Rocky Mountain Showdown Hardwood Edition Saturday In Boulder

Game 9 - Colorado State, Saturday, December 7, 2024
CU Events Center, Boulder, Colo.

Tip: 6:01 p.m. MT

Watch: ESPN+ (Mark Johnson, Scott Wilke) https://buffs.me/3D3aXNy

Radio: KOA 850 AM & 94.1 FM (Jerry Schemmel, Sean Kearney)

Listen Online: Sirius XM 381, SXM App 971

Live Statistics: http://statb.us/b/546203

TOY DRIVE: Colorado Athletics will host its annual Toy Drive, presented by Anthem, Saturday at the men's and women's basketball games. Bring a new, unwrapped toy to donate at designated drop-off locations at the arena entrances. Your generosity will support A Precious Child, spreading cheer to families in need.

THE BUFFALOES: Colorado is 6-2 overall following a 75-66 win over Pacific on Dec. 2, improving to 5-0 at the CU Events Center this season. The Buffaloes have won their last eight home games dating back to last year and have won 21 of 22 since the beginning of 2023-24.

Away from the friendly confines, Colorado placed sixth at the 2024 Maui Invitational. A thrilling 73-72 win over then-No. 2/2 ranked UConn on the tournament's second day (Nov. 26) highlighted the trip for the Buffaloes who eventually fell to No. 5/5 Iowa State 99-71 in the consolation final (fifth place game) on Nov. 27 to round out the event with a 1-2 record. The game against Iowa State counted as a nonconference game and the two long-time rivals are set for a rematch in the Big 12 Conference opener in Boulder on Dec. 30.

Colorado is averaging 76.5 points per game, shooting 46.5 percent from the field and 40.1 percent from 3-point range. Colorado's 3-point percentage ranks 13th in the nation and third in the Big 12.

Defensively, Colorado is allowing 71.5 points per game while opponents are shooting 42.5 percent.

The Buffaloes have had a flair for the dramatic this season. Colorado has had to overcome double-figure deficits in three of its six wins including a rally from 11-down in the win over Pacific. The Buffaloes erased a 17-point deficit in the opener over Eastern Washington (details on page 6).

Colorado is 3-2 this season when trailing at the half, compared to the 2024 NCAA Tournament team that won just two of 10 contests in that situation. The Buffaloes are 3-0 in games decided by 10 points or less.

At home the Buffaloes are averaging 82.4 points per game while shooting 50 percent from the floor and 41 percent from 3-point range. Colorado is holding its home opponents to 65.8 points on 37.1 percent shooting while enjoying a plus-9.8 advantage on the boards.

Colorado struggled early with turnovers, averaging 17 over its first four games, but seems to have turned a corner in protecting the ball. The Buffaloes have committed an average of 12.8 turnovers over the last four games, including a season-low 10 against Pacific.

GRAND GRADS: As anticipated, Colorado's three graduate transfers, spanning all levels of collegiate basketball, have made immediate impacts for the Buffaloes.

Andrej Jakimovski, a four-year standout at old Pac-12 rival Washington State, leads the Buffaloes in scoring at 13.5 points per game and in 3-point field goals (17) and steals (10). He is second on the team in rebounding (5.4 rpg) and free throws made and attempted (23-27).

Jakimovski had 17 points against Pacific, leading the Buffaloes in scoring for the third time. He had four 3-point field goals, the third one giving him 200 for his collegiate career.

Jakimovski averaged 11.3 points and a team-best 6.0 rebounds at the Maui Invitational. He had Colorado's first double-double of the season, and the fifth of his collegiate career with 12 points and 10 rebounds against UConn. He also hit the eventual game-winning shot against the No. 2 ranked Huskies with under eight seconds remaining.

It was Jakimovski's eighth career double-figure rebounding game. One of his four previous double-doubles came against Colorado while he was at Washington State on Jan. 30, 2022.

Elijah Malone, the 2024 Bevo Francis Award winner as the best small-school player in the nation (Grace College [Ind.] - NAIA) tops the Buffaloes in shooting at 61.3 percent (38-62) while averaging 12.3 points an outing. Malone is also shooting 80.8 percent from the free throw line (21-26) and is second on the team in blocks (8) and fourth in rebounding at 4.3 per game.

Malone tied for Colorado's game-high in scoring against UConn with 16 points on 6 of 10 from the field. He had 16 points, seven rebounds and a team season-high four blocked shots against Harvard. He went over the 2,000-point milestone for his collegiate career during the win over the Crimson.

Trevor Baskin, an NCAA Division II All-American at Colorado Mesa, leads Colorado in rebounding at 6.5 per game while averaging 9.3 points on 53.5 percent from the field.

