No. 16 seed Colorado deals No. 8 seed WVU's NCAA hopes a blow with 67-60 Big 12 tourney win
AP
Mar 12, 2025
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) Elijah Malone scored 12 of his 14 points in the second half, helping No. 16 seed Colorado Buffaloes deal No. 8 seed West Virginia Mountaineers's at-large NCAA Tournament hopes a massive blow with a 67-60 victory in the second round of the Big 12 Tournament on Wednesday.
RJ Smith added 13 points for the plucky and persistent Buffaloes (14-19), who beat TCU in the opening round and now get a shot at second-ranked Houston - the top seed in the tournament - in the quarterfinal round on Thursday.
The Mountaineers (19-13) were leading 46-37 with under 10 minutes to go when they turned it over on seven straight possessions. Colorado seized the momentum and ran off 15 points to take a 52-46 lead with 5 1/2 minutes left.
West Virginia fought back to within 56-53 with 2:13 left, but Malone scored again in the paint and Smith buried a 3-pointer from the top of the key, giving the Buffaloes a cushion they were able to hold until the finish.
Javon Small had 23 points to lead the Mountaineers, who began the day No. 41 in the NET rankings, thanks in large part to their strong schedule. They have six Quad 1 wins, which is an important factor considered by the NCAA selection committee.
Now, the Mountaineers have a long and tense wait for Selection Sunday.
Colorado coach Tad Boyle has made it clear he intends to return next season, but he certainly doesn't appear to be done with this season, either. There has never been a No. 16 seed in the Big 12 Tournament so his guys are making history.
West Virginia will rue the 5-minute stretch in the second half when it continually turned the ball over. Several of them came as Colorado slapped on a full-court press, but others were silly half-court mistakes.
Colorado's second-half run was the difference in the game.
The Buffaloes were 18 of 22 from the foul line, including Andrej Jakimovski's clinchers with 10 seconds to go.
The Buffaloes play the Cougars on Thursday.
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1st Half
COLO
Buffaloes
23
WV
Mountaineers
29
Time
Team
Play
Score
20:00
(Buffaloes gains possession)
19:53
+2
Andrej Jakimovski makes two point layup (Javon Ruffin assists)
2-0
19:35
+3
Javon Small makes three point jump shot (Sencire Harris assists)
2-3
19:02
Javon Ruffin misses two point layup
19:00
Bangot Dak offensive rebound
18:54
Bangot Dak misses two point layup
18:52
Toby Okani defensive rebound
18:45
Toby Okani misses two point jump shot
18:43
Andrej Jakimovski defensive rebound
18:29
Jonathan Powell personal foul
18:16
Julian Hammond III turnover (Amani Hansberry steals)
18:06
Amani Hansberry misses two point layup
18:04
Trevor Baskin defensive rebound
17:55
+2
Trevor Baskin makes two point driving layup
4-3
17:37
+2
Sencire Harris makes two point layup (Amani Hansberry assists)
4-5
17:28
Javon Ruffin turnover (Sencire Harris steals)
17:21
+2
Sencire Harris makes two point layup
4-7
16:59
+3
Bangot Dak makes three point jump shot
7-7
16:43
Javon Small misses three point jump shot
16:41
Bangot Dak defensive rebound
16:26
Andrej Jakimovski misses two point jump shot
16:24
Jonathan Powell defensive rebound
16:16
+3
Toby Okani makes three point jump shot (Sencire Harris assists)
7-10
16:07
Javon Ruffin turnover (Sencire Harris steals)
15:59
+2
Javon Small makes two point dunk (Toby Okani assists)
7-12
15:32
Sencire Harris blocks Julian Hammond III's three point jump shot
15:30
Bangot Dak offensive rebound
15:19
Javon Ruffin misses three point jump shot
15:17
Toby Okani defensive rebound
15:03
Javon Ruffin shooting foul (Javon Small draws the foul)
15:03
TV timeout
15:03
Javon Small misses regular free throw 1 of 2
15:03
+1
Javon Small makes regular free throw 2 of 2
7-13
14:44
Andrej Jakimovski misses two point jump shot
14:42
Eduardo Andre defensive rebound
