Boulder, CO—-Despite falling short, Baylor fought hard but struggled against Colorado’s length, which played a significant role in shot-making efficiency. A major turning point came late in the second half when the Buffaloes began dominating the paint, capitalizing on their size advantage with Elijah Malone and Sebastian Rancik.
The Buffaloes was just too much for Baylor taking a Big 12 Conference home victory, 76-74 on Saturday.
Baylor entered halftime with a narrow 32-30 lead, but Colorado surged ahead in the second half. With just under 14 minutes remaining, Robert Wright III drained a three-pointer to give the Bears a 45-40 advantage. However, the Buffaloes responded down the stretch.
Trevor Baskin’s three-point play with less than seven minutes left put Colorado ahead for good at 62-59. Moments later, Sebastian Rancik extended the lead by hitting a three-pointer and sinking two free throws, fueling a decisive 9-0 run that pushed the Buffaloes into double digits.
Baylor fought back in the final minute, with Jalen Celestine knocking down two three-pointers and a layup to trim the deficit to 74-72 with 29 seconds remaining. Colorado’s Hammond then stepped up to the free-throw line with 17 seconds left, sinking both shots to widen the gap. Although VJ Edgecombe tipped in a basket with four seconds remaining, it wasn’t enough to change the outcome.
Norman Omier led Baylor with 18 points and 13 rebounds, while Langston Love contributed 17. Celestine and Jeremy Roach each finished with 11 points in the hard-fought contest.
The Buffaloes hit four consecutive shots down the stretch capped off with a three-pointer from Andrew Jakimovski, sent the CU Events Center into a frenzy. Baylor attempted a dramatic comeback in the final moments, but their efforts fell short after an intentionally missed free throw with 1.5 seconds remaining.
Colorado’s defensive adjustments, particularly on the glass, proved to be the deciding factor, securing their second straight home victory.
Standout Performances:
Andrej Jakimovski – 17 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists
Julian Hammond III – 12 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists
Norchad Omier – 18 points, 13 rebounds
Langston Love – 17 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist
Looking ahead, CU will aim for their third consecutive home win as they face Kansas in a primetime showdown on Monday, February 24, at 9 PM ET on ESPN. Meanwhile, Baylor continues their road trip, heading to Cincinnati for a matchup on Tuesday, February 25, at 6 PM ET on ESPN2.
