LOS ANGELES — The Batman look was maybe applicable, as a result of Javon Ruffin swooped in and virtually saved the day for the Colorado Buffaloes.
Ruffin’s rescue try didn’t come to fruition on Thursday evening, as a turnover-filled effort by the Buffs led to a 68-61 defeat at USC. However his efficiency was a vibrant spot on an in any other case dismal evening for CU. And what made it extra spectacular was that Ruffin had little to no time to get acquainted with the face masks he was compelled to put on towards the Trojans.
The redshirt freshman guard mentioned he suffered a fractured nostril throughout final week’s win towards Oregon State. Ruffin’s custom-fitted masks didn’t arrive till after the workforce shoot-around on Thursday morning, which means Ruffin was solely capable of hoist few pregame apply pictures along with his new accent earlier than debuting it towards the Trojans.
CU’s masked slinger from 3-point vary will attempt to hold his sizzling streak going when the Buffs look to drag off a serious upset on Saturday evening at No. 7 UCLA.
“Each shot I shoot, I really feel prefer it’s getting in,” Ruffin mentioned. “If I get a possibility if somebody leaves me open, I’m not going to be scared to take it. It doesn’t matter if I’ve hit three or if I’m 0-for-5.
“I broke my nostril final sport however it’s nothing actually that severe. The masks is only a precaution to verify I don’t make it any worse. I truly simply received it after shoot-around. Between the final sport and (Thursday) I needed to get scanned and get it made. I wished to get used to it in warm-ups.”
If Ruffin is the superstitious type, he would possibly retain the masks even after his nostril heals. After CU fell behind 15-3, Ruffin entered the sport and virtually instantly helped get the Buffs again within the sport with a pair of 3-pointers. He additionally was fouled on one other 3-point try and knocked down all three free throws.
On a workforce that hasn’t been as robust from lengthy vary as anticipated, Ruffin’s 3-for-6 mark at USC elevated his season 3-point share to a stable .388. He completed with 12 factors, matching his second-highest scoring whole of the season, and likewise matched a season-high with 5 rebounds. On an evening that noticed the Buffs basically lose the sport on account of a season-high 22 turnovers, Ruffin wasn’t answerable for any of them in 23 minutes of courtroom time.
“We’ve simply received to play beneath management,” Ruffin mentioned. “A variety of our turnovers weren’t even on passes or something. A variety of it was simply dealing with the ball, or stepping out of bounds and stuff like that. These are all issues we will simply, simply management. We simply must play slightly bit smarter.”
The finale of the Los Angeles journey is a way more troublesome project for the Buffs, as UCLA improved to 6-0 within the Pac-12 Convention with a 21-point house win on Thursday evening towards Utah.
“You’ve received to maneuver on. You’ve received to have a brief reminiscence on this league and also you’ve received to bounce again rapidly,” CU head coach Tad Boyle mentioned. “UCLA, they’re actually, actually good. They’ve received two of the most effective seniors in school basketball for my part, not simply the Pac-12, in Tyger Campbell and Jaime Jaquez. They’re terrific gamers on this league. So we’d higher be prepared.”
CU Buffs males’s basketball at No. 7 UCLA Bruins
TIPOFF: Saturday, 6 p.m. MT, Pauley Pavilion, Los Angeles.
TV/RADIO: TV — FOX. Radio — KOA 850 AM and 94.1 FM.
RECORDS: Colorado 11-7, 3-4 Pac-12 Convention; UCLA 15-2, 6-0.
COACHES: UCLA — Mick Cronin, 4th season (83-32, 448-203 total); Colorado — Tad Boyle, thirteenth season (265-162, 321-228 total).
KEY PLAYERS: UCLA — G/F Jaime Jaquez Jr., 6-7, Sr. (16.4 ppg, 6.7 rpg, .513 3-point share); G Jaylen Clark, 6-5, Jr. (14.0 ppg, 6.7 rpg, .518 subject objective share); G Tyger Campbell, 5-11, R-Sr. (13.5 ppg, 4.8 apg, .372 3-point share); G David Singleton, 6-4, Gr. (10.4 ppg, .474 3-point share). Colorado — G KJ Simpson, 6-2, So. (17.8 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 3.9 apg); F Tristan da Silva, 6-9, Jr. (14.9 ppg, 5.1 rpg, .525 subject objective share); F J’Vonne Hadley, 6-6, Jr. (8.9 ppg, 6.2 rpg, .556 subject objective share).
NOTES: Following Thursday’s loss at USC, Colorado dropped solely two spots in Friday’s NET rankings, dipping to No. 62 from No. 60. … The Buffs have struggled to defend the 3-point line for a lot of the season, and they are going to be examined from lengthy vary towards the Bruins, who lead the Pac-12 with a .371 3-point share. CU ranks tenth within the convention with a .328 defensive 3-point share. … Purpose for hope for Colorado followers? The Buffs are 2-0 towards ranked foes this season, defeating Tennessee (then No. 11) and Texas A&M (No. 24) on impartial flooring in November. … The Bruins have received 12 consecutive video games since struggling back-to-back losses in November towards Illinois and Baylor in Las Vegas. … Coming off his first profession double-double at USC with career-highs of 13 factors and 14 rebounds, Buffs middle Lawson Lovering has gone 13-for-21 prior to now 5 video games. … CU returns house to host the Washington faculties, starting Thursday towards the UW Huskies (7 p.m., ESPNU).
