Colorado University Athletics
Tuesday, February 18
Ames, Iowa
6 p.m.
Colorado
at
Iowa State
Photo by: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Buffs Travel To Face No. 8 Iowa State Tuesday
February 17, 2025 | Men's Basketball
Game 26 - Iowa State, Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025
Hilton Coliseum, Ames, Iowa
Tip: 6:01 p.m. MT
Watch: ESPN+ (Shawn Kenney, Jess Settles)Â https://buffs.me/4hFVe6y
Radio: KOA 850 AM & 94.1 FM (Mark Johnson, Scott Wilke)
Listen Online: Sirius XM 384, SXM App 974
Live Statistics:Â https://buffs.me/4i170Ih
THE BUFFALOES: Colorado is 10-15 overall and 1-13 in Big 12 Conference play after defeating UCF, 76-63, on Feb. 15 at the CU Events Center. The win snapped a 13-game losing streak, the Buffaloes' longest since the 1985-86 season.
The Buffaloes will be playing in their eighth true road game of the season and looking for their first win. Colorado is 1-9 away from Boulder this season, that win coming at the Maui Invitational against defending NCAA champion UConn.
Colorado is averaging 70.4 points per game, shooting 44.8 percent from the field, but those numbers have dipped to 65.5 points on 42.9 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 71.6 points per game overall while opponents are shooting 43.3 percent. During Big 12 games, Colorado is allowing 74.1 points while opponents shoot 45.1 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 (.759), seventh in defensive rebounds (25.6 drpg) and eighth in rebounding defense (32.9 rpg) and blocked shots (3.9 bpg). Â During Big 12 games, Colorado is in the top half of the team statistics in free throw percentage (4th, .754), blocked shots (7th, 3.9 bpg), rebounding defense (33.7 rpg), defensive rebounds (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 113th career game vs. UCF), leads Colorado at 13.1 points and 3.1 assists per game. Hammond also tops the Buffaloes in 3-point field goals made (43), free throws made (68) and percentage (.907) and tied for top honors in steals (29).
Hammond is second in the Big 12 and ranks ninth in the nation in overall free throw percentage. He has made 68 of 75 on the season (.907) 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 89.1 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 (4.5 rpg) and is third in steals (21).
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 and has made 6 of 13 (.462) over the last two contests.
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 58.3 percent while averaging 8.0 points an outing. Malone is third on the team in blocks (14) and fifth in rebounding at 3.1 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. He has made 9 of his last 14 from the field (.643).
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 (5.1 rpg), tied for the lead in steals (29) and is second in blocks (16) 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 7.5 points and 4.0 rebounds per game while shooting 50.7 percent from the field and leading the Buffaloes in blocked shots (38). During conference games, Dak is Colorado's leading shooter (.529), rebounder (4.7 rpg) and shot blocker (29) while averaging 8.4 points per game.
Dak is tied for sixth in the Big 12 in overall blocked shots (1.5 bpg) and fourth in league only games (2.1 bpg). With his recent uptick in blocks - 14 in the last six games - Â he's among the nation's top 100 in both overall blocks (38, 75th) and blocks per game (1.5 bpg, 84th).
Dak had 11 points, three rebounds and a pair of blocks at Kansas. He is averaging 9.8 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.3 blocks over the last six 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.
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. He has made 13 of his last 29 from 3-point range (.448).
Freshman Sebastian Rancik is averaging 5.9 points on the season, but since entering the starting lineup against Arizona State he is averaging 9.3 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. He has averaged 14.5 points and 8.0 rebounds the last two games. Rancik had a career-night at Kansas leading the Buffaloes with 19 points and nine rebounds, both personal bests. Â
Sophomore Assane Diop is averaging 4.1 points and is third on the team in rebounding at 4.3 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 39 free throw attempts during the conference season (.846).
Sophomore RJ Smith is averaging 5.4 points and leads the Buffaloes in 3-point shooting at 40 percent. He is fourth on the team in assists (45) and fifth in steals (18). Smith had nine points and six rebounds in the win over UCF.
ABOUT THE CYCLONES: No. 8 (AP & Coaches) ranked Iowa State is 20-5 on the season and fourth in the Big 12 at 10-4. The Cyclones have won their last three after rebounding from a rare three-game skid. Iowa State is second in the Big 12 in scoring at 81.4 points per game while shooting 48.2 percent from the field. The Cyclones allow 67.0 points while opponents shoot 41.5 percent. ISU leads the Big 12 and ranks 13th nationally in steals at 9.4 per game.
Iowa State features six players averaging in double-digit scoring, led by senior guard Curtis Jones, who primarily comes off the bench, at 17.6 points per game. Senior guard Keshon Gilbert averages 14.4 points while leading the Cyclones in assists with 111. Junior forward Joshua Jefferson leads Iowa State in rebounding at 7.9 per game while pitching in 12.8 points per game on 51.8 percent shooting.
