Colorado State players celebrate after defeating Boise State in an NCAA college basketball championship game at the Mountain West Conference tournament Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Nique Clifford scored 24 points and No. 2 seed Colorado State made a Mountain West Championship Tournament-record 12 3s and beat fifth-seeded Boise State 69-56 on Saturday night for its first title since 2003.
Colorado State (25-9) will make its second straight NCAA Tournament appearance on a 10-game win streak.
Boise State trailed by 10 points at the half and pulled to within five points during the first minute of the second. But Jaylen Crocker-Johnson hit consecutive 3-pointers during an 11-0 run and the Rams led 43-27. Clifford made the Rams' 12th 3-pointer with about 10 minutes left that stretched their lead to 60-36.
Ethan Moore scored a career-high 11 points and Bowen Born added nine for the Rams. Clifford and Born each made three 3s as the Rams shot 12 of 24 from distance.
Tyson Degenhart scored 18 of his 22 points in the second half to lead Boise State (24-9).
Colorado State took the lead for good about eight minutes in and led by as many as 17 points in the first half. Boise State used an 11-4 surge to cut the deficit to 32-22 at the break. Crocker-Johnson's layup gave the Rams their largest lead, 63-38, with 6:48 remaining.
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Colorado State players celebrate after defeating Boise State in an NCAA college basketball championship game at the Mountain West Conference tournament Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Colorado State players celebrate after defeating Boise State in an NCAA college basketball championship game at the Mountain West Conference tournament Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Colorado State guard Nique Clifford (10) passes around Boise State forward Andrew Meadow (13) and Boise State forward O'Mar Stanley (1) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball championship game at the Mountain West Conference tournament Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Colorado State guard Bowen Born (13) celebrates after making a 3-point shot against Boise State during the first half of an NCAA college basketball championship game at the Mountain West Conference tournament Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Boise State guard Alvaro Cardenas (11) passes against Colorado State during the first half of an NCAA college basketball championship game at the Mountain West Conference tournament Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Boise State forward Tyson Degenhart (2) shoots around Colorado State center Nikola Djapa (23) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball championship game at the Mountain West Conference tournament Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Boise State forward Tyson Degenhart (2) grabs a rebound over Colorado State forward Jaylen Crocker-Johnson (8) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball championship game at the Mountain West Conference tournament Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Colorado State forward Jaylen Crocker-Johnson (8) fouls Boise State forward O'Mar Stanley (1) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball championship game at the Mountain West Conference tournament Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Colorado State head coach Niko Medved celebrates after cutting down the net after his team defeated Boise State in an NCAA college basketball championship game at the Mountain West Conference tournament Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Colorado State guard Jalen Lake (15) celebrates after Colorado State defeated Boise State in an NCAA college basketball championship game at the Mountain West Conference tournament Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Colorado State head coach Niko Medved celebrates after cutting down the net after his team defeated Boise State in an NCAA college basketball championship game at the Mountain West Conference tournament Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
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