14:05
Elijah Malone blocks Eduardo Andre's two point jump shot
14:03
Andrej Jakimovski defensive rebound
14:02
Eduardo Andre blocks Andrej Jakimovski's two point layup
14:00
Buffaloes offensive rebound
13:45
Elijah Malone misses two point jump shot
13:43
Eduardo Andre defensive rebound
13:25
RJ Smith blocks Javon Small's two point layup
13:23
RJ Smith defensive rebound
13:23
RJ Smith turnover (Eduardo Andre steals)
13:08
Joseph Yesufu misses three point jump shot
13:06
Eduardo Andre offensive rebound
12:46
Julian Hammond III shooting foul (Eduardo Andre draws the foul)
12:46
Eduardo Andre misses regular free throw 1 of 2
12:46
Eduardo Andre misses regular free throw 2 of 2
12:46
Elijah Malone defensive rebound
12:15
Javon Ruffin turnover (Sencire Harris steals)
11:58
Jonathan Powell misses two point jump shot
11:56
Buffaloes defensive rebound
11:54
TV timeout
11:24
Amani Hansberry shooting foul (Assane Diop draws the foul)
11:24
Assane Diop misses regular free throw 1 of 2
11:24
+1
Assane Diop makes regular free throw 2 of 2
8-13
11:01
+3
Jonathan Powell makes three point jump shot (Javon Small assists)
8-16
10:50
Sebastian Rancik misses two point jump shot
10:48
Assane Diop offensive rebound
10:38
+2
Sebastian Rancik makes two point layup (Javon Ruffin assists)
10-16
10:16
+2
Joseph Yesufu makes two point layup
10-18
10:03
RJ Smith misses two point jump shot
10:01
Joseph Yesufu defensive rebound
9:51
Jonathan Powell misses two point jump shot
9:49
Javon Ruffin defensive rebound
9:41
Javon Ruffin turnover (bad pass)
9:29
+2
Javon Small makes two point dunk (Jonathan Powell assists)
10-20
9:13
KJ Tenner shooting foul (Julian Hammond III draws the foul)
9:13
+1
Julian Hammond III makes regular free throw 1 of 2
11-20
9:13
+1
Julian Hammond III makes regular free throw 2 of 2
12-20
8:59
Trevor Baskin shooting foul (Javon Small draws the foul)
8:59
+1
Javon Small makes regular free throw 1 of 2
12-21
8:59
+1
Javon Small makes regular free throw 2 of 2
12-22
8:50
Trevor Baskin misses two point layup
8:45
Amani Hansberry defensive rebound
8:41
Trevor Baskin personal foul
8:40
+3
Javon Small makes three point jump shot
12-25
8:22
+2
Felix Kossaras makes two point layup (Julian Hammond III assists)
14-25
8:14
+2
Joseph Yesufu makes two point layup (Javon Small assists)
14-27
7:45
KJ Tenner personal foul
7:45
TV timeout
7:31
Bangot Dak misses two point jump shot
7:29
Mountaineers defensive rebound
7:10
Javon Small turnover (bad pass)
6:52
Andrej Jakimovski misses two point layup
6:50
Andrej Jakimovski offensive rebound
6:49
Jonathan Powell shooting foul (Andrej Jakimovski draws the foul)
6:49
+1
Andrej Jakimovski makes regular free throw 1 of 2
15-27
6:49
+1
Andrej Jakimovski makes regular free throw 2 of 2
16-27
6:30
Joseph Yesufu misses two point jump shot
6:28
Toby Okani offensive rebound
6:28
Assane Diop personal foul
6:17
Sencire Harris misses two point jump shot
6:15
Sencire Harris offensive rebound
6:06
Javon Small misses three point jump shot
6:06
Assane Diop defensive rebound
6:06
Amani Hansberry personal foul
5:51
Julian Hammond III misses two point layup
5:49
Felix Kossaras offensive rebound
5:40
+2
Elijah Malone makes two point layup (Julian Hammond III assists)
18-27
5:11
Joseph Yesufu misses three point jump shot
5:09
Andrej Jakimovski defensive rebound
4:55
+3
Andrej Jakimovski makes three point jump shot
21-27
4:54
Mountaineers 30 second timeout
4:34
Toby Okani misses two point layup
4:32
Assane Diop defensive rebound
4:18
Assane Diop turnover (KJ Tenner steals)
3:51
TV timeout
3:48
Eduardo Andre turnover (out of bounds)
3:40
Felix Kossaras misses two point layup
3:38
Sencire Harris defensive rebound
3:22
KJ Tenner misses two point layup
3:21
Eduardo Andre offensive rebound
3:21
Elijah Malone personal foul
3:08
Sencire Harris misses two point layup
3:06
Elijah Malone defensive rebound
2:44
RJ Smith misses three point jump shot
2:42
Toby Okani defensive rebound
