Forward graduate student Andrej Jakimovski attempts a three-point shot during a game against Baylor University in the CU Events Center on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025 (Hunter Dee/CU Independent)
CU Events Center drew its biggest crowd in recent weeks on Saturday, as the University of Colorado Buffaloes (11-17, 2-15 Big 12) took out the Baylor University Bears (16-12, 8-9 Big 12) with a 76-74 victory, marking their second Big 12 win of the season. The Buffs once again put up a nail-biting performance right to the final minute to overcome the Bears.
The game tipped off with both teams showcasing their much practiced defense. Baylor capitalized early, with fifth-year forward Norchad Omier converting an offensive rebound into a two point gain. Colorado quickly responded, as senior guard Julian Hammond III sank a three-pointer, quickly giving the Buffaloes a 3-2 lead.
With the first half well past mid-point, neither team were successful in securing a sizable gain over the other. However, Baylor’s red shirt junior guard Langston Love gave the punch they needed off the bench, contributing 10 points in the final minutes of the half, along with a buzzer-beating triple that sent the Bears into halftime with a 32-30 lead.
After the break, the Buffs’ offense started to find its rhythm. Graduate student forward Andrej Jakimovski led the herd, putting in 17 points, nearing his season high of 20 in the game against Harvard. Jakimovski also had seven rebounds and five assists. His five three-pointers were crucial in keeping the Buffaloes competitive. With just under seven minutes remaining, graduate student forward Trevor Baskin sank a three-point play, sending fans roaring with a 62-59 lead.
On the other side, Baylor’s efforts were led by Omier, who achieved his 15th double-double of the season with 18 points and 13 rebounds. Despite the dominant performance, the Bears struggled throughout the match with their shooting efficiency, finishing the game at 36% from the field.
Baylor’s graduate student guard Jalen Celestine added 11 points, including a three-pointer that narrowed the gap to two points in the final minute. However, Colorado’s defense held firm, and Hammond III’s free throws in the closing seconds sealed the victory for the Buffaloes.
“It says a lot, it says they’re learning,” said Colorado’s head coach Tad Boyle after the game about the Buffs resilience. “Maybe they can turn things around, and that’s part of toughness, you know when I say toughness it’s not just hitting somebody or knocking them, but the other part is the mental part.”
Following the win, the Buffs lost after a hard fought effort against the Kansas University Jayhawks on Monday night. Next, on Sunday, March 2 the team travels to Kansas State University for a matchup against the Wildcats. Tipoff is at 2 p.m. MT, streamed live on ESPN+.
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Scott Tan at scott.tan@colorado.edu
