Colorado State University Athletics
Colorado State
Wright State
Men’s Basketball Hosts Wright State Friday
11/9/2023 8:09:00 PM | Men's Basketball
CSU looks to start the season 2-0
FORT COLLINS – Colorado State men's basketball looks to start the weekend on the (W)right foot Friday night when they host Wright State at 7 pm inside Moby Arena.
Opening Tip
- Colorado State opened the 2023-24 campaign with an 81-73 victory over Louisiana Tech on Monday.
- Head coach Niko Medved is in his sixth year leading Colorado State. He is 93-64 as the Rams' head coach. With seven more wins he will become the fifth coach in program history to reach the 100 wins mark.
- Isaiah Stevens returns for his final year of eligibility and the nation is taking notice of the guard. Stevens was named the Mountain West Preseason Player of the Year and one of 20 players named to the Bob Cousy Preseason Watch List. He wasted no time showing why he gained the preseason recognition with the 13th double-double of his career on opening night 15 points, 10 assists performance. It is the 12th points-assists double-double of his career.
- Newcomer Joel Scott familiarized himself well with the CSU fans on Monday. He led the team with 18 points to go with four rebounds and two blocks.
- Nique Clifford also enjoyed his first time playing in the Green and Gold scoring 16 points along with four rebounds, three assists and three steals.
- For the second straight season, CSU overcame a double-digit deficit to earn the season opening win. The Rams trailed by as much as 11 in the second half against Louisiana Tech. It was the 16th double-digit comeback under Medved.
- Louisiana Tech hit their first seven shots of the second half, but went on to shoot just 9-28 (32.1%) for the remainder of the game.
- Patrick Cartier was one of four Rams to finish the night with double-digit points. He ended the night with 14 joining teammates Scott, Clifford and Stevens.
- Friday night's game marks the first-ever match-up between CSU and Wright State. The Rams are 10-6 all-time against Horizon League teams.
- A pair of CSU staff members are very familiar with Wright State in assistant coach Brian Cooley and graduate assistant Cole Gentry. Cooley was on staff at WSU from 2017-21 as an assistant while Gentry played there for three years, earning third team league honors as a senior.
- Friday is Wright State's first game of the 2023-24 season. The Raiders are one of five teams in Division I men's basketball to still not have a game under their belt. The other four teams are Florida State, Gonzaga, Long Island and UNC Greensboro. All five teams will play on Friday. LIU had its first game canceled.
Scouting the Raiders
Head coach Scott Nagy has found success no matter where he has coached succeeding both at South Dakota State and now Wright State. His team looks ready to have another strong season in 2023-24.
Wright State returns the Horizon League's reigning Freshman of the Year, Brandon Noel along with first team selection Trey Calvin. The Raiders also see the return of 2021-22 Horizon League Player of the Year Tanner Holden after he spent a year at Ohio State.
WSU is one of five teams to not yet play a game this season when the ball tips on Friday night.
What's AheadColorado State hits the road but does not have to go far with the trip down Highway 34 to Greeley on Tuesday. The Rams will take on the Bears of Northern Colorado at 6 pm.