2:25
+2
Toby Okani makes two point hook shot
21-29
1:56
Elijah Malone misses three point jump shot
1:54
Sencire Harris defensive rebound
1:35
Javon Small misses three point jump shot
1:33
Sebastian Rancik defensive rebound
1:23
+2
Andrej Jakimovski makes two point jump shot
23-29
0:49
Javon Small misses three point jump shot
0:47
Mountaineers offensive rebound
0:47
Mountaineers turnover (shot clock violation)
0:47
Buffaloes 30 second timeout
0:33
Andrej Jakimovski misses three point jump shot
0:31
Mountaineers defensive rebound
0:28
RJ Smith blocks Joseph Yesufu's two point layup
0:26
Amani Hansberry offensive rebound
0:07
Amani Hansberry turnover (Bangot Dak steals)
0:00
End of period
2nd Half
COLO
Buffaloes
44
WV
Mountaineers
31
Time
Team
Play
Score
19:35
Amani Hansberry misses three point jump shot
19:33
RJ Smith defensive rebound
19:23
Bangot Dak misses two point jump shot
19:21
Amani Hansberry defensive rebound
19:07
Amani Hansberry misses three point jump shot
19:05
RJ Smith defensive rebound
18:46
Andrej Jakimovski misses two point layup
18:44
Amani Hansberry defensive rebound
18:30
Bangot Dak blocks Amani Hansberry's two point layup
18:28
Mountaineers offensive rebound
18:23
Javon Small turnover (Julian Hammond III steals)
18:17
Amani Hansberry shooting foul (Trevor Baskin draws the foul)
18:17
+1
Trevor Baskin makes regular free throw 1 of 2
24-29
18:17
+1
Trevor Baskin makes regular free throw 2 of 2
25-29
18:00
Trevor Baskin personal foul
17:52
Javon Small turnover (Andrej Jakimovski steals)
17:31
Bangot Dak misses two point layup
17:29
Eduardo Andre defensive rebound
17:13
+2
Jonathan Powell makes two point jump shot
25-31
16:41
+3
RJ Smith makes three point jump shot (Julian Hammond III assists)
28-31
16:15
Javon Small misses three point jump shot
16:13
RJ Smith defensive rebound
16:06
Jonathan Powell personal foul
15:51
Bangot Dak turnover (traveling)
15:51
TV timeout
15:27
+2
Toby Okani makes two point layup (Javon Small assists)
28-33
14:53
+2
Elijah Malone makes two point finger roll layup
30-33
14:32
+2
Eduardo Andre makes two point layup (Javon Small assists)
30-35
14:32
Sebastian Rancik shooting foul (Eduardo Andre draws the foul)
14:32
+1
Eduardo Andre makes regular free throw 1 of 1
30-36
14:10
+2
Julian Hammond III makes two point driving finger roll layup
32-36
13:36
Sebastian Rancik shooting foul (Eduardo Andre draws the foul)
13:36
+1
Eduardo Andre makes regular free throw 1 of 2
32-37
13:36
Eduardo Andre misses regular free throw 2 of 2
13:36
Elijah Malone defensive rebound
13:17
Julian Hammond III misses three point jump shot
13:15
Mountaineers defensive rebound
12:48
+2
Eduardo Andre makes two point layup (Sencire Harris assists)
32-39
12:37
Eduardo Andre personal foul
12:30
Joseph Yesufu shooting foul (Sebastian Rancik draws the foul)
12:30
+1
Sebastian Rancik makes regular free throw 1 of 2
33-39
12:30
Sebastian Rancik misses regular free throw 2 of 2
12:30
Buffaloes offensive rebound
12:11
Julian Hammond III misses two point jump shot
12:09
Sencire Harris defensive rebound
11:56
Jonathan Powell misses three point jump shot
11:54
Julian Hammond III defensive rebound
11:48
Sencire Harris personal foul
11:48
TV timeout
11:38
Javon Ruffin turnover (Jonathan Powell steals)
11:35
+2
Jonathan Powell makes two point layup
33-41
11:35
Sebastian Rancik shooting foul (Jonathan Powell draws the foul)
11:35
+1
Jonathan Powell makes regular free throw 1 of 1
33-42
11:18
RJ Smith misses three point jump shot
11:16
Joseph Yesufu defensive rebound
11:10
Jonathan Powell misses three point jump shot
11:08
RJ Smith defensive rebound
10:58
+2
Elijah Malone makes two point layup
35-42
10:38
Felix Kossaras shooting foul (Javon Small draws the foul)
10:38
+1
Javon Small makes regular free throw 1 of 2
35-43
10:38
+1
Javon Small makes regular free throw 2 of 2
35-44
10:16
+2
Elijah Malone makes two point layup
37-44
9:50
Amani Hansberry misses two point jump shot
