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Colorado State University Athletics
Saturday, January 3
Phoenix, AZ
6:00 p.m.
Colorado State
at
Grand Canyon
New Year, New Opponent for Men’s Basketball
1/2/2026 6:40:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Colorado State faces Grand Canyon for the first time
FORT COLLINS – New Year, new opponent for Colorado State men's basketball. The Rams head to Phoenix to tip off 2026 to take on Mountain West newcomer Grand Canyon on Saturday, January 3 at 6 p.m. It marks the first time the two programs have faced off.
While the matchup is new to the college basketball world, the faces of each coach are not. The game will feature two of the most famous shot makers in March Madness history in Colorado State's Ali Farokhmanesh (Northern Iowa, 2010) and Grand Canyon's Bryce Drew (Valparaiso, 1998).
Opening Tip
- Colorado State was unable to close against Nevada, falling at home 75-62.
- Only two Rams reached double figures scoring in Jevin Muniz (17) and Brandon Rechsteiner (14).
- Carey Booth became the first Ram to block at least five shots in a game since Stanton Kidd did against San Diego State in 2015.
- Booth finished the game with a career-best six blocks.
- CSU had its second lowest field goal percentage (37.3%) and assists mark of the season (10), following up season-lows the game before at Utah State.
- Saturday's meeting between Colorado State and Nevada is the only one scheduled between the two teams this season. It is the first ever meeting between the two programs.
- CSU ranks 52nd in the nation and second in the Mountain West in assist-to-turnover ratio at 1.55.
- The Rams 17.3 assists per game are the second best in the Mountain West and 57th in the nation.
- Colorado State is assisting on 63.4% of its made field goals on the year, the 16th best mark in the nation.
- The Rams are one of 12 programs in the nation shooting over 50.0% overall, 35.0% from behind the arc and 75.0% from the free throw line. They rank 15th, 10th and third in the respective categories.
- Colorado State has a pair of Mountain West Players of the Week so far this season in Kyle Jorgensen and Josh Pascarelli.
- Jorgensen's performance over the first week earned him Mountain West Player of the Week honors. The sophomore averaged 20.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.0 steal in the first two games of the season.
- Pascarelli earned his honor after his performance against Colorado (12/6/25). The junior scored 26 points connecting on eight 3-pointers for the second straight game.
- CSU earned a second straight trip to the NCAA Tournament in 2024-25 and third in four years.
- Colorado State'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.
- The Rams welcomed the best transfer portal class in the Mountain West in 2025 ranking 61st in the nation.
- 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 City 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.
Scouting the Lopes
Grand Canyon enters its first year in the Mountain West after much success in the WAC. GCU is 8-4 on the year and 1-0 in conference play. The Lopes are going off a n 11-day break.
GCU has a pair of scorers averaging double figures in Jaden Henley (17.8) and Makaih Williams (11.5). The Lopes are even across the board distributing the ball with four guys having 20-plus assists but no one with 30.
Big man Nana Owusu-Anane is one of the top rebounders in the nation averaging 9.2 per game to rank 36th overall.
What's Ahead
Colorado State hosts two games next week in Moby Arena, starting on Tuesday, January 6, against New Mexico at 7 p.m. The Rams then host UNLV on Friday, January 9, at 8 p.m.
Tickets for both games and all CSU men's basketball games are available at CSURams.com/MBBTickets or by calling 800-491-RAMS (7267).
While the matchup is new to the college basketball world, the faces of each coach are not. The game will feature two of the most famous shot makers in March Madness history in Colorado State's Ali Farokhmanesh (Northern Iowa, 2010) and Grand Canyon's Bryce Drew (Valparaiso, 1998).
Opening Tip
- Colorado State was unable to close against Nevada, falling at home 75-62.
- Only two Rams reached double figures scoring in Jevin Muniz (17) and Brandon Rechsteiner (14).
- Carey Booth became the first Ram to block at least five shots in a game since Stanton Kidd did against San Diego State in 2015.
- Booth finished the game with a career-best six blocks.
- CSU had its second lowest field goal percentage (37.3%) and assists mark of the season (10), following up season-lows the game before at Utah State.
- Saturday's meeting between Colorado State and Nevada is the only one scheduled between the two teams this season. It is the first ever meeting between the two programs.
- CSU ranks 52nd in the nation and second in the Mountain West in assist-to-turnover ratio at 1.55.
- The Rams 17.3 assists per game are the second best in the Mountain West and 57th in the nation.
- Colorado State is assisting on 63.4% of its made field goals on the year, the 16th best mark in the nation.
- The Rams are one of 12 programs in the nation shooting over 50.0% overall, 35.0% from behind the arc and 75.0% from the free throw line. They rank 15th, 10th and third in the respective categories.
- Colorado State has a pair of Mountain West Players of the Week so far this season in Kyle Jorgensen and Josh Pascarelli.
- Jorgensen's performance over the first week earned him Mountain West Player of the Week honors. The sophomore averaged 20.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.0 steal in the first two games of the season.
- Pascarelli earned his honor after his performance against Colorado (12/6/25). The junior scored 26 points connecting on eight 3-pointers for the second straight game.
- CSU earned a second straight trip to the NCAA Tournament in 2024-25 and third in four years.
- Colorado State'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.
- The Rams welcomed the best transfer portal class in the Mountain West in 2025 ranking 61st in the nation.
- 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 City 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.
Scouting the Lopes
Grand Canyon enters its first year in the Mountain West after much success in the WAC. GCU is 8-4 on the year and 1-0 in conference play. The Lopes are going off a n 11-day break.
GCU has a pair of scorers averaging double figures in Jaden Henley (17.8) and Makaih Williams (11.5). The Lopes are even across the board distributing the ball with four guys having 20-plus assists but no one with 30.
Big man Nana Owusu-Anane is one of the top rebounders in the nation averaging 9.2 per game to rank 36th overall.
What's Ahead
Colorado State hosts two games next week in Moby Arena, starting on Tuesday, January 6, against New Mexico at 7 p.m. The Rams then host UNLV on Friday, January 9, at 8 p.m.
Tickets for both games and all CSU men's basketball games are available at CSURams.com/MBBTickets or by calling 800-491-RAMS (7267).
Players Mentioned
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/ Men's BasketballColorado State Basketball (M): Ali Farkohmanesh Post-Game (Nevada)
Tuesday, December 30
Colorado State Basketball (M): Brandon Rechsteiner (L) & Jevin Muniz (R) Post-Game (Nevada)
Tuesday, December 30
Colorado State Basketball (M): Ali Farokhmanesh Post-Game (Northern New Mexico)
Sunday, December 14
Colorado State Basketball (M): Brandon Recsteiner (L) & Darnez Slater (R) Post-Game (Northern New Mexico)
Sunday, December 14