Colorado-Northern Colorado Notes
Happy Birthday CU Events Center: Tonight (Nov. 8, 2024) is the 45th anniversary of the CU Events Center. The first game played in the then-CU Events/Conference Center was on November 8, 1979, when the Russian (Soviet Union) National Team provided the first opponent for Colorado in the school’s new $7.7 million facility. The exhibition contest drew a crowd of 9,679 fans, and the Russians pulled away for an 88-73 win.
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Overtimes: 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.
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Tad Boyle 300th win: Colorado head coach Tad Boyle won his 300th game at Colorado and is now 300-183 (.621) in his 15th season leading the Buffaloes. He achieved that milestone by defeating the program of his first head coaching job, leading the Bears from 2006-10. In his 19th season overall, Boyle is 356-249 (.588) as a head coach at the NCAA Division I level.
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Colorado improves to 25-18 against Northern Colorado and has won the last 13. The two-point margin was the closest in the series since an 88-86 Buffs win at the CU Events Center on Dec. 2, 2006. It was the first overtime game in the Colorado-Northern Colorado series.
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Colorado improves to 98-8 (.925) in nonconference home games in the last 15 seasons under Tad Boyle.
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Colorado was 31 for 41 from the free throw line. It was the most free throws made and attempted by the Buffaloes since hitting those exact numbers in both categories against Fort Hays State on Dec. 17, 2016.
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Northern Colorado’s 13 3-point field goals are the most given up by a Colorado team since Northern Iowa had 14 at the CU Events Center on Dec. 10, 2019. UNC’s 36 3-point attempts are the most by a CU opponent since Tennessee put up 37 during a Buffs win in Nashville on Nov. 13, 2022.
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Elijah Malone (27 points, 8-12 FG, 10-12 FT) made the 100th 3-point field goal of his collegiate career in the first half. 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.
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Assane Diop (10 rebounds, 3 points) career high in rebounds, three better than his previous best of seven vs. California (2/28/24). Led the Buffaloes in rebounding for the first time. Made his first career 3-point field goal. He had missed the first nine attempts of his career (first 33 games).
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Andrej Jakimovski had a team season-high four steals and has a team-best seven through the first two games.
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Julian Hammond (12 points, 8-10 FT) tied his career-best in free throws made and set a personal best in free throw attempts (8 for 8 vs. Washington on Jan. 19, 2023).
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Javon Ruffin (12 points, 4-8 FG) ninth career double-figure scoring game. It’s the third time he’s had back-to-back double-figure scoring games but first since his freshman season (2022-23). He now has nine field goals in two games compared to 11 in 18 games last season.
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RJ Smith (9 points, 4-5 FG) career-best four field goals made, previous best was three, vs. EWU on Monday and last season vs. Milwaukee.
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Overtimes: 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.
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Tad Boyle 300th win: Colorado head coach Tad Boyle won his 300th game at Colorado and is now 300-183 (.621) in his 15th season leading the Buffaloes. He achieved that milestone by defeating the program of his first head coaching job, leading the Bears from 2006-10. In his 19th season overall, Boyle is 356-249 (.588) as a head coach at the NCAA Division I level.
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Colorado improves to 25-18 against Northern Colorado and has won the last 13. The two-point margin was the closest in the series since an 88-86 Buffs win at the CU Events Center on Dec. 2, 2006. It was the first overtime game in the Colorado-Northern Colorado series.
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Colorado improves to 98-8 (.925) in nonconference home games in the last 15 seasons under Tad Boyle.
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Colorado was 31 for 41 from the free throw line. It was the most free throws made and attempted by the Buffaloes since hitting those exact numbers in both categories against Fort Hays State on Dec. 17, 2016.
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Northern Colorado’s 13 3-point field goals are the most given up by a Colorado team since Northern Iowa had 14 at the CU Events Center on Dec. 10, 2019. UNC’s 36 3-point attempts are the most by a CU opponent since Tennessee put up 37 during a Buffs win in Nashville on Nov. 13, 2022.
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Elijah Malone (27 points, 8-12 FG, 10-12 FT) made the 100th 3-point field goal of his collegiate career in the first half. 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.
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Assane Diop (10 rebounds, 3 points) career high in rebounds, three better than his previous best of seven vs. California (2/28/24). Led the Buffaloes in rebounding for the first time. Made his first career 3-point field goal. He had missed the first nine attempts of his career (first 33 games).
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Andrej Jakimovski had a team season-high four steals and has a team-best seven through the first two games.
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Julian Hammond (12 points, 8-10 FT) tied his career-best in free throws made and set a personal best in free throw attempts (8 for 8 vs. Washington on Jan. 19, 2023).
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Javon Ruffin (12 points, 4-8 FG) ninth career double-figure scoring game. It’s the third time he’s had back-to-back double-figure scoring games but first since his freshman season (2022-23). He now has nine field goals in two games compared to 11 in 18 games last season.
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RJ Smith (9 points, 4-5 FG) career-best four field goals made, previous best was three, vs. EWU on Monday and last season vs. Milwaukee.
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