Buffs, Bears Renew Big 12 Rivalry Saturday

Game 27 - Baylor, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025
CU Events Center, Boulder, Colo.
Tip: 2:01 p.m. MT
Watch: ESPN+ (Pete Sousa, Jess Settles) https://buffs.me/4k6qbCr
Radio: KOA 850 AM & 94.1 FM (Mark Johnson, Scott Wilke)
Listen Online: Sirius XM 382, SXM App 972
Live Statistics: http://statb.us/b/546197

THE BUFFALOES: Colorado is 10-16 overall and 1-14 in Big 12 Conference play after falling to a top 10 Iowa State team for the third time this season, 79-65, on Feb. 18 in Ames, Iowa. On Feb. 15, the Buffaloes defeated UCF, 76-63, at the CU Events Center to snap a 13-game losing streak, the Buffaloes' longest since the 1985-86 season.

Colorado's win over UCF allowed the Buffaloes to break a rare six-game home skid, their most since the 1985-86 season. Prior to the beginning of this streak, Colorado had won 24 of 25 at the CU Events Center dating back to last season.

Colorado is averaging 70.2 points per game, shooting 44.9 percent from the field, but those numbers have dipped to 65.5 points on 43.0 percent shooting during conference games. The Buffaloes broke out of a scoring slump in the win over UCF with 76 points, their most in the Big 12 this season. Colorado had been held under 60 points the previous four games.

Defensively, Colorado is allowing 71.9 points per game overall while opponents are shooting 44.9 percent. During Big 12 games, Colorado is allowing 74.5 points while opponents shoot 45.4 percent.

Colorado had a season-high 52 rebounds against UCF, its most in a game since grabbing 55 against Oregon on March 10, 2022 at the Pac-12 Tournament. The Buffaloes had 16 offensive rebounds, their most since recording 19 against Florida State on Nov. 21, 2023.

The Buffaloes rank fourth in the Big 12 in free throw percentage (.752), seventh in defensive rebounds (25.4 drpg) and rebounding defense (32.8 rpg). During Big 12 games, Colorado is in the top half of the league in free throw percentage (4th, .754), blocked shots (7th, 3.9 bpg), rebounding defense (7th, 33.7 rpg), defensive rebounds (8th, 23.8 drpg) and steals (8th, 6.9 spg).

Julian Hammond III, the most experienced player in terms of games for the Buffaloes (played in his 114th career game at Iowa State), leads Colorado at 12.9 points and 3.1 assists per game. Hammond also tops the Buffaloes in steals (30), 3-point field goals made (44), free throws made (70) and free throw percentage (.909).

Hammond is second in the Big 12 and ranks ninth in the nation in free throw percentage. He has made 70 of 77 on the season (.909) which includes consecutive made streaks of 21 (between UNC and UCF) and 18 which ended against Cincinnati. Hammond tops the Big 12 in conference games at 89.6 percent.

Hammond had a game-high 22 points against Houston, highlighted by a career-best five 3-point field goals. It was his team-best sixth 20-point game of the season.

Andrej Jakimovski, a four-year standout at old Pac-12 rival Washington State, is averaging 9.9 points ranking second on the team in 3-point field goals (36) and rebounding (4.4 rpg) and is tied for third in steals (22).

Jakimovski had a team-high 15 points in the win over UCF, leading the Buffaloes in scoring for the fifth time this season. He grabbed seven rebounds against the Knights, his most in a Big 12 game. Jakimovski was 3 of 7 from downtown against UCF.

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 56.5 percent while averaging 7.7 points an outing. Malone is third on the team in blocks (14), fourth in scoring and fifth in rebounding at 3.0 per game.

Malone had his best offensive game of the Big 12 season at Kansas. He had 10 points on 5 of 7 from the field. 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 in rebounding (5.0 rpg), is second in steals (29) and is (17) and third in overall shooting at 50.4 percent.

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).

Bangot Dak is averaging 8.0 points and 4.0 rebounds per game while shooting 51.3 percent from the field and leading the Buffaloes in blocked shots (38). During conference games, Dak is Colorado's leading shooter (.535), rebounder (4.7 rpg) and shot blocker (29) and ranks second in scoring at 9.2 points per game.

