by Hawai’i (71-70). CSU won its first conference title since the Mountain States in 1954.

—Dave Plati, Colorado Sports Hall of Fame historian