In an in-state rivalry thrilling no matter the sport, the 6-2 Colorado Buffaloes men’s basketball team will lock horns with the 5-3 Colorado State Rams on Saturday evening in Boulder.
A former Buffalo leads the Rams in Nique Clifford, who has carved out his place among the elite mid-major players in the country. The senior forward is averaging 18.9 points and 11 rebounds per game on 57.3% shooting. On Nov. 29, he recorded a 25-point, 12-rebound double-double in CSU’s win over the Big 12’s TCU Horned Frogs.
The Buffs are amid a five-game homestand that began with a 75-66 win over the Pacific Tigers on Monday. Head coach Tad Boyle’s group is looking for redemption in the Rocky Mountain Showdown after falling to the Rams last year in Fort Collins, 88-83.
Washington State transfer forward Andrej Jakimovski leads the Buffs in scoring average through eight games (13.5), and Trevor Baskin has become a bright spot alongside him on the wing. The senior Colorado Mesa transfer did it all on Monday with 13 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists, three blocks and two steals against Pacific.
Tip off from the CU Events Center is set for 6 p.m. MT on ESPN+.
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