9:49
Amani Hansberry offensive rebound
9:49
Felix Kossaras personal foul
9:42
+2
KJ Tenner makes two point layup
37-46
9:30
+2
Elijah Malone makes two point layup (Felix Kossaras assists)
39-46
9:02
Jonathan Powell turnover (Andrej Jakimovski steals)
8:57
Eduardo Andre shooting foul (Felix Kossaras draws the foul)
8:57
+1
Felix Kossaras makes regular free throw 1 of 2
40-46
8:57
Felix Kossaras misses regular free throw 2 of 2
8:57
Felix Kossaras offensive rebound
8:56
+2
Felix Kossaras makes two point layup
42-46
8:28
Eduardo Andre turnover (traveling)
8:05
Andrej Jakimovski misses three point jump shot
8:03
Javon Small defensive rebound
7:47
Amani Hansberry offensive foul
7:47
Amani Hansberry turnover (offensive foul)
7:47
TV timeout
7:29
+2
Elijah Malone makes two point layup (Trevor Baskin assists)
44-46
7:10
Sencire Harris turnover (RJ Smith steals)
6:57
+2
RJ Smith makes two point layup
46-46
6:52
Mountaineers 30 second timeout
6:52
TV timeout
6:26
Eduardo Andre turnover (lost ball)
6:06
+3
RJ Smith makes three point jump shot (Elijah Malone assists)
49-46
5:52
Sencire Harris turnover (traveling)
5:33
+2
Trevor Baskin makes two point layup
51-46
5:20
Toby Okani turnover (Trevor Baskin steals)
5:15
Toby Okani shooting foul (Trevor Baskin draws the foul)
5:15
Trevor Baskin misses regular free throw 1 of 2
5:15
+1
Trevor Baskin makes regular free throw 2 of 2
52-46
4:50
Elijah Malone shooting foul (Toby Okani draws the foul)
4:50
+1
Toby Okani makes regular free throw 1 of 2
52-47
4:50
Toby Okani misses regular free throw 2 of 2
4:50
Andrej Jakimovski defensive rebound
4:25
RJ Smith turnover (bad pass)
4:05
Toby Okani misses two point layup
4:03
Julian Hammond III defensive rebound
3:46
+2
Felix Kossaras makes two point layup
54-47
3:22
+2
Toby Okani makes two point alley-oop dunk (Javon Small assists)
54-49
3:09
Joseph Yesufu personal foul (Julian Hammond III draws the foul)
3:09
TV timeout
3:09
+1
Julian Hammond III makes regular free throw 1 of 2
55-49
3:09
+1
Julian Hammond III makes regular free throw 2 of 2
56-49
2:55
Jonathan Powell turnover (out of bounds)
2:52
Trevor Baskin turnover (Jonathan Powell steals)
2:36
Jonathan Powell misses two point jump shot
2:34
Javon Small offensive rebound
2:27
+2
Javon Small makes two point layup
56-51
2:19
Andrej Jakimovski misses two point layup
2:17
Elijah Malone offensive rebound
2:17
Elijah Malone misses two point layup
2:15
Amani Hansberry defensive rebound
2:13
Elijah Malone shooting foul (Amani Hansberry draws the foul)
2:13
+1
Amani Hansberry makes regular free throw 1 of 2
56-52
2:13
+1
Amani Hansberry makes regular free throw 2 of 2
56-53
1:46
+2
Elijah Malone makes two point layup (Julian Hammond III assists)
58-53
1:31
Jonathan Powell misses two point jump shot
1:29
Andrej Jakimovski defensive rebound
1:11
+3
RJ Smith makes three point jump shot (Julian Hammond III assists)
61-53
1:05
Mountaineers 30 second timeout
0:58
+3
Javon Small makes three point jump shot (Jonathan Powell assists)
61-56
0:52
Buffaloes 30 second timeout
0:46
Buffaloes 60 second timeout
0:46
Joseph Yesufu personal foul
0:46
+1
Julian Hammond III makes regular free throw 1 of 2
62-56
0:46
+1
Julian Hammond III makes regular free throw 2 of 2
63-56
0:39
+3
Javon Small makes three point jump shot
63-59
0:34
Toby Okani personal foul (RJ Smith draws the foul)
0:34
+1
RJ Smith makes regular free throw 1 of 2
64-59
0:34
+1
RJ Smith makes regular free throw 2 of 2
65-59
0:20
Javon Small misses three point jump shot
0:18
Toby Okani offensive rebound
0:12
Javon Small misses three point jump shot
0:10
Joseph Yesufu offensive rebound
0:10
Joseph Yesufu turnover (Andrej Jakimovski steals)
0:10
Toby Okani personal foul (Andrej Jakimovski draws the foul)
0:10
+1
Andrej Jakimovski makes regular free throw 1 of 2
66-59
0:10
+1
Andrej Jakimovski makes regular free throw 2 of 2
67-59
0:01
Elijah Malone shooting foul (Toby Okani draws the foul)