Baskin flirted with a triple-double against Pacific, finishing with 13 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists. It was his 23rd collegiate double-double and first with CU. His seven assists were a team season-high and were an overall collegiate personal best (he had six in a game at New Mexico Highlands on Feb. 23, 2024). The double-double was CU's second of the season and his 10 rebounds tied the team's season high.

HAMMOND TIME: Julian Hammond III, the most experienced player in terms of games for the Buffaloes entering the season, is averaging 12.3 points leads the team in assists (3.3 apg) and is second in 3-point field goals (15).

Hammond led Colorado at the Maui Invitational averaging 17.0 points while shooting 54.5 percent from the field (18-33), 52.9 percent from 3-point range (9-17) and hitting a perfect 6 of 6 from the free throw line.

Hammond had a season-high 20 points against Iowa State, his second-career 20-point game and just one off his personal best of 21 set against Washington in the 2023 Pac-12 Tournament. He co-led the Buffaloes in scoring with 16 points against UConn hitting 6 of 11 from the field including 4 of 5 from 3-point range. His four 3-point field goals tied a career high.

Hammond caught fire in Maui from 3-point range, hitting 9 of 17 after a 5 for 14 start in his first four games.

SMITH'S RETURN: Sophomore guard RJ Smith is averaging 6.5 points while shooting 50 percent from the field in his return to action after missing the final 30 games of 2023-24 with a leg injury.

Smith had a career-high seven rebounds, all on the defensive end, against Pacific, and three better than his previous best of four set in CU's previous game vs. Iowa State. It was his third straight game with three assists. Smith recorded his fifth game with two 3-point field goals, he has made 6 of 10 over the last three games and is 12 of 22 on the season (.545).

In Maui, Smith averaged 5.3 points and was second on the team in assists with eight. He had eight points hitting a perfect 3 of 3 from the field against UConn.

OUT OF THE RUFF: Junior guard Javon Ruffin is averaging 6.8 points while shooting 44 percent from the field. He is third on the team in assists (18) and tied for fourth in steals (6). Ruffin scored a career-high 15 points against Harvard, on a very efficient game hitting 4 of 5 from the field and a perfect 4 of 4 from the line.

DIOP DOUBLE AND TRIPLE: Sophomore forward Assane Diop ranks third on the team in rebounding at 5.1 per game. He didn't score a single point, or take a shot for that matter, against Cal State Fullerton, but had eight rebounds, leading the Buffaloes for the second-straight game. Diop had 10 rebounds against Northern Colorado, three better than his previous best of seven vs. California (2/28/24). He led Led the Buffaloes in rebounding for the first time. In addition, Diop made his first career 3-point field goal. He had missed the first nine attempts of his career (first 33 games).

ABOUT THE RAMS: Colorado State is 5-3 overall and winners of its last two after an 83-54 victory over Loyola Marymount on Dec. 4. Saturday's game will be the Rams' first true road game of the season. CSU is 1-2 in neutral site games, highlighted by a 76-72 overtime win over TCU on Nov. 29 in Palm Desert, Calif. Colorado State is averaging 76.6 points per game while shooting 45.4 percent from the field and 71.9 percent from the foul line. The Rams lead the Mountain West Conference in 3-point attempts at 26.8 per game and shoot 31.3 percent beyond the arc. CSU is one of better defensive rebounding teams in the nation, ranking 32nd at 28.6 per game. Defensively, Colorado State allows 70 points per game on 40.9 percent from the field. The Rams are allowing 35.8 percent from 3-point range, ranking near the bottom of the MWC.

Fifth-year wing Nique Clifford leads Colorado State at 18.9 points and 11.0 rebounds per game while shooting 57.3 percent from the field. A former Colorado Buffalo (2020-23), Clifford is the nation's leader in defensive rebounds (9.6 drpg), ranks fifth in overall rebounding average and 13th in double-doubles (four). Senior guard Jalen Lake averages 15.0 points per game and leads the Rams in 3-point field goals with 22 and is shooting 40 percent from long range. Sophomore forward Jaylen Crocker-Johnson is third in scoring (9.4 ppg) and second in rebounding (4.8 rpg).

THE SERIES: This will be the 132nd meeting between Colorado and Colorado State with the Buffaloes holding a commanding 92-39 series lead. Colorado State snapped a three-game Buffaloes win streak in the series with an 88-83 decision in Fort Collins last season in the first contest in series history where the Rams were a ranked team. The Buffaloes hold a 55-9 lead in Boulder and have won five of the last seven.

Rocky Mountain Showdown Hardwood Edition Saturday In Boulder

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Trevor Baskin

Assane Diop

Julian Hammond III

Andrej Jakimovski

Elijah Malone

Javon Ruffin

RJ Smith

Rocky Mountain Showdown Hardwood Edition Saturday In Boulder

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Trevor Baskin

Assane Diop

Julian Hammond III

Andrej Jakimovski

Elijah Malone

Javon Ruffin

RJ Smith

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