Dak scored a game and career-high 20 points on 8 for 14 shooting at Iowa State. He had 11 points, three rebounds and a pair of blocks at Kansas. Dak is averaging 11.0 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.0 blocks over the last seven games.

Dak just missed a double-double with nine points and a career and team season-high 12 rebounds at TCU. It was his first double-figure rebounding game of his career.

Dak is tied for seventh in the Big 12 in overall blocked shots (1.5 bpg) and fourth in league only games (1.9 bpg). With his recent uptick in blocks - 14 in the last seven games - he's among the nation's top 100 in both overall blocks (38, 86th).

Javon Ruffin is averaging 6.1 points and ranks second on the team in assists (52) and fourth in 3-point field goals (22). He led the Buffaloes in scoring for the first time this season with 13 at Utah while matching a personal best with three 3-point field goals.

Freshman Sebastian Rancik is averaging 5.8 points on the season, but since entering the starting lineup against Arizona State he is averaging 8.6 points and 4.1 rebounds per game. He averaged 14.5 points and 8.0 rebounds during the two-game span at Kansas and home vs. UCF. Rancik had a career-night at Kansas leading the Buffaloes with 19 points and nine rebounds, both personal bests.

Sophomore Assane Diop is averaging 3.9 points and is third on the team in rebounding at 4.2 per game. Diop matched his career-best 10 rebounds in the win over UCF, also hitting that mark against Northern Colorado. Diop has made 33 of 40 free throw attempts during the conference season (.825).

Sophomore RJ Smith is averaging 5.2 points and is second on the team in 3-point percentage (.388), third in 3-pointers made (26), fourth in assists (47) and fifth in steals (18). Smith had nine points and six rebounds in the win over UCF.

Colorado received strong contributions off the bench at Iowa State. Sophomore Harrison Carrington recorded his first double-digit scoring game with a career-best 11 points on 4 of 5 from the field. Freshman Felix Kossaras led the Buffaloes in rebounding with a career-best five along with three points and a pair of assists. Kossaras had recorded just two rebounds in the previous eight Big 12 games he had appeared in.

ABOUT THE BEARS: Baylor is 16-10 overall and in a three-way tie for sixth place in the Big 12 standings at 8-7. Baylor averages 78.7 points while shooting 45.8 percent from the field. The Bears rank fourth in the Big 12 in 3-point field goals making 8.7 per game. Baylor is the second-best offensive rebounding team in the Big 12 at 12.6 per contest. Defensively, Baylor gives up 70.0 points per game while opponents shoot 44.0 percent from the field. The Bears allow opponents to shoot 35.4 percent from 3-point range, ranking second-to-last in the Big 12.

Fifth-year forward Norchad Omier leads Baylor at 15.7 points and 10.3 rebounds per game while shooting 56.1 percent from the field. Omier tops the Big 12 in rebounding and has a league-leading 14 double-doubles, ranking sixth in the nation. Freshman guard VJ Edgecombe averages 15.0 points and 5.2 rebounds with a team leading 50 steals. Robert Wright III averages 12.3 points and a team-best 4.6 assists per game.

Scott Drew is in his 22nd year as the head coach at Baylor with a record of 460-254 (.644). He's in his 23rd year overall with a record of 480-265 (.644).

THE SERIES: This will be the 28th meeting between Colorado and Baylor with the Buffaloes holding a 16-11 advantage. The teams met three times on neutral floors during Colorado's time in the Pac-12, with Bears winning two of those contests including an NCAA Tournament second round game in 2012. Colorado holds an 8-2 advantage in Boulder as the teams will meet at the CU Events Center for the first time since a 78-71 Colorado win on Jan. 12, 2010.

Colorado head coach Tad Boyle is 1-3 as a head coach against Baylor. Scott Drew 7-6 against Colorado as a head coach.

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Players Mentioned

Trevor Baskin

Harrison Carrington

Bangot Dak

Assane Diop

Julian Hammond III

Andrej Jakimovski

Felix Kossaras

Elijah Malone

Sebastian Rancik

Javon Ruffin

RJ Smith