BOULDER, Colo. — Julian Hammond III secured victory for Colorado by sinking two free throws with just 17 seconds remaining, allowing the team to fend off Baylor’s last-minute efforts and clinch a 76-74 win, marking their second consecutive Big 12 Conference home victory.
The Buffaloes, who have had a challenging season, managed to improve their record to 11-16 overall and 2-14 in conference play after previously suffering through a dismal stretch of 14 losses in their first 14 conference games. This included a streak of 13 defeats, the longest since the 1985-86 season. Colorado’s recent turnaround began with a win against UCF at home last week, where they triumphed with a score of 76-63.
At halftime, Baylor held a slight edge with a score of 32-30. The Bears extended their lead to 45-40 when Robert Wright III hit a three-pointer early in the second half. However, the tide turned when Trevor Baskin completed a three-point play with just under seven minutes to go, putting Colorado ahead 62-59. Following Baskin, Sebastian Rancik contributed significantly with a three-pointer and two free throws, leading a 9-0 run that gave the Buffaloes a double-digit lead. In a dramatic finale, Jalen Celestine hit two three-pointers and a layup to narrow Baylor’s deficit to just two points at 74-72 with 29 seconds left. Hammond’s crucial free throws added two more points for Colorado before VJ Edgecombe’s tip-in at the buzzer set the final score.
Andrej Jakimovski was instrumental for Colorado, leading with 17 points, seven rebounds, and five assists. Other key contributors included RJ Smith, who scored 13 points, Hammond with 12, and Rancik adding 10 points.
On the Baylor side, Norman Omier stood out with a double-double, registering 18 points and 13 rebounds. Teammates Langston Love added 17 points, while both Jalen Celestine and Jeremy Roach chipped in with 11 points apiece.
Baylor has encountered difficulties recently, losing three of their last four games, including matchups against ranked teams like No. 6 Houston and No. 19 Arizona. This latest defeat also marks only the second time this season that the Bears have faced back-to-back losses.
Looking ahead, Colorado will face No. 23 Kansas on Monday, while Baylor is set to play against Cincinnati on Tuesday.
