Buffaloes Host Cal State Fullerton Wednesday

Game 3 - Cal State Fullerton, Wednesday, November 13, 2024
CU Events Center, Boulder, Colo.

Tip: 7:01 p.m. MT

Watch: ESPN+ (Mark Johnson, Scott Wilke) https://buffs.me/3O7SD8e

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

Listen Online: Sirius XM 389, SXM App 979

Live Statistics: http://statb.us/b/546194

THE BUFFALOES: Colorado is 2-0 after its 90-88 double overtime win over instate rival Northern Colorado on Nov. 8. The Buffaloes knocked off Eastern Washington in their opener, 76-56, on Nov. 4.

Colorado has had the flair for the dramatic to open the season. Along with the double-overtime win over UNC, the Buffaloes rallied from a 17-point first half deficit to collect the win over Eastern Washington.

In the comeback win over Eastern Washington, Colorado trailed 27-10 at the 6:44 mark of the first half but was able to cut the margin to six at halftime thanks to a 10-2 run over the last 3:30 of the period. The Buffaloes then took over in the second half, outscoring the Eagles 51-25.

The 17-point deficit tied for the Buffaloes' eighth-best comeback since 1947. Colorado had overcome a 17-point deficit on three other occasions, with one being another game against Eastern Washington on Dec. 22, 2016. The Buffaloes trailed 19-2 right out of the gate in that contest before fighting back for a 76-68 victory.

IN THE OT: Colorado improved to 56-57 (.496) all-time in overtime games and 33-23 (.589) at home and are winners in its last six OT contests at the Events Center. The Buffaloes moved to 10-5 in double overtime games. It was the first double overtime home game since a 112-103 win over South Dakota State on Dec. 15, 2017

GRAND GRAD DEBUTS: Colorado's three graduate transfers, spanning all levels of collegiate basketball, have had successful debuts

Trevor Baskin, an NCAA Division II All-American at Colorado Mesa, played a key role in Colorado's comeback win over Eastern Washington with 12 points, six rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocks in 22 minutes. He just missed a double-double against Northern Colorado with nine points and nine rebounds

Elijah Malone, the 2024 Bevo Francis Award winner as the best small college player in the nation, led all scorers against Northern Colorado with 27 points on 8 of 12 from the field and 10 of 12 from the free throw line. He made the 100th 3-point field goal of his collegiate career in the first half against the Bears. He had 99 in his four-year career at Grace College. He is 16-points away from the 2,000-point mark as a collegian, now with 1,984 through 141 career games. Including Grace, it was his 28th career game of 20-plus points. Malone made his Division I debut with seven rebounds, four points and two blocks in just under 13 minutes against Eastern Washington.

Andrej Jakimovski, a four-year standout at old Pac-12 rival Washington State, has averaged 10 points and 6.5 rebounds over his first two games. He leads the Buffaloes in steals with seven, nabbing a team season-high four against Northern Colorado. In his Buffaloes debut, Jakimovski had 11 points, was the team's co-leader in rebounds with seven rebounds and added three steals.

SMITH'S RETURN: Sophomore guard RJ Smith is averaging 8.5 points while shooting 58 percent from the field in his return to action after missing the final 30 games of 2023-24 with a leg injury. Smith had nine points on a career-best four field goals made against UNC. Playing in his first game since Nov. 29, 2023, Smith had eight points and a career-best three steals against Eastern Washington.

OUT OF THE RUFF: Junior guard Javon Ruffin has scored 12 points in both games this season, marking the third time he's had back-to-back double-figure scoring games, but first since his freshman season. He now has nine field goals in two games compared to 11 in 18 games last season. Against Eastern Washington, he made a career-best five field goals along with a pair of assists.

DIOP DOUBLE AND TRIPLE: Sophomore forward Assane 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)

NONCONFERENCE NUMBERS: Colorado is 129-39 (.768) in nonconference regular season games under head coach Tad Boyle including an 82-22 mark (.788) since the beginning of the 2014-15 season.

Colorado is 98-8 (.925) in nonconference home games under Boyle, a record which includes a 7-2 mark in postseason action.

BOYLE MILESTONES: Head coach Tad Boyle, in his 15th season, picked up his 300th win at Colorado during the win over Northern Colorado, the most in program history.

Boyle-led teams own 10 of the 14 20-win seasons in team history, the top five single-season win totals and seven of the top eight. With a record of 300-183 at CU, his 62.1 winning percentage is second all-time just behind Forrest "Frosty" Cox at 62.3 from 1936-50.

During Colorado's 13-year stint in the Pac-12 Conference, Boyle won 131 regular season league games, tying with Ernie Kent (Oregon 1998-2010 & Washington State 2014-19) for 17th in conference history.

Boyle owns the most wins at a state of Colorado NCAA Division I institution. He is 356-249 (.588) in his 19th year between Colorado and Northern Colorado (four seasons, 2006-10). Boyle is currently fifth in career wins for a head coach at any Colorado four-year school.

ABOUT THE TITANS: Cal State Fullerton is 0-2 and visits Boulder for its third of four-straight road games to begin the season. The Titans opened with an 89-79 setback at Grand Canyon, a 2024 NCAA Tournament participant, on Nov. 4. CSU Fullerton is coming off an 80-53 loss at Stanford on Nov. 8.

Forward John Mikey Square has led the Titans through the first two games at 10.5 points per contest while shooting 80 percent from the field. Kaleb Brown is averaging 10 points while shooting just under 80 percent off the bench. Zion Richardson is averaging 8.0 points and has a team best four assists.

THE SERIES: This will be the second meeting between Colorado and Cal State Fullerton. The Buffaloes won the first meeting, a 79-69 decision on Dec. 21, 1993, at the CU Events Center.

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Players Mentioned

Trevor Baskin

Assane Diop

Andrej Jakimovski

Elijah Malone

Javon Ruffin

RJ Smith