Quick break
Why the Buffs gained: CU shot .514 within the second half whereas tigtening the defensive strain, limiting San Francisco to a .441 mark after halftime.
Three stars
1. Isaiah Johnson. The freshman guard went 7-for-10 and scored 12 of his team-high 17 factors within the second half.
2. Barrington Hargress. The Buffs’ level guard was environment friendly, going 6-for-11 general and 2-for-3 on 3-pointers earlier than finishign with 15 factors and three assists.
3. Bangot Dak. The junior ahead did a bit large of every thing, recording 13 factors, 5 rebounds and a career-high six assists.
Up subsequent: CU will full the Acrisure Vacation Traditional on Friday towards former Pac-12 rival Washington (2:30 p.m. MT, truTV).
PALM DESERT, Calif. — Due to a aircraft journey and a pair nights at a resort resort, Colorado Buffaloes already had been nicely conscious they had been on the highway.
But as soon as the ball was tipped off, the realities of life on the highway quickly smacked the Buffaloes within the face. The skinny and scattered crowd at Acrisure Area compelled each groups to generate their very own vitality. The wealth of free throws CU loved at residence principally disappeared. And the pictures that fell at such a torrid tempo by means of the season-opening run of 5 residence video games cooled appreciably.
Not less than till the second half.
The CU males’s basketball staff tightened the defensive strain to unleash a second-half surge, sending the Buffaloes to a 79-69 win towards San Francisco within the first recreation of the Acrisure Vacation Traditional.
CU (6-0) will play within the second recreation on Friday afternoon towards Washington (2:30 p.m. MT, truTV).
“We’re making progress. There’s no query we’re,” CU head coach Tad Boyle stated. “I believed we had been a bit undisciplined within the first half. However the second half we had been higher. Our guys, you may see it in observe. (Wednesday) we didn’t go very lengthy, however the defensive phase was spirited. Our guys had been dialed-in. So I see it in observe, after which I do see enchancment within the recreation.
“We’re nonetheless not the place we wish to be or have to be. However we’re getting there. Our guys are beginning to play a bit extra related defensively.”
San Francisco led 37-35 at halftime and nonetheless led 51-49 early within the second half when the Buffs slowly took command, piecing collectively a 22-10 stretch that turned that two-point deficit right into a 71-61 lead with 5 minutes, 24 seconds remaining.
After permitting three of its first 5 opponents to shoot not less than 51%, the Buffs held San Francisco to a .441 mark, with a .433 share after halftime. CU, which shot not less than 50% in every of the primary 5 video games, shot .441 within the first half however turned it on after the break, placing up a .514 mark after halftime that included a 4-for-9 effort on 3-pointers.
CU additionally completed with a season-low seven turnovers, which was the Buffs’ lowest whole since recording seven in consecutive video games late within the 2023-24 season. The Buffs entered the sport averaging 32.4 free throw makes an attempt per recreation however nonetheless scratched out a win whereas going simply 5-for-8 on the line.
“Discovering out other ways you may win is an enormous factor to do,” CU level guard Barrington Hargress stated. “It’s good that it’s early within the season and we’re discovering other ways to win. All that’s good preparation for the Large 12.”
Freshman guard Isaiah Johnson powered the second-half surge, scoring 12 of his team-high 17 factors after halftime. The Buffs continued their streak of getting not less than 4 gamers rating in double-figures in each recreation this 12 months, with Hargress recording 15 factors with three assists, whereas Bangot Dak compiled one other robust all-around recreation with 13 factors, 5 rebounds and a career-high six assists.
“We strung collectively stops, and the massive emphasis we made at halftime was to rebound the ball,” Johnson stated. “I simply assume we performed collectively as a staff. We moved the ball, and I feel the massive factor was our (seven) turnovers to their 13. We took care of the ball.”
Colorado 79, San Francisco 69
COLORADO (6-0)
Dak 6-14 0-1 13, Rancik 2-9 1-3 7, Malone 6-6 1-1 13, Hargress 6-11 1-1 15, Kossaras 2-6 0-0 6, Johnson 7-10 2-2 17, Sanders 2-3 0-0 4, Michaeli 1-4 0-0 2, Holland 1-5 0-0 2. Totals 33-68 5-8 79.
SAN FRANCISCO (5-2)
Diaz Graham 4-5 0-1 10, Wang 4-12 2-2 13, Beasley 5-11 2-2 13, Masic 1-4 0-0 2, Riley 5-8 0-0 12, Cook dinner 1-4 2-4 4, Fuchs 2-6 1-2 5, Smiley 1-5 0-0 3, Abosi 2-3 0-0 5, Gigiberia 1-1 0-2 2. Totals 26-59 7-13 69.
Halftime: San Francisco 37-35; 3-point area targets: Colorado 8-20 (Hargress 2-3, Kossaras 2-4, Rancik 2-4, Dak 1-2, Johnson 1-2, Michaeli 0-1, Sanders 0-1, Holland 0-3); San Francisco 10-27 (Wang 3-6, Diaz Graham 2-3, Riley 2-4, Abosi 1-2, Smiley 1-3, Beasley 1-4, Cook dinner 0-2, Masic 0-3). Rebounds: Colorado 35 (Rancik 9); San Francisco 35 (Beasley, Cook dinner, Fuchs 5). Assists: Colorado 19 (Dak 6); San Francisco 11 (Fuchs 4). Turnovers: Colorado 7 (Rancik 2); San Francisco 13 (Riley 5). Complete fouls: Colorado 16, San Francisco 16.