It happened a few weeks later than expected, but Andrej Jakimovski reached the end of his lengthy college basketball career.

The extended finish line finally arrived Tuesday, as the Colorado men’s basketball team dropped an 85-64 decision against Villanova in the first round of the College Basketball Crown in Las Vegas.

It was an unexpected postseason berth for the Buffs, who made strides late but nonetheless finished with a 14-21 record. Only one other CU team, the 22-loss club of 2008-09, has finished with more losses (two others had 21: 1987-88 and 1988-89).

Jakimovski played in 154 games during a career marked by four solid seasons at Washington State. His lengthy list of former teammates varies widely from Atlanta Hawks forward Mouhamed Gueye to starters on other power conference teams this season like TJ Bamba (Oregon), Dishon Jackson (Iowa State) and Myles Rice (Indiana).

It wasn’t the season Jakimovski wanted after reaching the NCAA Tournament last season with the Cougars. And his 0-for-3 mark from long range against Villanova left Jakimovski with a career-low .318 3-point percentage. But Jakimovski has seen enough college basketball to believe the mix of projected returnees for the Buffs, combined with a talented incoming freshman class, will get the program back on track.

“All of us worked really hard these couple weeks just to be in shape,” Jakimovski said. “Coach (Tad) Boyle gave us an opportunity to play in the biggest stage. Especially the young guys, they had an opportunity to grow, to make a mistake and keep playing through mistakes. They don’t want to lose next year like we did this year. I think they’re going to work really hard this summer. They’re good guys. Good kids.

“They all have potential, and I think the program’s in good shape. Obviously the Big 12 is one of the best conferences in the country and it’s hard to play, but I think they’re in good shape.”

Final tallies

The extra game dented the Buffs’ final numbers among the program’s all-time top free-throw shooting teams.

CU finished the Big 12 tournament with a free throw mark of .754, which ranked sixth among the program’s season leaders. However, the Buffs played without their top free-throw shooter against Villanova in Julian Hammond III, who opted to rest an injured back, and they finished 7-for-13 at the line. That dropped the Buffs’ season percentage to .750, which ranks eighth all-time.

Turnovers still were a problem against Villanova, with the eight committed by CU playing a big role in the Wildcats’ early lead. Yet the Buffs still finished under their average at 13, leaving their season average at 14.4, the most in 15 seasons under Boyle.

CU’s season-long struggles at the 3-point line also continued against Villanova, as the Buffs finished 7-for-25 from the arc. That dropped the Buffs’ season 3-point percentage to .321, the second-lowest under Boyle.

The only lower 3-point mark posted by a CU Boyle team was a .318 percentage in the 2013-14 season, when the Buffs played without their top 3-point shooter, Spencer Dinwiddie, for the second half of the season.

Notable

CU forward Bangot Dak recorded one blocked shot against Villanova, giving him 46 on the season. That ties Josh Scott’s 2014-15 total for No. 15 among the Buffs’ season leaders. … Dak, Assane Diop and Trevor Baskin were the only CU players to play in all 35 games. … Villanova’s 11 3-pointers marked the 10th time this season an opponent has hit at least 10 against the Buffs.