Colorado State University Athletics

Rams, Lobos Set for Wednesday Showdown
2/3/2025 4:12:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Colorado State takes on league leading New Mexico
FORT COLLINS – Colorado State and New Mexico are set for a battle atop the Mountain West on Wednesday when the Rams visit the Logos at 8 p.m. MT.
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Opening Tip
- Colorado State extended its win streak to four games defeating Air Force 79-58 last Tuesday.
- The Rams are winners of nine of their last 11 games and seven of their last eight.
- Nique Clifford recorded his third straight 20-point , seven rebound, seven assists game with 22 points to go with 11 rebounds, seven assists and two steals.
- Clifford is the first player to have such a three-game streak like that in Mountain West history.
- It was his ninth double-double and 20-point game of the year and he matched his career-best in assists for the third straight game.
- Clifford averages 17.7 points, 9.6 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.1 steals per game.
- He is the only Division I player to have at least 350 points, 200 rebounds and 80 assists this season.
- Clifford is sixth in the nation with 8.24 defensive rebounds per game and 20th 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 made a pair of 3s to extend his streak to 11 game with a made 3. He finished the game with 14 points. Â
- Lake is having a strong senior season averaging 12.7 points on 43.6% shooting including 34.6% from behind the arc.
- Sophomore Kyan Evans dished out a career-high eight assists in the win while adding eight points and six rebounds.
- The Kansas City native has turned a corner in the past 11 games averaging 10.5 points shooting 46.8% from 3-point range with 3.9 assists per game.
- For the second time in three games, Nikola Djapa provided a big spark for the Rams with his seven points and two rebounds in the game. He finished his 11 minutes of play +15.
- CSU ranks 15th in the nation making 78.4% of its free throw attempts this season.
- Colorado State's defense has turned it up in conference play. They are allowing just 64.8 points and holding opponents to 41.3 shooting.
- In conference games only, the Rams ranks third in Bartorvik for adjusted defensive efficiency at 98.3 and KenPom as well at 98.0.
- Head coach Niko Medved is in his seventh year leading Colorado State. He is 131-82 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 Lobos
New Mexico sits atop the Mountain West standings after defeating Utah State on Saturday at 10-1.
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Guard Donovan Dent leads the Lobos and is one of the top guards in the nation. He is averaging 19.4 points and 6.6 assists per game for the conference's highest scoring offense.
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The Lobos like to pressure their opponents and play fast averaging 8.9 steals per game and play the seventh fastest adjusted tempo in the nation according to KenPom.
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What's Ahead
Colorado State returns home for its annual Orange Out on Saturday when they host San Diego State at 8 p.m. MT.
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Tickets can be purchased at CSURams.com/MBBTickets.
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Opening Tip
- Colorado State extended its win streak to four games defeating Air Force 79-58 last Tuesday.
- The Rams are winners of nine of their last 11 games and seven of their last eight.
- Nique Clifford recorded his third straight 20-point , seven rebound, seven assists game with 22 points to go with 11 rebounds, seven assists and two steals.
- Clifford is the first player to have such a three-game streak like that in Mountain West history.
- It was his ninth double-double and 20-point game of the year and he matched his career-best in assists for the third straight game.
- Clifford averages 17.7 points, 9.6 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.1 steals per game.
- He is the only Division I player to have at least 350 points, 200 rebounds and 80 assists this season.
- Clifford is sixth in the nation with 8.24 defensive rebounds per game and 20th 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 made a pair of 3s to extend his streak to 11 game with a made 3. He finished the game with 14 points. Â
- Lake is having a strong senior season averaging 12.7 points on 43.6% shooting including 34.6% from behind the arc.
- Sophomore Kyan Evans dished out a career-high eight assists in the win while adding eight points and six rebounds.
- The Kansas City native has turned a corner in the past 11 games averaging 10.5 points shooting 46.8% from 3-point range with 3.9 assists per game.
- For the second time in three games, Nikola Djapa provided a big spark for the Rams with his seven points and two rebounds in the game. He finished his 11 minutes of play +15.
- CSU ranks 15th in the nation making 78.4% of its free throw attempts this season.
- Colorado State's defense has turned it up in conference play. They are allowing just 64.8 points and holding opponents to 41.3 shooting.
- In conference games only, the Rams ranks third in Bartorvik for adjusted defensive efficiency at 98.3 and KenPom as well at 98.0.
- Head coach Niko Medved is in his seventh year leading Colorado State. He is 131-82 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 Lobos
New Mexico sits atop the Mountain West standings after defeating Utah State on Saturday at 10-1.
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Guard Donovan Dent leads the Lobos and is one of the top guards in the nation. He is averaging 19.4 points and 6.6 assists per game for the conference's highest scoring offense.
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The Lobos like to pressure their opponents and play fast averaging 8.9 steals per game and play the seventh fastest adjusted tempo in the nation according to KenPom.
Â
What's Ahead
Colorado State returns home for its annual Orange Out on Saturday when they host San Diego State at 8 p.m. MT.
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Tickets can be purchased at CSURams.com/MBBTickets.
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Players Mentioned
Colorado State Basketball (M): Season 1 - Ep. 1
Sunday, August 10
Ramily - CSU Men's Basketball
Tuesday, August 05
Ram Line - Shoot Around with Josh Pascarelli & Darnez Slater (MBB)
Monday, August 04
Behind the White Board - Ken DeWeese
Monday, August 04