The Colorado basketball team had revenge on its mind Saturday night.
Colorado State came to the CU Events Center looking for its second straight Rocky Mountain Showdown victory (CSU won in Fort Collins last season) and its first win in Boulder since 2016. The Buffaloes denied the Rams on both accounts.
Colorado (7-2) never trailed and dominated CSU (5-4) 72-55 thanks to a fast start.
Here are three takeaways from the Buffs’ third win in their last four games:
Colorado basketball suffocated Nique Clifford
CSU basketball star Nique Clifford spent three seasons in Boulder as a Buff. It was his first game in the CU Events Center since becoming a Ram, but the Colorado basketball team made it a forgettable night for the NBA hopeful.
Coming into Saturday night averaging a team-high 18.9 points on 57.3 shooting from the field, Clifford was held to 10 points on 4-for-15 shooting (two points on 1-for-9 shooting in the first half). It was Clifford’s lowest-scoring output of the season as the Buffs forced him into difficult shots all night.
Clifford wasn’t the only Ram who struggled to create offense.
CSU shot 20-for-64 (31%) from the field and had just seven assists as a team. The 55 points the Rams mustered on Saturday were the fewest they’ve scored all season.
It was a defensive masterclass.
Colorado basketball showcases balanced offensive attack
Colorado doesn’t have the star power that it did a season ago, which means the Buffs must rely on collective efforts. That’s exactly what they got on Saturday night.
Bangot Dak led the way with a career-high 16 points on 7-for-8 shooting but eight different Colorado basketball players scored. Julian Hammond III finished with 13 points and Elijah Malone finished with 10.
Colorado shot 50% from the field as a team and had an assist on 18 of its 28 made field goal attempts.
Colorado basketball continues to dominate Rocky Mountain Showdown
Saturday night was the 132nd all-time meeting and the Buffs took a 93-39 series lead.
Colorado is now 56-9 all-time at home vs. Colorado State.
Next up for the Buffs is a home matchup with South Dakota State (8-3). Tipoff from the CU Events Center is at 7 p.m. MT on Friday, Dec. 13.
Follow Colorado Buffaloes beat reporter Scott Procter on X.