Freshman forward Sebastian Rancik moves towards the basket during the game against the University of Central Florida at the CU Events Center on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025. (Clementine Miller/CU Independent)
The crowd at the CU Event Center witnessed a rejuvenated University of Colorado men’s basketball team on Saturday, as they closed out a 13-game losing streak with a decisive 76-63 victory over the University of Central Florida Knights (13-12, 4-10 Big 12). This victory marked the first win for the Buffaloes’ in Big 12 play, as well as their first in 55 days.
Throughout the game, the Buffs (10-15, 1-13 Big 12) presented the 7000-strong crowd with a well coordinated offensive attack, with graduate student forward Andrej Jakimovski leading the pack by putting up 15 points, including three triples and securing seven rebounds. Senior guard Julian Hammond III added 11 points, while freshman forward Sebastian Rancik had 10 of his own. The team’s dominance on the score was quite evident, as they out rebounded the Knights 52-29, a season high for the Buffaloes.
“I gave them a lot of credit for sticking together, not pointing fingers,” Head Coach Tad Boyle said following the game. “It’s nice to see them get rewarded for defending and rebounding at a really high level, which is what this program is built on.”
UCF faced some challenges in their attack, shooting 34% from the field and 26% from the arc. Junior guard Keyshawn Hall led the Knights with a game-high 19 points, falling a rebound short of a double-double. Senior guard Darius Johnson added 15 points and sophomore guard Nils Machowski provided another boost with 13 of his own, off a perfect 5-5 shooting performance.
Graduate student forward Andrej Jakimovski takes a three-point shot during the game against the University of Central Florida at the CU Events Center on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025. (Clementine Miller/CU Independent)
The first half was quite a contested affair. The Buffs started the scoring with a strong play from sophomore forward Bangot Dak, but UCF quickly returned with a three-pointer from Hall. Midway through the half, the Buffaloes built a 22-16 lead following consecutive three-pointers from junior guard Javon Ruffin. However, the Knights answered with a 10-2 run, highlighted by Machowski’s seven straight points to take a 31-27 advantage. Colorado regained momentum in the final minutes of the half, securing a 38-26 lead at the break.
The Buffaloes seized control early in the second half, embarking on a 13-5 run that surged their lead to double digits. Jakimovski’s five quick points, including a three-pointer, made waves in the home crowd. Despite the Knight’s efforts to close the gap, CU’s defense remained strong, limiting UCF to just five points in the first eight minutes of the half. Colorado would maintain their composure down the home stretch, with baskets coming from graduate student center Elijah Malone and Rancik, ultimately securing the thirteen-point victory.
Up next, the Buffaloes will travel to Ames, Iowa, and attempt to upset the No. 8 Iowa State University Cyclones on Tuesday, Feb. 18. Tip-off is at 6 p.m. MT, steamed live on ESPN+.
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Scott Tan at scott.tan@colorado.edu
