It wasn’t his senior night, not even close. But Wednesday night, ISU freshman forward Calvin Godfrey was not going to be denied.

Combine Colorado’s small lineup and his knack for working hard down in the post, the 6-foot-8-inch Godfrey posted a career high 23 points on just 11 shots, and added 11 rebounds.

“He gave us such a lift in the first half,” said coach Fred Hoiberg. “He was just attacking the offensive glass, he was all over the place. I was really happy to see it. Those are huge numbers.”

The Robbinsdale, Minn., native was able to muscle his way around for rebounds above the quick Buffaloes on both ends of the floor. Godfrey finished the game with four rebounds on the offensive glass.

“He had a beautiful game, that’s the type of play that we need from him for the rest of the season if we’re going to go further,” said senior Jake Anderson.

The freshman hadn’t enjoyed a tremendous size advantage against Big 12 opponents for much of the season, but on a night meant for the team’s elders, Godfrey played his biggest night of the year; literally and figuratively. All his work and stats were posted in just 23 minutes of action.

“It’s in him,” Hoiberg said. “Some games he gets a little frustrated. Freshmen are going to have those kinds of lapses.”

“When he comes in and comes off the bench and gives us that spark, which we’ve come to expect now out of Calvin, he’s going to go out there and provide a big lift for our team. He’s done a wonderful job.”

Godfrey received an outlet pass in the last minute of the game that he converted into a thunderous dunk that sent Cyclone Alley into a frenzy, but received a technical foul for hanging on the rim. Hoiberg came out frustrated that the celebration gave Colorado two free throws, relieved the freshman’s exuberance didn’t cost Iowa State the game.

With 6-foot-11-inch senior Jamie Vanderbeken now finished on the floor at Hilton Coliseum, Godfrey’s size and post presence will likely be necessary going forward.

“Calvin coming out and being aggressive, scoring for us, rebounding for us,” said senior guard Diante Garrett. “That’s big for us. That’s going to help our whole team out.”