Tuesday, January 28
Boulder, Colo.
7 p.m.
Colorado
vs
Arizona State
Buffs Return Home To Host Arizona State Tuesday
January 27, 2025 | Men's Basketball
Game 20 - Arizona State, Tuesday, January 28, 2025
CU Events Center, Boulder, Colo.
Tip: 7:01 p.m. MT
Watch: ESPN+ (Chuckie Kempf, Bryndon Manzer)
Radio: KOA 850 AM & 94.1 FM (Mark Johnson, Scott Wilke)
Listen Online: Sirius XM 381, SXM App 971
Live Statistics:Â http://statb.us/b/546206
THE BUFFALOES: Colorado is 9-10 overall and 0-8 in Big 12 Conference play after falling at Arizona on Jan. 25. The Buffaloes have dropped their last eight, their longest losing streak since falling in the final 12 games of the 2008-09 season. It's Colorado's first 0-8 start to conference play since 1992-93 (finished 2-12 in the Big Eight).
Colorado is averaging 72.8 points per game, shooting 45.8 percent from the field, but those numbers have dipped to 67.4 points on 43.9 shooting during conference games. Defensively, Colorado is allowing 72.5 points per game overall while opponents are shooting 43.1 percent. During Big 12 games, Colorado is allowing 78.1 points while opponents shoot 45.7 percent.
The Buffaloes will be looking to end a rare four-game home skid, their most since the 2008-09 team lost their last five at the CU Events Center. Prior to the beginning of this streak, Colorado had won 24 of 25 at the CU Events Center dating back to last season.
The Buffaloes rank third in the Big 12 in free throw percentage (.763), seventh in 3-point shooting (.348), steals (7.7 spg) and defensive rebounds (25.8 drpg) and eighth in rebounding defense (32.8 rpg).
HAMMOND TIME: Julian Hammond III, the most experienced player in terms of games for the Buffaloes (played in his 107th career game against at Arizona), leads Colorado at 13.9 points and 3.2 assists per game. Hammond also tops the Buffaloes in 3-point field goals made and attempted (36-87), steals (24) and free throws made (53) and percentage (.898).
Hammond had a game-high 19 points at Arizona, matching a career-high four 3-point field goals. He hit 4 of 6 from long range against the Wildcats and is 7 of 12 (.583) over the last two games.
Hammond is second the Big 12 and ranks 25th the in the nation in free throw percentage. He has made 53 of 59 on the season (.898) which includes consecutive made streaks of 21 (between UNC and UCF) and 18 which ended against Cincinnati.
Hammond has five 20-point games this season including a career-high 26 at UCF, that coming on the heels of being shut out in the last meeting with Arizona State in Tempe.
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, is averaging 10.2 points ranking second on the team in 3-point field goals (26) and is third in steals (19) and rebounding (4.4 rpg). He had 10 points at Arizona hitting 2 of 4 from 3-point range along with three rebounds and a pair of assists.
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 58.7 percent (64-109) while averaging 9.2 points an outing. Malone is third on the team in blocks (12) and fourth in rebounding at 3.2 per game.
Malone grabbed six rebounds off the bench at Arizona, his most against a Big 12 opponent. He had recorded just five rebounds over his previous four appearances combined.
Malone had 15 points and a personal CU-high nine rebounds against South Dakota State. He hit 7 of 8 from the field, matching the team's best this season in terms of percentage (.875) with at least four field goals made.
Against Harvard, he went over the 2,000-point milestone for his collegiate career.
Trevor Baskin, an NCAA Division II All-American at Colorado Mesa, leads Colorado and ranks 19th in the Big 12 in rebounding (5.8 rpg). He second on the team in steals (22), blocks (13) and overall shooting at 51.4 percent (56-109).
Baskin led Colorado at Arizona State with a personal CU-high 23 points on 9 of 14 from the field. He added a game-high 10 rebounds for his second CU double-double and 24th overall in his collegiate career. It was also his 24th collegiate 20-point scoring game.
