Graduate forward Andrej Jakimovski goes for a loose ball during the game against Brigham Young University on Jan. 21, 2025 at the CU Events Center. (Rachel Glazer/CU Independent)
Men’s Basketball fans piled into the CU Event Center amid a winter blizzard Tuesday night for an interleague basketball matchup between the University of Colorado Buffaloes (9-9, 0-7 Big 12) and Brigham Young University Cougars (12-6, 3-4 Big 12).
Perhaps it was the recent spark of the 2024 Alamo Bowl last December that added fuel to the rivalry, but the student section and the majority of seats were filled. Those fans left disappointed after the Cougars were able to handle business with a tremendous second half effort, capturing the 83-67 win.
Brigham Young was led by junior guard Richie Saunders who finished with a commanding 25 points and five rebounds. Although both sides played a sloppy first half, BYU was able to shoot 67.9% from the field to outscore the Buffs 45-31 in the final twenty minutes.
The University of Colorado Men’s Basketball Coach Tad Boyle calls a timeout at the game against Brigham Young University at the CU Events Center on Jan. 21, 2025. (Rachel Glazer/CU Independent)
Turnovers once again plagued CU’s effort, finishing with 16, but the biggest sign of trouble on Tuesday was the assists. They only connected for eight assists off 21 shots made, while the Cougars landed 16 assists for 31 field goals.
“They’re long,” senior guard Julian Hammond III said on the topic of the poor assists. “They put a lot of pressure in the gaps when you drive.”
It was Hammond III that led the Buffs in scoring with 17 points, continuing to be the most effective scorer on the floor, averaging around 14 points a night. They did a fair job rebounding the ball, led by graduate transfer forward Trevor Baskin’s six. But, it was all bested by BYU.
All night, the officiating crew was not hesitant to blow the whistle, calling a total of 34 fouls during the game. The Buffs did play a more disciplined second half foul-wise and reached the line 27 times, collecting 18 points. However, it wasn’t enough to slow down the surgical Cougars second half offense.
BYU Head coach Kevin Young clearly gave a good halftime talk, as they came out of the locker room on a 23-2 run.
“My message was, ‘we gotta go take it,’ Young said following the game. “We’ve been in that situation a lot this year, we’re battle tested, and we’ve been in a lot of close games, which I think will help us as the season progresses.”
The drop now puts Colorado at seven consecutive losses and dead last in the Big 12 Conference. They will need a near perfect rest of the season to relight hopes of a second straight March Madness appearance. That could start this Saturday when they play The University of Arizona. Tip off at the McKale Memorial Center is at 1 p.m. MST, streamed live on ESPN+.
Contract the CU Independent Sports Editor Baylan Wysuph at baylan.wysuph@colorado.edu
