Colorado State University Athletics
Sunday, December 17
Fort Collins, CO
4:00 PM
Colorado State
vs
CSU-Pueblo
Men’s Basketball Returns to Action Sunday
12/16/2023 8:45:00 AM | Men's Basketball
The Rams host CSU-Pueblo on Sunday evening
FORT COLLINS – Finals are finished, and it is back to basketball for Colorado State. The Rams return to the court for the first time in over a week on Sunday evening when they host CSU-Pueblo at 4 pm.
Opening Tip
- Colorado State suffered its first set back of the 2023-24 season falling at home to Saint Mary's 64-61.
- CSU is in a stretch where they only play three games in 21 days.
- The Rams continue to be ranked in the polls checking in at No. 17 for the AP and No. 18 for the Coaches Poll.
- Head coach Niko Medved is in his sixth year leading Colorado State. He is 101-65 as the Rams' head coach. The win on December 2 against Washington was the 100th for him leading the Green & Gold. Medved is now one of five coaches in the program's 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, Wooden Top 50 Preseason List and one of 20 players named to the Bob Cousy Preseason Watch List.
- Stevens has three double-doubles on the year and already reset one of his own records when he posted 14 assists against Wright State. He is averaging 17.5 points, 7.5 assists, 2.8 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game while shooting 51.6% from the field and 40.0% behind the arc.
- Stevens recorded his fifth 20-point game of the year against Saint Mary's with his 20 points, four rebounds, three assists and three steals.
- He is 32 points away from breaking the Colorado State all-time scoring record currently held by Pat Durham (1985-89) with 1,980 points. Stevens is also nine made field goals away from breaking Durham's record (705)
- Newcomer Joel Scott continues to be a big presence inside for CSU averaging 13.2 points and 6.6 rebounds.
- Scott is familiar with Sunday's foe having faced them five times while he was at Black Hills State. He is averaging 24.8 points and 7.0 rebounds while shooting 62.5% from the field and 56.5% behind the arc.
- Nique Clifford has enjoyed his time in Fort Collins transferring to CSU from Colorado. He is shooting an impressive 57.0% from the field including 51.9% from behind the arc on his way to averaging 12.4 points and 6.2 rebounds. He recorded his second double-double in the Green & Gold against Saint Mary's with 15 points and 11 rebounds.
- Patrick Cartier missed two games for Colorado State, but since returning is averaging 17.0 points on 71.4% shooting. He was one of three Rams in double figures against Saint Mary's with 16 points.
- Colorado State leads the Mountain West in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.05), assists per game (19.7), effective field goal percentage (59.3%), field goal percentage (52.0%), free throw percentage (77.7%) and fewest turnovers per game (9.6).
- Sunday's game counts as an exhibition for CSU-Pueblo. The Thunderwolves are coming off a 101-99 overtime loss against South Dakota Mines on Friday night.
Scouting the Thunderwolves
CSU-Pueblo is coming off a hard-fought 101-99 overtime home loss to South Dakota Mines on Friday. The Thunderwolves are led by fifth-year head coach Matt Hammer.
Brevin Walter leads CSUP with 21.4 points per game. He missed the team's first four games of the year. He has two 36 point games in the past three, including Friday night. He is a high-volume shooter taking 105 shots in his seven games played.
The Thunderwolves have three other players averaging double figures scoring.
Defensively they like to run teams off the three-point line holding opponents to 28.7% from behind the arc this season to rank inside the top 10 in NCAA Division II.
What's Ahead
The Rams hit the road just before the holiday when they take on LMU on Friday at 8 pm MT.
Opening Tip
- Colorado State suffered its first set back of the 2023-24 season falling at home to Saint Mary's 64-61.
- CSU is in a stretch where they only play three games in 21 days.
- The Rams continue to be ranked in the polls checking in at No. 17 for the AP and No. 18 for the Coaches Poll.
- Head coach Niko Medved is in his sixth year leading Colorado State. He is 101-65 as the Rams' head coach. The win on December 2 against Washington was the 100th for him leading the Green & Gold. Medved is now one of five coaches in the program's 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, Wooden Top 50 Preseason List and one of 20 players named to the Bob Cousy Preseason Watch List.
- Stevens has three double-doubles on the year and already reset one of his own records when he posted 14 assists against Wright State. He is averaging 17.5 points, 7.5 assists, 2.8 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game while shooting 51.6% from the field and 40.0% behind the arc.
- Stevens recorded his fifth 20-point game of the year against Saint Mary's with his 20 points, four rebounds, three assists and three steals.
- He is 32 points away from breaking the Colorado State all-time scoring record currently held by Pat Durham (1985-89) with 1,980 points. Stevens is also nine made field goals away from breaking Durham's record (705)
- Newcomer Joel Scott continues to be a big presence inside for CSU averaging 13.2 points and 6.6 rebounds.
- Scott is familiar with Sunday's foe having faced them five times while he was at Black Hills State. He is averaging 24.8 points and 7.0 rebounds while shooting 62.5% from the field and 56.5% behind the arc.
- Nique Clifford has enjoyed his time in Fort Collins transferring to CSU from Colorado. He is shooting an impressive 57.0% from the field including 51.9% from behind the arc on his way to averaging 12.4 points and 6.2 rebounds. He recorded his second double-double in the Green & Gold against Saint Mary's with 15 points and 11 rebounds.
- Patrick Cartier missed two games for Colorado State, but since returning is averaging 17.0 points on 71.4% shooting. He was one of three Rams in double figures against Saint Mary's with 16 points.
- Colorado State leads the Mountain West in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.05), assists per game (19.7), effective field goal percentage (59.3%), field goal percentage (52.0%), free throw percentage (77.7%) and fewest turnovers per game (9.6).
- Sunday's game counts as an exhibition for CSU-Pueblo. The Thunderwolves are coming off a 101-99 overtime loss against South Dakota Mines on Friday night.
Scouting the Thunderwolves
CSU-Pueblo is coming off a hard-fought 101-99 overtime home loss to South Dakota Mines on Friday. The Thunderwolves are led by fifth-year head coach Matt Hammer.
Brevin Walter leads CSUP with 21.4 points per game. He missed the team's first four games of the year. He has two 36 point games in the past three, including Friday night. He is a high-volume shooter taking 105 shots in his seven games played.
The Thunderwolves have three other players averaging double figures scoring.
Defensively they like to run teams off the three-point line holding opponents to 28.7% from behind the arc this season to rank inside the top 10 in NCAA Division II.
What's Ahead
The Rams hit the road just before the holiday when they take on LMU on Friday at 8 pm MT.
Players Mentioned
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