Nov. 27, 2024 01:14 AM EST

No. 2 Uconn Falls Again In Maui, Losing 73-72 To Colorado On Jakimovski's Off-Balance Layup

Colorado forward Trevor Baskin calls for a timeout as UConn forward Liam McNeeley stands over him while trying to grab the ball during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game at the Maui Invitational Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024, in Lahaina, Hawaii. Colorado won 73-72. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson) Lindsey Wasson, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Colorado forward Trevor Baskin calls for a timeout as UConn forward Liam McNeeley stands over him while trying to grab the ball during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game at the Maui Invitational Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024, in Lahaina, Hawaii. Colorado won 73-72. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
UConn guard Solo Ball reacts after a basket against Colorado during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game at the Maui Invitational Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024, in Lahaina, Hawaii. Colorado won 73-72. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
UConn forward Jaylin Stewart, center, grabs the loose ball against Colorado during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game at the Maui Invitational Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024, in Lahaina, Hawaii. Colorado won 73-72. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Colorado guard RJ Smith (5) reacts after a basket as UConn forward Jayden Ross (23) looks on during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game at the Maui Invitational Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024, in Lahaina, Hawaii. Colorado won 73-72. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Colorado forward Andrej Jakimovski sits up while being greeted by the bench after falling while making a basket against UConn during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game at the Maui Invitational Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024, in Lahaina, Hawaii. Colorado won 73-72. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
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LAHAINA, Hawaii (AP) — Andrej Jakimovski converted an off-balance layup with 8 seconds left, and Colorado handed No. 2 UConn its second loss in two days at the Maui Invitational, beating the two-time defending national champion 73-72 on Tuesday.

A day after a 99-97 overtime loss to Memphis that left Huskies coach Dan Hurley livid about the officiating, UConn (4-2) couldn't shake the unranked Buffaloes (5-1), who shot 62.5% in the second half.

With Colorado trailing 72-71 in the closing seconds, Jakimovski drove to his right and absorbed contact from UConn’s Liam McNeeley. He tossed the ball toward the glass and the shot was good as he fell to the floor. Hassan Diarra missed a 3-pointer just ahead of the buzzer for UConn.

Elijah Malone and Julian Hammond III scored 16 points each for Colorado, and Jakimovski had 12 points and 10 rebounds.

The Huskies led 40-32 at halftime and by nine points early in the second half, but Colorado quickly closed that gap. McNeeley led UConn with 20 points.

Takeaways

UConn: Hurley's squad is facing its first adversity in quite a while. The Huskies arrived on Maui with a 17-game winning streak that dated to February.

Colorado: The Buffaloes were held to season lows in points (56) and field goal percentage (37%) in a 16-point loss to Michigan State on Monday but shot 51.1% overall and 56.3% (9 of 16) from 3-point range against the Huskies.

Key moment

Hurley called timeout to set up the Huskies' final possession, but the Buffs forced them to take a contested 3.

Key stat

Colorado had a 28-26 rebounding advantage after being out-rebounded 42-29 by Michigan State.

Up next

Colorado plays No. 5 Iowa State in the fifth-place game Wednesday. UConn will play Dayton in the seventh-place game.

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