LOS ANGELES — The Batman look was maybe applicable, as a result of Javon Ruffin swooped in and nearly 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 vivid 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 pressured to put on in opposition to the Trojans.
The redshirt freshman guard mentioned he suffered a fractured nostril throughout final week’s win in opposition to Oregon State. Ruffin’s custom-fitted masks didn’t arrive till after the crew shoot-around on Thursday morning, that means Ruffin was solely capable of hoist a number of pregame observe pictures together with his new accent earlier than debuting it in opposition to the Trojans.
CU’s masked slinger from 3-point vary will attempt to maintain his scorching streak going when the Buffs look to drag off a serious upset Saturday evening at No. 7 UCLA.
“Each shot I shoot, I really feel prefer it’s moving into,” 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 ensure I don’t make it any worse. I really simply bought it after shoot-around. Between the final sport and (Thursday) I needed to get scanned and get it made. I needed to get used to it in warm-ups.”
If Ruffin is the superstitious kind, he would possibly retain the masks even after his nostril heals. After CU fell behind 15-3, Ruffin entered the sport and nearly instantly helped get the Buffs again in it 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 crew that hasn’t been as sturdy from lengthy vary as anticipated, Ruffin’s 3-for-6 mark at USC elevated his season 3-point share to a strong 38.8. He completed with 12 factors, matching his second-highest scoring complete of the season, and likewise matched a season-high with 5 rebounds. On an evening that noticed the Buffs primarily lose the sport as a result of a season-high 22 turnovers, Ruffin wasn’t chargeable for any of them in 23 minutes of courtroom time.
“We’ve simply bought to play underneath 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 are able to simply, simply management. We simply must play a bit of bit smarter.”
The finale of the Los Angeles journey is a way more tough project for the Buffs, as UCLA improved to 6-0 within the Pac-12 Convention with a 21-point house win on Thursday evening in opposition to Utah.
“You’ve bought to maneuver on. You’ve bought to have a brief reminiscence on this league and also you’ve bought to bounce again rapidly,” CU head coach Tad Boyle mentioned. “UCLA, they’re actually, actually good. They’ve bought two of the very best seniors in school basketball in my view, 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 area aim 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 area aim share); F J’Vonne Hadley, 6-6, Jr. (8.9 ppg, 6.2 rpg, .556 area aim 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 in opposition to 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. … Motive for hope for Colorado followers? The Buffs are 2-0 in opposition to ranked foes this season, defeating Tennessee (then No. 11) and Texas A&M (No. 24) on impartial flooring in November. … The Bruins have gained 12 consecutive video games since struggling back-to-back losses in November in opposition to 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 in opposition to the UW Huskies (7 p.m., ESPNU).