Nique Clifford is returning to Boulder. The standout player for Colorado State men’s basketball spent his initial three years in college with Colorado. While competing as a Buff, he averaged 5.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 19 minutes of play per game. At CSU, he’s transformed into a star, averaging 13.4 points, 8.3 rebounds, […]
Nique Clifford is returning to Boulder.
The standout player for Colorado State men’s basketball spent his initial three years in college with Colorado.
While competing as a Buff, he averaged 5.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 19 minutes of play per game. At CSU, he’s transformed into a star, averaging 13.4 points, 8.3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 31 minutes across 44 games so far.
Clifford anticipates a significant night on Saturday as the Rams go up against Colorado, yet he insists on maintaining a composed outlook.
“It’s going to be a lot of fun. This will be my first time back at my old stomping grounds since,” Clifford remarked. “It’s set to be a really enjoyable experience, but to me, it’s just another game. That’s my approach, and I’m just focused on doing everything possible to support our team in winning.”
Here’s all you need to know for Saturday’s matchup against Colorado:
When does Colorado State play Colorado in basketball?
- Date: Saturday, Dec. 7
- Start time: 6 p.m. Mountain
The game on Saturday between Colorado State and Colorado will commence at 6 p.m. MT.
Which channel broadcasts the CSU vs CU men’s basketball game?
The matchup is not accessible on traditional TV and can exclusively be streamed online via ESPN+.
Online stream: ESPN+ (subscription needed)
How can the game be listened to on the radio?
- The CSU broadcast can be heard on 99.1 FM or via the Varsity Network app.
- The radio sportscasters for CSU include Brian Roth (play-by-play) and Adam Nigon (analyst).
What are the respective records?
CSU holds a record of 5-3 and is coming off a convincing win against LMU. CU stands at 6-2, with their previous game resulting in a 75-66 victory over Pacific.
What is the betting line for CSU vs CU basketball?
Colorado is favored by 2.5 points, per BetMGM.
Who are the coaches for each team?
Niko Medved is in his seventh season as head coach for CSU, amassing a record of 122-78 at the school and 201-165 overall. CU is guided by Tad Boyle, who is in his 15th season and boasts a record of 304-185 at CU and 360-251 overall.
History of the series
This represents the 132nd meeting, with Colorado leading the series 92-39. CSU achieved an 88-83 win at Moby Arena against CU last season.
CU holds a home record of 55-9 in this series, while CSU hasn’t triumphed in Boulder since 2016.
Details about the stadium and tickets
The game will unfold at CU Events Center on the Colorado campus. This arena can accommodate 11,064 attendees. Tickets start at CUBuffs.com/tickets with prices beginning at $28.
What do the stats indicate?
In the KenPom rankings, CSU is positioned at No. 95 while Colorado is at No. 89, with KenPom predicting a five-point win (72-67) for CU.
The first NET rankings of the season came out this week, placing CSU at No. 134 and CU at No. 95.
Top players to keep an eye on
Here are key players for each team to watch during the game:
COLORADO STATE
- Nique Clifford: Making his return to Boulder. The 6-foot-6 forward spent his initial three college seasons at CU before transferring to CSU last season, aiding the Rams in reaching the 2024 NCAA Tournament. Clifford scored 15 points and grabbed six rebounds in the last win against the Buffs and is currently averaging 19 points and 11 rebounds per game, recently coming off a performance of 19 points, 17 rebounds, and six assists against LMU.
- Jalen Lake: A consistent 6-foot-4 guard. Lake averages 15 points per game and boasts a 40% shooting rate from beyond the arc, while also being one of CSU’s top defenders.
- Rashaan Mbemba: A 6-foot-7 post player enduring a hip injury this season, yet he has made it into the starting lineup for the last three games. His stats aren’t outstanding (4.6 points, 2.4 rebounds per game) but his presence adds significant physicality in defense and contributes in spacing during offense.
COLORADO
- Andrej Jakimovski: The 6-foot-8 forward is CU’s leading scorer with 13.5 points per game and adds 5.4 rebounds to his contributions.
- Julian Hammond III: This 6-foot-2 guard ranks second in scoring for the team, averaging 12.3 points with a 44% success rate from 3-point territory, including four 3-pointers and 16 points in CU’s notable victory over UConn in the Maui Invitational.
- Elijah Malone: Standing 6-foot-10, this center is also tied for second on the team, averaging 12.3 points per game while shooting at an impressive 61% from the field.
For sports updates, follow reporter Kevin Lytle on X and Instagram @Kevin_Lytle.
This article has been revised to include the latest betting odds and team statistics.