THE SERIES: This will be the 151st meeting between Colorado and Iowa State, which will tie with Missouri for the most played series in program history (trailing Kansas-165). Iowa State holds a 80-70 series lead, winning a pair of meetings this year, first a nonconferene tilt at the Maui Invitational, then in the conference opener in Boulder on Dec. 30. Iowa State holds a 48-18 lead in Ames, as the teams meet there for the first time since March 2, 2011 (a 95-90 Cyclones win). Colorado's last win at Hilton Coliseum was a 54-52 overtime decision on Jan. 22, 2005.
SERIES CONNECTIONS: Colorado graduate senior Andrej Jakimovski and Iowa State's Dishon Jackson and Brandton Chatfield were teammates at Washington State. All three were on the same roster in 2020-21 while Jakimovski and Jackson were teammates for three seasons (2020-23). Colorado freshman forward Sebastian Rancik is the son of Martin Rancik who played for Iowa State from 1997-2001.
AGAINST RANKED TEAMS: Taking the latest rankings into account, the Buffaloes are projected to have nine games against ranked opponents this season, which would tie for the most in program history, joining teams in 1989-90, 1991-92 and 2010-11. Colorado is 1-5 against ranked opponents in 2024-25.
The win over No. 2/2 UConn marks the highest-ranked win away from Boulder in program history. Colorado has two previous wins over No. 2 teams, both coming in Boulder (Feb. 12, 1992 vs. #2 Oklahoma State, 57-53 & Feb. 26, 2022 vs. #2 Arizona, 79-63). Senior Julian Hammond III and redshirt junior Javon Ruffin were both on that team that defeated Arizona. The previous best neutral site win came against No. 4 Washington on Dec. 30, 1953 in Kansas City (Big 7 Holiday Tournament).
Colorado's last win against a defending national champion came against the 1952 NCAA champion Kansas Jayhawks on Jan. 20, 1953, 72-68 in Boulder.
Colorado's 28 wins over ranked Associated Press ranked opponents in the Tad Boyle era is by far the best in team history. In fact Boyle coached teams, with a record of 28-54, have accounted for 39 percent of wins over ranked opponents (72) since 1949-50.
Colorado faced two ranked nonconference opponents on back-to-back days for the first time in 26 years, Nov. 26-27, 1998, when the Buffaloes played No. 4 Kentucky (L, 52-64) and No. 10 Xavier (L, 61-74) in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
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Hilton Coliseum, Ames, Iowa
Tip: 6:01 p.m. MT
Watch: ESPN+ (Shawn Kenney, Jess Settles)Â https://buffs.me/4hFVe6y
Radio: KOA 850 AM & 94.1 FM (Mark Johnson, Scott Wilke)
Listen Online: Sirius XM 384, SXM App 974
Live Statistics:Â https://buffs.me/4i170Ih
THE BUFFALOES: Colorado is 10-15 overall and 1-13 in Big 12 Conference play after defeating UCF, 76-63, on Feb. 15 at the CU Events Center. The win snapped a 13-game losing streak, the Buffaloes' longest since the 1985-86 season.
The Buffaloes will be playing in their eighth true road game of the season and looking for their first win. Colorado is 1-9 away from Boulder this season, that win coming at the Maui Invitational against defending NCAA champion UConn.
Colorado is averaging 70.4 points per game, shooting 44.8 percent from the field, but those numbers have dipped to 65.5 points on 42.9 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 71.6 points per game overall while opponents are shooting 43.3 percent. During Big 12 games, Colorado is allowing 74.1 points while opponents shoot 45.1 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 (.759), seventh in defensive rebounds (25.6 drpg) and eighth in rebounding defense (32.9 rpg) and blocked shots (3.9 bpg). Â During Big 12 games, Colorado is in the top half of the team statistics in free throw percentage (4th, .754), blocked shots (7th, 3.9 bpg), rebounding defense (33.7 rpg), defensive rebounds (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 113th career game vs. UCF), leads Colorado at 13.1 points and 3.1 assists per game. Hammond also tops the Buffaloes in 3-point field goals made (43), free throws made (68) and percentage (.907) and tied for top honors in steals (29).
Hammond is second in the Big 12 and ranks ninth in the nation in overall free throw percentage. He has made 68 of 75 on the season (.907) 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 89.1 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 (4.5 rpg) and is third in steals (21).
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 and has made 6 of 13 (.462) over the last two contests.
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 58.3 percent while averaging 8.0 points an outing. Malone is third on the team in blocks (14) and fifth in rebounding at 3.1 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. He has made 9 of his last 14 from the field (.643).
