LAS VEGAS - The Colorado State basketball team walked onto the Thomas & Mack Center court in green warm up shirts that say in big bold letters, “Doubt Us.”
The Rams proved that people shouldn’t on Thursday night.
CSU took down Nevada 67-59 in the Mountain West tournament quarterfinals to put them one step closer to a Mountain West championship. After starting the season 5-5, the Rams are 14-3 in 2025 and are having one of their best seasons in a long time, and even fighting for the chance to go dancing.
The Rams’ are continuing to surprise people and carry an energy that says exactly that. Colorado State was clearly fighting for more than just a semifinal appearance, the Rams want it all.
“This is March Madness, anything can happen,” Nique Clifford said. “Everyone is playing their best because you can go home at any moment. My experiences in the past have helped me be a leader for the team. We have a lot of guys like that.”
A Colorado Springs native, Clifford is continuing to put up All-American performances, this time a double-double to help the Rams’ win in front of many CSU fans who made the trip to Las Vegas.
One factor that has helped the team all season is players stepping up in big moments, such as sophomore Jaylen Crocker-Johnson, who put up 10 points Thursday and has been impactful in his first year.
“They are ready when their numbers are called,” Rams coach Niko Medved said. “I loved how Crock came out and didn't hesitate at all. It's just plain confidence and belief in what they are doing.”
Their last conference championship was in 2003, and with the grit they showed tonight, the Rams might just do it.
CSU faces No. 3 Utah State on Friday, a team they beat by 27 points on March 1. And the Rams are ready to make history together.
“We trust each other so much," Clifford said. "We have joy for each other, and just play for one another."
GAMER BOX
RAMS 67, WOLF PACK 59
What happened: CSU (23-9, 17-4 Mountain West) led for the entire game to take down No. 7 Nevada (17-16, 18-13 MW) and advance to the Mountain West tournament semifinals. Despite not scoring for the last seven minutes of the first half, the Rams managed a 29-28 lead into the second half and led for the rest of the game.
What went right: The Rams managed to stifle the Wolf Pack despite 23 and 22 points from Nevada’s Nick Davidson and Kobe Sanders, respectively. Nevada struggled with shooting in the second half, shooting just 27% (7-of-26). Nique Clifford continues his exceptional season with a double-double 25 points,14 rebounds and shot 8-for-8 from the free throw line.
What went wrong: Besides a sluggish end to the first half, not much. The Rams fell into a four scoring drought early in the second half, but after that kept the momentum rolling for the rest of the game.
Highlight of the night: After scoring 0 points in the first half, sophomore Jaylen Crocker-Johnson put up 10 in the second half, including an electric 3-pointer to gain a 56-49 lead and got the CSU fans on their feet. It’s just his first year on the team but will likely play a key role for the Rams’ going forward.
Next up: The Rams will play the winner of the No. 3 Utah State and No. 6 UNLV matchup.
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