Colorado State University Athletics
Monday, November 3
Fort Collins, CO
7:00 p.m.
Colorado State
vs
Incarnate Word
Farokhmanesh Era Opens Monday Night
11/2/2025 9:30:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Colorado State hosts Incarnate Word to open 2025-26 men’s basketball season
FORT COLLINS – The Ali Farokhmanesh Era of Colorado State men's basketball officially tips off Monday night when the Rams play host to Incarnate Word at 7:00 p.m. inside Moby Arena. The season starts with a White Out as fans are encouraged to wear white as they cheer on the Rams.
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Tickets for the game, along with season tickets, mini plans and flex passes are available at CSURams.com/MBBTickets or by calling 800-491-RAMS (7267)
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Opening Tip
- Colorado State men's basketball enters a new era with first-year coach Ali Farokhmanesh moving over a seat from associate head coach to head coach in 2025-26.
- Farokhmanesh has been on staff in Fort Collins for the past seven years helping build the foundation of the program.
- The Rams warmed up for the season with an exhibition at Creighton. The Rams fell to the No. 23 team in the nation 76-64.
- Two newcomers scored in double figures in Brandon Rechsteiner (14) and Josh Pascarelli (12) while Kyle Jorgensen adding 10 points.
- CSU earned a second straight trip to the NCAA Tournament in 2024-25 and third in four years.
- Colorado State picked up a win in the NCAA Tournament for the second straight year with a 78-70 victory over Memphis in the first round before falling to Maryland for a trip to the Sweet 16 on the line at the buzzer 72-71.
- It was CSU's first appearance in the Round of 32 since 2013.
- Prior to the season ending loss, the Rams had an 11-game winning streak.
- The 11-game streak tied for the second longest in program history.
- CSU's 26 wins in 2024-25 tied for the second most in program history. They finished one win behind the record of 27 set by the 2014-15 team.Â
- The Rams welcomed the best transfer portal class in the Mountain West in 2025 ranking 61st in the nation.
- During the win streak, CSU won every game by at least eight points, the longest such streak in program history.
- CSU won a program-best seven Mountain West road games last season.
- During the 11-game streak, the Rams' defense allowed just 62.2 points per game and held opponents to 40.9% leading to a margin of victory of 16.1 points.
- Colorado State has the longest active streak of having a player on the first team All-Mountain West list at seven years. Nico Carvacho (2019-20), David Roddy (2021-22), Isaiah Stevens (2023-24) and Nique Clifford (2025).
- Nique Clifford became the fourth player in program history to be picked in the first round of the NBA Draft in June. Clifford was the 24th pick overall by Oklahoma State with his rights traded to Sacramento.
- Clifford had one of the best seasons in program history his final year. He earned AP All-America honorable mention, was the MVP for the Mountain West Tournament and helped the program earn its first Mountain West title since 2003 by winning the Mountain West Tournament.
- He is averaged 18.9 points, 9.7 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.2 steals per game.
- Clifford became the first Ram in program history to have 500 points, 300 rebounds and 100 assists. Clifford was also the only Division I players to have 625 points, 325 rebounds and 125 assists last season.
- He became the fourth player in program history to eclipse the 600 point mark in a season. He broke the program's record for points in a season with 681 taking over Pat Durham's record of 676 (1987-88).
- The Rams averaged 16.5 assists per game to rank 26th in the nation. Their assist rate of 62.7% was the eighth best in the NCAA. Â
- CSU ranked 26th in the nation making 77.5% of its free throw attempts this season.
- Colorado State was the top 3-point shooting team in the Mountain West making 36.6% of their attempts to rank 51st in the nation.
Scouting the Cardinals
Incarnate Word enters its third season under Shane Heirman's lead. The Cardinals went 19-17 last year that included playing in the CBI.
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UIW returns two of its top four scorers from last season in Davion Bailey (16.7) and Jordan (10.6).
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What's Ahead
The Rams host a doubleheader with women's basketball on Sunday, November 9 at 4 p.m. against Omaha. The women's team plays at 1 p.m. against Long Beach State. The doubleheader is a part of Snow Days weekend from November 7-9.Â
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Tickets for the game, along with season tickets, mini plans and flex passes are available at CSURams.com/MBBTickets or by calling 800-491-RAMS (7267)
Â
Opening Tip
- Colorado State men's basketball enters a new era with first-year coach Ali Farokhmanesh moving over a seat from associate head coach to head coach in 2025-26.
- Farokhmanesh has been on staff in Fort Collins for the past seven years helping build the foundation of the program.
- The Rams warmed up for the season with an exhibition at Creighton. The Rams fell to the No. 23 team in the nation 76-64.
- Two newcomers scored in double figures in Brandon Rechsteiner (14) and Josh Pascarelli (12) while Kyle Jorgensen adding 10 points.
- CSU earned a second straight trip to the NCAA Tournament in 2024-25 and third in four years.
- Colorado State picked up a win in the NCAA Tournament for the second straight year with a 78-70 victory over Memphis in the first round before falling to Maryland for a trip to the Sweet 16 on the line at the buzzer 72-71.
- It was CSU's first appearance in the Round of 32 since 2013.
- Prior to the season ending loss, the Rams had an 11-game winning streak.
- The 11-game streak tied for the second longest in program history.
- CSU's 26 wins in 2024-25 tied for the second most in program history. They finished one win behind the record of 27 set by the 2014-15 team.Â
- The Rams welcomed the best transfer portal class in the Mountain West in 2025 ranking 61st in the nation.
- During the win streak, CSU won every game by at least eight points, the longest such streak in program history.
- CSU won a program-best seven Mountain West road games last season.
- During the 11-game streak, the Rams' defense allowed just 62.2 points per game and held opponents to 40.9% leading to a margin of victory of 16.1 points.
- Colorado State has the longest active streak of having a player on the first team All-Mountain West list at seven years. Nico Carvacho (2019-20), David Roddy (2021-22), Isaiah Stevens (2023-24) and Nique Clifford (2025).
- Nique Clifford became the fourth player in program history to be picked in the first round of the NBA Draft in June. Clifford was the 24th pick overall by Oklahoma State with his rights traded to Sacramento.
- Clifford had one of the best seasons in program history his final year. He earned AP All-America honorable mention, was the MVP for the Mountain West Tournament and helped the program earn its first Mountain West title since 2003 by winning the Mountain West Tournament.
- He is averaged 18.9 points, 9.7 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.2 steals per game.
- Clifford became the first Ram in program history to have 500 points, 300 rebounds and 100 assists. Clifford was also the only Division I players to have 625 points, 325 rebounds and 125 assists last season.
- He became the fourth player in program history to eclipse the 600 point mark in a season. He broke the program's record for points in a season with 681 taking over Pat Durham's record of 676 (1987-88).
- The Rams averaged 16.5 assists per game to rank 26th in the nation. Their assist rate of 62.7% was the eighth best in the NCAA. Â
- CSU ranked 26th in the nation making 77.5% of its free throw attempts this season.
- Colorado State was the top 3-point shooting team in the Mountain West making 36.6% of their attempts to rank 51st in the nation.
Scouting the Cardinals
Incarnate Word enters its third season under Shane Heirman's lead. The Cardinals went 19-17 last year that included playing in the CBI.
Â
UIW returns two of its top four scorers from last season in Davion Bailey (16.7) and Jordan (10.6).
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What's Ahead
The Rams host a doubleheader with women's basketball on Sunday, November 9 at 4 p.m. against Omaha. The women's team plays at 1 p.m. against Long Beach State. The doubleheader is a part of Snow Days weekend from November 7-9.Â
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Players Mentioned
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