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 (5.1 rpg), tied for the lead in steals (29) and is second in blocks (16) 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 7.5 points and 4.0 rebounds per game while shooting 50.7 percent from the field and leading the Buffaloes in blocked shots (38). During conference games, Dak is Colorado's leading shooter (.529), rebounder (4.7 rpg) and shot blocker (29) while averaging 8.4 points per game.
Dak is tied for sixth in the Big 12 in overall blocked shots (1.5 bpg) and fourth in league only games (2.1 bpg). With his recent uptick in blocks - 14 in the last six games - Â he's among the nation's top 100 in both overall blocks (38, 75th) and blocks per game (1.5 bpg, 84th).
Dak had 11 points, three rebounds and a pair of blocks at Kansas. He is averaging 9.8 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.3 blocks over the last six 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.
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. He has made 13 of his last 29 from 3-point range (.448).
Freshman Sebastian Rancik is averaging 5.9 points on the season, but since entering the starting lineup against Arizona State he is averaging 9.3 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. He has averaged 14.5 points and 8.0 rebounds the last two games. Rancik had a career-night at Kansas leading the Buffaloes with 19 points and nine rebounds, both personal bests. Â
Sophomore Assane Diop is averaging 4.1 points and is third on the team in rebounding at 4.3 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 39 free throw attempts during the conference season (.846).
Sophomore RJ Smith is averaging 5.4 points and leads the Buffaloes in 3-point shooting at 40 percent. He is fourth on the team in assists (45) and fifth in steals (18). Smith had nine points and six rebounds in the win over UCF.
ABOUT THE CYCLONES: No. 8 (AP & Coaches) ranked Iowa State is 20-5 on the season and fourth in the Big 12 at 10-4. The Cyclones have won their last three after rebounding from a rare three-game skid. Iowa State is second in the Big 12 in scoring at 81.4 points per game while shooting 48.2 percent from the field. The Cyclones allow 67.0 points while opponents shoot 41.5 percent. ISU leads the Big 12 and ranks 13th nationally in steals at 9.4 per game.
Iowa State features six players averaging in double-digit scoring, led by senior guard Curtis Jones, who primarily comes off the bench, at 17.6 points per game. Senior guard Keshon Gilbert averages 14.4 points while leading the Cyclones in assists with 111. Junior forward Joshua Jefferson leads Iowa State in rebounding at 7.9 per game while pitching in 12.8 points per game on 51.8 percent shooting.
THE SERIES: This will be the 151st meeting between Colorado and Iowa State, which will tie with Missouri for the most played series in program history (trailing Kansas-165). Iowa State holds a 80-70 series lead, winning a pair of meetings this year, first a nonconferene tilt at the Maui Invitational, then in the conference opener in Boulder on Dec. 30. Iowa State holds a 48-18 lead in Ames, as the teams meet there for the first time since March 2, 2011 (a 95-90 Cyclones win). Colorado's last win at Hilton Coliseum was a 54-52 overtime decision on Jan. 22, 2005.
SERIES CONNECTIONS: Colorado graduate senior Andrej Jakimovski and Iowa State's Dishon Jackson and Brandton Chatfield were teammates at Washington State. All three were on the same roster in 2020-21 while Jakimovski and Jackson were teammates for three seasons (2020-23). Colorado freshman forward Sebastian Rancik is the son of Martin Rancik who played for Iowa State from 1997-2001.
AGAINST RANKED TEAMS: Taking the latest rankings into account, the Buffaloes are projected to have nine games against ranked opponents this season, which would tie for the most in program history, joining teams in 1989-90, 1991-92 and 2010-11. Colorado is 1-5 against ranked opponents in 2024-25.
The win over No. 2/2 UConn marks the highest-ranked win away from Boulder in program history. Colorado has two previous wins over No. 2 teams, both coming in Boulder (Feb. 12, 1992 vs. #2 Oklahoma State, 57-53 & Feb. 26, 2022 vs. #2 Arizona, 79-63). Senior Julian Hammond III and redshirt junior Javon Ruffin were both on that team that defeated Arizona. The previous best neutral site win came against No. 4 Washington on Dec. 30, 1953 in Kansas City (Big 7 Holiday Tournament).
Colorado's last win against a defending national champion came against the 1952 NCAA champion Kansas Jayhawks on Jan. 20, 1953, 72-68 in Boulder.
Colorado's 28 wins over ranked Associated Press ranked opponents in the Tad Boyle era is by far the best in team history. In fact Boyle coached teams, with a record of 28-54, have accounted for 39 percent of wins over ranked opponents (72) since 1949-50.
Colorado faced two ranked nonconference opponents on back-to-back days for the first time in 26 years, Nov. 26-27, 1998, when the Buffaloes played No. 4 Kentucky (L, 52-64) and No. 10 Xavier (L, 61-74) in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
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