Baskin flirted with a triple-double against Pacific, finishing with 13 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists. 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).
SMITH FROM DEEP: Sophomore guard RJ Smith is averaging 6.3 points while shooting 47 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 14 against Iowa State, on 5 of 10 from the field and 3 of 6 from 3-point range. Against Bellarmine, Smith scored 11 points hitting 3 of 4 from 3-point range and led the Buffaloes in rebounding for the first time in his career, finishing with five. Against South Dakota State, he was 4 of 6 from the field including 3 of 5 from 3-point range.
Smith, shooting a team-best 45.3 percent overall from long range (24-53), had a career-best eight rebounds at UCF.
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.
DIOP A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING: Sophomore forward Assane Diop registered his third career double-figure scoring game pitching in 13 points against West Virginia hitting 3 of 4 from the field and a perfect 6 of 6 from the line. Diop is tied for eighth in the Big 12 in free throw shooting during league-only games at 81.5 percent (22 of 27). He's 20 of 25 from the line in the last six games alone after having only 16 attempts over his first 13 games. Overall on the season he  has made 33 of 41 attempts from the line (.805).
Diop led Colorado in scoring for the first time with a career-best 15 points on 7 of 11 from the field in the win over Bellarmine. He ranks second on the team in rebounding at 4.5 per game.
BD's BIG DAY: Sophomore forward Bangot Dak had a career-night against Cincinnati with 19 points, eight blocks and eight rebounds. He recorded career highs in points, blocks, 3-point field goals (2) and overall field goal attempts (13) while matching personal bests in rebounds and field goals made (7).
His eight blocks are the third-most in a single game since the stat became official in 1977-78.
CU Single Game Blocks
11, David Harrison vs. Nebraska, March 8, 2003
10, David Harrison vs. Stetson, Nov. 24, 2002
8, Bangot Dak vs. Cincinnati, Jan. 15, 2025
7, eight times, last by Wesley Gordon vs. Nicholls, Dec. 18, 2015
Dak is tied for ninth in the Big 12 in overall blocked shots (1.3 bpg) and is fifth in league only games (1.9 bpg).
Dak had 15 points on 6 of 8 shooting with five rebounds at Oklahoma State. He led Colorado in scoring for the second-straight game. Recorded his fourth career double-figure scoring game, including two-straight and three in the last four contests.
ABOUT THE SUN DEVILS: Arizona State is 11-8 overall and one of four teams at 2-6 in the Big 12. The Sun Devils have lost five of six since their 81-61 win over Colorado on Jan. 4. Arizona State is 1-4 in true road games this season. ASU averages 73.5 points while shooting 44.5 percent from the field. The Sun Devils shoot 36.1 from 3-point range, ranking fifth in the Big 12. Defensively, Arizona State allows 71.7 points while opponents shoot 41.5 percent. ASU ranks second in the Big 12 in blocked shots at 5.2 per game.
BJ Freeman leads Arizona State in scoring at 13.0 points per game ranking second on the team in 3-point field goals (36) and assists (50). Â Joson Sanon is second on the team in scoring at 12.5 points, primarily off the bench, hitting 48.4 percent from long range. Basheer Jihad averages 12.4 points on 46.4 percent from the field. Jayden Quaintance leads Arizona State in rebounding at 8.5 per game while ranking third in the nation in blocked shots at 3.0 per game.
Bobby Hurley is in his 10th season at Arizona State with a record of 166-139 (.544). He is in his 12th season overall as a collegiate head coach with a 208-159 mark (.567).
THE SERIES: This will be the 30th meeting between Colorado and Arizona State with the Buffaloes holding a 16-13 edge in the series. Arizona State took the first Big 12 match-up between the two old Pac-12 Conference rivals, 81-61, in Tempe on Jan. 4. The teams split last year's Pac-12 battles, both winning at home. Colorado has a 10-3 all-time edge in Boulder.
