Colorado State University Athletics
Tuesday, January 28
Fort Collins, CO
7:00 PM
Colorado State
vs
Air Force
Rams, Falcons Square off Tuesday
1/27/2025 4:08:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Colorado State aims to keep momentum going against in-state rival
FORT COLLINS – Winners of eight of their past 10 games, Colorado State men's basketball returns home Tuesday night to host in-state rival Air Force at 7 p.m.
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Tickets for the game can be purchased at CSURams.com/MBBTickets.
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Opening Tip
- Colorado State showed its resilience closing the game against Fresno State on a 12-2 run to earn the 69-64 win.
- The Rams are winners of eight of their last 10 games and six of their last seven.
- Nique Clifford recorded his third straight 20-point game with 24 points to go with eight rebounds, seven assists and two steals against the Bulldogs.
- For the week, Clifford averaged 22.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 7.0 assists with a 4.7 assist-to-turnover ratio on 48.8% shooting including 40.0% behind the arc.
- It was his eighth 20-point game of the year and he matched his career-best in assists for the second straight game.
- Clifford averages 17.5 points, 9.6 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.1 steals per game.
- He is the only Division I player to have at least 325 points, 175 rebounds and 70 assists this season.
- Clifford is fourth in the nation with 8.20 defensive rebounds per game and 21st for total rebounds at 9.6.
- He was selected to the preseason All-Mountain West team after earning third team honors last season.
- Jalen Lake followed up his late-game heroics against Boise State with a 10 point game against FSU.
- He made a pair of 3s to extend his streak to 10 game with a made three.Â
- Lake is having a strong senior season averaging 12.7 points on 43.1% shooting including 34.7% from behind the arc.
- Sophomore Kyan Evans hit his second dagger shot of the season against Fresno State. He made another deep 3 against FSU to put CSU for good inside the final minute.
- The Kansas City native has turned a corner in the past 10 games averaging 10.7 points shooting 48.9% from 3-point range with 3.5 assists per game.
- CSU ranks 18th in the nation making 78.0% of its free throw attempts this season.
- Colorado State's defense has turned it up in conference play. They are allowing just 65.6 points and holding opponents to 42.0% shooting.
- In conference games only, the Rams ranks third in Bartorvik for adjusted defensive efficiency at 97.6 and KenPom as well at 99.0.
- Head coach Niko Medved is in his seventh year leading Colorado State. He is 130-82 as the Rams' head coach. He has the second most wins in program history trailing only Jim Williams (1955-80) and his 352.
- He became the fifth coach in program history to reach 100 wins in Fort Collins last year.
- Medved is the only coach in program history to win 20-plus games four times.
- He picked up his 200th career win in November with the Rams' overtime win over TCU.
- CSU has two players currently in the NBA or G League with David Roddy (Atlanta Hawks) and Isaiah Stevens (Miami Heat/Sioux Falls Skyforce).
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Scouting the Falcons
While Air Force enters Tuesday's game 3-17 overall and 0-9 in Mountain West play, five of their nine conference games have been decided by 10 points or less.
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The Falcons continue to run their Princeton style offense led by Ethan Taylor and his 15.3 points per game.
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Air Force's ability to slow down the game and limit possessions helps them hold opponents to 71.1 points per game, but they are only scoring 63.6 a game. Â
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What's Ahead
The Rams are off this week and will prepare to open the month of February with a tough road challenge headed to the Pit to take on New Mexico on February 5 at 8:30 p.m. MT
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CSU returns home next on February 8 when they host San Diego State at 8 p.m. for the annual Orange Out.
Â
Tickets for the game can be purchased at CSURams.com/MBBTickets.
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Tickets for the game can be purchased at CSURams.com/MBBTickets.
Â
Opening Tip
- Colorado State showed its resilience closing the game against Fresno State on a 12-2 run to earn the 69-64 win.
- The Rams are winners of eight of their last 10 games and six of their last seven.
- Nique Clifford recorded his third straight 20-point game with 24 points to go with eight rebounds, seven assists and two steals against the Bulldogs.
- For the week, Clifford averaged 22.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 7.0 assists with a 4.7 assist-to-turnover ratio on 48.8% shooting including 40.0% behind the arc.
- It was his eighth 20-point game of the year and he matched his career-best in assists for the second straight game.
- Clifford averages 17.5 points, 9.6 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.1 steals per game.
- He is the only Division I player to have at least 325 points, 175 rebounds and 70 assists this season.
- Clifford is fourth in the nation with 8.20 defensive rebounds per game and 21st for total rebounds at 9.6.
- He was selected to the preseason All-Mountain West team after earning third team honors last season.
- Jalen Lake followed up his late-game heroics against Boise State with a 10 point game against FSU.
- He made a pair of 3s to extend his streak to 10 game with a made three.Â
- Lake is having a strong senior season averaging 12.7 points on 43.1% shooting including 34.7% from behind the arc.
- Sophomore Kyan Evans hit his second dagger shot of the season against Fresno State. He made another deep 3 against FSU to put CSU for good inside the final minute.
- The Kansas City native has turned a corner in the past 10 games averaging 10.7 points shooting 48.9% from 3-point range with 3.5 assists per game.
- CSU ranks 18th in the nation making 78.0% of its free throw attempts this season.
- Colorado State's defense has turned it up in conference play. They are allowing just 65.6 points and holding opponents to 42.0% shooting.
- In conference games only, the Rams ranks third in Bartorvik for adjusted defensive efficiency at 97.6 and KenPom as well at 99.0.
- Head coach Niko Medved is in his seventh year leading Colorado State. He is 130-82 as the Rams' head coach. He has the second most wins in program history trailing only Jim Williams (1955-80) and his 352.
- He became the fifth coach in program history to reach 100 wins in Fort Collins last year.
- Medved is the only coach in program history to win 20-plus games four times.
- He picked up his 200th career win in November with the Rams' overtime win over TCU.
- CSU has two players currently in the NBA or G League with David Roddy (Atlanta Hawks) and Isaiah Stevens (Miami Heat/Sioux Falls Skyforce).
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Scouting the Falcons
While Air Force enters Tuesday's game 3-17 overall and 0-9 in Mountain West play, five of their nine conference games have been decided by 10 points or less.
Â
The Falcons continue to run their Princeton style offense led by Ethan Taylor and his 15.3 points per game.
Â
Air Force's ability to slow down the game and limit possessions helps them hold opponents to 71.1 points per game, but they are only scoring 63.6 a game. Â
Â
What's Ahead
The Rams are off this week and will prepare to open the month of February with a tough road challenge headed to the Pit to take on New Mexico on February 5 at 8:30 p.m. MT
Â
CSU returns home next on February 8 when they host San Diego State at 8 p.m. for the annual Orange Out.
Â
Tickets for the game can be purchased at CSURams.com/MBBTickets.
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Players Mentioned
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