Palm Springs, California — In an exciting matchup at the Acrisure Invitational, Colorado State pulled through with a thrilling 76-72 overtime victory against TCU, thanks to an impressive performance from Nique Clifford. He ended the game with 25 points and secured 12 rebounds, marking his third double-double of the season.

With just 56 seconds remaining in regulation, Bowen Born nailed a crucial 3-pointer, leveling the score at 66, which ultimately forced the game into overtime after TCU’s Frankie Collins missed a long-range shot as time expired. During the extra period, Jalen Lake contributed a vital go-ahead jumper followed by two baskets from Clifford, putting Colorado State ahead at 74-68 with only 57 seconds left on the clock.

Clifford demonstrated his offensive prowess by hitting 12 of his 20 attempts from the field, which included one shot from beyond the arc. In addition to scoring, he provided critical support with six assists and blocked three shots. Lake added 15 points to the effort, while Born, coming off the bench, contributed 13 points. Rashaan Mbemba also made a significant impact with 10 points and grabbed six rebounds.

For TCU, Collins was the standout player, leading the team with 18 points despite shooting only 5-of-17 from the floor. He was perfect from the free-throw line, hitting all six attempts, and also recorded eight rebounds, five assists, and five steals. Noah Reynolds contributed 12 points, and Trazarien White chipped in with 10 points.

In a tight first half, Lake hit three 3-pointers and scored 11 points, while Clifford added eight points and dished out four assists, helping Colorado State secure a narrow 32-31 lead at halftime.

The second half saw TCU begin strong with a 9-3 run, capped by five free throws, allowing them to go ahead by five points. However, Mbemba quickly responded with two consecutive baskets, and Born followed up with back-to-back 3-pointers in a 10-0 run that saw the Rams regain a 45-40 lead just over seven minutes into the half.

Colorado State maintained the upper hand until TCU’s White made two free throws to tie the game at 61, with just over two minutes to play, setting the stage for a nail-biting finish that led to overtime and ultimately, a Rams victory.