Tad Boyle is 14-12 as a head coach against Arizona State. Bobby Hurley is 7-10 against Colorado as a head coach.
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CU Events Center, Boulder, Colo.
Tip: 7:01 p.m. MT
Watch: ESPN+ (Chuckie Kempf, Bryndon Manzer)
Radio: KOA 850 AM & 94.1 FM (Mark Johnson, Scott Wilke)
Listen Online: Sirius XM 381, SXM App 971
Live Statistics:Â http://statb.us/b/546206
THE BUFFALOES: Colorado is 9-10 overall and 0-8 in Big 12 Conference play after falling at Arizona on Jan. 25. The Buffaloes have dropped their last eight, their longest losing streak since falling in the final 12 games of the 2008-09 season. It's Colorado's first 0-8 start to conference play since 1992-93 (finished 2-12 in the Big Eight).
Colorado is averaging 72.8 points per game, shooting 45.8 percent from the field, but those numbers have dipped to 67.4 points on 43.9 shooting during conference games. Defensively, Colorado is allowing 72.5 points per game overall while opponents are shooting 43.1 percent. During Big 12 games, Colorado is allowing 78.1 points while opponents shoot 45.7 percent.
The Buffaloes will be looking to end a rare four-game home skid, their most since the 2008-09 team lost their last five at the CU Events Center. Prior to the beginning of this streak, Colorado had won 24 of 25 at the CU Events Center dating back to last season.
The Buffaloes rank third in the Big 12 in free throw percentage (.763), seventh in 3-point shooting (.348), steals (7.7 spg) and defensive rebounds (25.8 drpg) and eighth in rebounding defense (32.8 rpg).
HAMMOND TIME: Julian Hammond III, the most experienced player in terms of games for the Buffaloes (played in his 107th career game against at Arizona), leads Colorado at 13.9 points and 3.2 assists per game. Hammond also tops the Buffaloes in 3-point field goals made and attempted (36-87), steals (24) and free throws made (53) and percentage (.898).
Hammond had a game-high 19 points at Arizona, matching a career-high four 3-point field goals. He hit 4 of 6 from long range against the Wildcats and is 7 of 12 (.583) over the last two games.
Hammond is second the Big 12 and ranks 25th the in the nation in free throw percentage. He has made 53 of 59 on the season (.898) which includes consecutive made streaks of 21 (between UNC and UCF) and 18 which ended against Cincinnati.
Hammond has five 20-point games this season including a career-high 26 at UCF, that coming on the heels of being shut out in the last meeting with Arizona State in Tempe.
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, is averaging 10.2 points ranking second on the team in 3-point field goals (26) and is third in steals (19) and rebounding (4.4 rpg). He had 10 points at Arizona hitting 2 of 4 from 3-point range along with three rebounds and a pair of assists.
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 58.7 percent (64-109) while averaging 9.2 points an outing. Malone is third on the team in blocks (12) and fourth in rebounding at 3.2 per game.
Malone grabbed six rebounds off the bench at Arizona, his most against a Big 12 opponent. He had recorded just five rebounds over his previous four appearances combined.
Malone had 15 points and a personal CU-high nine rebounds against South Dakota State. He hit 7 of 8 from the field, matching the team's best this season in terms of percentage (.875) with at least four field goals made.
Against Harvard, he went over the 2,000-point milestone for his collegiate career.
Trevor Baskin, an NCAA Division II All-American at Colorado Mesa, leads Colorado and ranks 19th in the Big 12 in rebounding (5.8 rpg). He second on the team in steals (22), blocks (13) and overall shooting at 51.4 percent (56-109).
Baskin led Colorado at Arizona State with a personal CU-high 23 points on 9 of 14 from the field. He added a game-high 10 rebounds for his second CU double-double and 24th overall in his collegiate career. It was also his 24th collegiate 20-point scoring game.
Baskin flirted with a triple-double against Pacific, finishing with 13 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists. 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).
