December 8th 2024.
The Rocky Mountain Showdown was a highly anticipated event for the Buffs and the Rams. As the game went on, it became clear that the Buffs were dominating the court. CU guard Julian Hammond III made it known that it wasn't personal, but it definitely felt good to beat their in-state rivals. Especially since they didn't offer him a spot on their team. His teammate, Buffs forward Bangot Dak, shared a similar sentiment. He also didn't receive an offer from CSU, so he took it upon himself to "kill them every time."
It's safe to say that this game had a personal touch to it. And the Buffs were not holding back. They were not only bigger, but also faster and tougher on defense. Coach Tad Boyle was pleased with his team's performance, especially on the defensive end. CSU struggled to keep up, scoring their fewest points in a Showdown since 2019.
Former Buff, Nique Clifford, who had a great game against CU last year, didn't have the same success this time around. He was booed every time he touched the ball and only managed to score 10 points on 4-of-15 shooting. CU's Andrej Jakimovski did a great job defending him and making him work for every point.
On the offensive end, Coach Boyle made a strategic change to his starting lineup, replacing a forward with a guard. This allowed for a more dynamic offense and it showed. However, it was CU's length that really gave CSU trouble. Dak's two-handed putback dunk extended their lead to 56-30, leaving the Rams struggling to catch up.
The game continued to be one-sided as CU went on a 21-3 run in the first half, increasing their lead to 35-14. With such a commanding lead, it was clear that the Buffs were not going to let up. Buffs center Elijah Malone and Hammond were leading the way with 10 and 8 points respectively at halftime. On the other side, Jalen Lake was the top scorer for CSU with 18 points, while Kyan Evans contributed 11 points.
The Rams were struggling to keep up with the Buffs' pace and size. CU outrebounded them 44-33 and dominated in the paint with a 36-20 advantage. By the end of the game, the scoreboard read 72-55 in favor of the Buffs. It was a decisive victory for CU, one that they were more than happy to claim. And it was clear that for the Buffs, this win was not just another game. It was personal.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
