UConn faced a tough loss against Colorado in the Maui Invitational, marking their second consecutive defeat in a row. The game came down to a last-minute play by Andrej Jakimovski, who made an impressive off-balance layup with just eight seconds left on the clock, securing Colorado’s victory with a final score of 73-72.
The Huskies, who were led by coach Dan Hurley, couldn’t recover from their previous overtime loss to Memphis and struggled to maintain their lead against the unranked Buffaloes. Despite holding a solid advantage at halftime, UConn was unable to keep Colorado at bay as they mounted a comeback in the second half.
With the game tied at 72-71 in the closing moments, Jakimovski drove to the basket, absorbed contact from UConn’s Liam McNeeley, and managed to sink the game-winning shot as he fell to the floor. UConn’s final attempt at a buzzer-beater fell short, sealing their fate with another loss.
McNeeley put up an impressive performance for UConn, scoring 20 points in the game. On the other side, Elijah Malone and Julian Hammond III contributed significantly to Colorado’s victory with 16 points each, while Jakimovski added 12 points and 10 rebounds to his name.
This defeat marks a significant setback for UConn, who arrived at the Maui Invitational with a 17-game winning streak dating back to February. Hurley acknowledged the challenges his team faced in the past two days but remained optimistic about their future opportunities to bounce back from these losses.
Looking ahead, Colorado will face Iowa State in the fifth-place game, while UConn is set to play against Dayton in the seventh-place game. Despite the disappointing results, both teams are looking to regroup and finish the tournament on a positive note.
The game between UConn and Colorado showcased the unpredictable nature of college basketball, where even top-ranked teams can face unexpected challenges and upsets. As the tournament progresses, both teams will need to learn from their defeats and come back stronger in the upcoming games to prove their resilience and competitive spirit on the court.