SMITH FROM DEEP: Sophomore guard RJ Smith is averaging 6.3 points while shooting 47 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 14 against Iowa State, on 5 of 10 from the field and 3 of 6 from 3-point range. Against Bellarmine, Smith scored 11 points hitting 3 of 4 from 3-point range and led the Buffaloes in rebounding for the first time in his career, finishing with five. Against South Dakota State, he was 4 of 6 from the field including 3 of 5 from 3-point range.
Smith, shooting a team-best 45.3 percent overall from long range (24-53), had a career-best eight rebounds at UCF.
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.
DIOP A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING: Sophomore forward Assane Diop registered his third career double-figure scoring game pitching in 13 points against West Virginia hitting 3 of 4 from the field and a perfect 6 of 6 from the line. Diop is tied for eighth in the Big 12 in free throw shooting during league-only games at 81.5 percent (22 of 27). He's 20 of 25 from the line in the last six games alone after having only 16 attempts over his first 13 games. Overall on the season he  has made 33 of 41 attempts from the line (.805).
Diop led Colorado in scoring for the first time with a career-best 15 points on 7 of 11 from the field in the win over Bellarmine. He ranks second on the team in rebounding at 4.5 per game.
BD's BIG DAY: Sophomore forward Bangot Dak had a career-night against Cincinnati with 19 points, eight blocks and eight rebounds. He recorded career highs in points, blocks, 3-point field goals (2) and overall field goal attempts (13) while matching personal bests in rebounds and field goals made (7).
His eight blocks are the third-most in a single game since the stat became official in 1977-78.
CU Single Game Blocks
11, David Harrison vs. Nebraska, March 8, 2003
10, David Harrison vs. Stetson, Nov. 24, 2002
8, Bangot Dak vs. Cincinnati, Jan. 15, 2025
7, eight times, last by Wesley Gordon vs. Nicholls, Dec. 18, 2015
Dak is tied for ninth in the Big 12 in overall blocked shots (1.3 bpg) and is fifth in league only games (1.9 bpg).
Dak had 15 points on 6 of 8 shooting with five rebounds at Oklahoma State. He led Colorado in scoring for the second-straight game. Recorded his fourth career double-figure scoring game, including two-straight and three in the last four contests.
ABOUT THE SUN DEVILS: Arizona State is 11-8 overall and one of four teams at 2-6 in the Big 12. The Sun Devils have lost five of six since their 81-61 win over Colorado on Jan. 4. Arizona State is 1-4 in true road games this season. ASU averages 73.5 points while shooting 44.5 percent from the field. The Sun Devils shoot 36.1 from 3-point range, ranking fifth in the Big 12. Defensively, Arizona State allows 71.7 points while opponents shoot 41.5 percent. ASU ranks second in the Big 12 in blocked shots at 5.2 per game.
BJ Freeman leads Arizona State in scoring at 13.0 points per game ranking second on the team in 3-point field goals (36) and assists (50). Â Joson Sanon is second on the team in scoring at 12.5 points, primarily off the bench, hitting 48.4 percent from long range. Basheer Jihad averages 12.4 points on 46.4 percent from the field. Jayden Quaintance leads Arizona State in rebounding at 8.5 per game while ranking third in the nation in blocked shots at 3.0 per game.
Bobby Hurley is in his 10th season at Arizona State with a record of 166-139 (.544). He is in his 12th season overall as a collegiate head coach with a 208-159 mark (.567).
THE SERIES: This will be the 30th meeting between Colorado and Arizona State with the Buffaloes holding a 16-13 edge in the series. Arizona State took the first Big 12 match-up between the two old Pac-12 Conference rivals, 81-61, in Tempe on Jan. 4. The teams split last year's Pac-12 battles, both winning at home. Colorado has a 10-3 all-time edge in Boulder.
Tad Boyle is 14-12 as a head coach against Arizona State. Bobby Hurley is 7-10 against Colorado as a head coach.
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