Quick break
Why the Buffs gained: CU went 19-for-21 on the free throw line and outrebounded Utah 41-35.
Three stars
1. Sebastian Rancik. The sophomore ahead shook off an 0-for-5 evening on the 3-point line to go 9-for-9 on free throws whereas main the Buffs with 19 factors.
2. Bangot Dak. Posted his fourth double-double of the season, his third in 5 video games and his second in a row, recording 16 factors and 12 rebounds.
3. Barrington Hargress. Different Buffs scored extra factors, however CU’s level guard obtained CU off to an excellent begin earlier than ending with 9 factors and 5 assists.
Up subsequent: CU takes intention at No. 14 Texas Tech on Saturday on the CU Occasions Heart (5 p.m., CBS Sports activities Community).
After one other convention victory, the kind that was painfully elusive a 12 months in the past, ahead Bangot Dak was prepared for the following problem. Even when that subsequent problem would be the hardest one to this point this season.
Dak had simply posted his second double-double in as many video games and had been tentatively launched from his postgame press convention duties when the junior ahead insisted on including one final thought.
“I’m able to go. I’m able to play Texas Tech,” Dak mentioned. “We’re going to return out able to go.”
CU took care of enterprise in its first convention dwelling recreation of the season on Wednesday evening, defeating Utah 85-73 on the CU Occasions Heart. It took 16 convention video games for the Buffaloes to notch two Huge 12 wins a 12 months in the past, but the Buffs will probably be 2-0 within the league when No. 14 Texas Tech visits Boulder on Saturday.
Whereas it has been a positive slate out of the gate in Huge 12 play for the Buffs, CU nonetheless is in spectacular firm as one among 5 convention groups to begin 2-0, with the Buffs boasting a unbeaten league mark alongside No. 1 Arizona, No. 3 Iowa State, No. 7 Houston and No. 9 BYU.
“Good workforce victory,” CU head coach Tad Boyle mentioned. “I really feel just like the ceiling of this workforce continues to be larger than the place we’re enjoying. We had that factor at a 10-point recreation a number of occasions, within the first half and second half, and we couldn’t break it open. We simply allow them to come again.”
Boyle mentioned the 2 issues he has discovered to have a look at instantly on the stat sheet after video games for this specific workforce has been defensive subject objective share and offensive rebounds allowed. CU was strong on the defensive entrance, with Utah’s .394 subject objective share marking simply the fourth time in 15 video games the Buffs have held an opponent beneath 40%.
CU surrendered 5 offensive rebounds within the first half, which the Utes changed into an 8-0 edge on second-chance factors by halftime. Utah outrebounded the Buffs 18-16 within the first half however Colorado completed with a 41-35 benefit.
“It simply reveals the character and the competitiveness of our group,” CU ahead Sebastian Rancik mentioned. “We’ve simply obtained to maintain getting higher every single day.”
The Buffs led for a lot of the competition — the Utes led for simply 21 seconds the complete evening — after leaping to an 11-1 lead out of the gate. Utah remained shut all through the second half and trailed simply 69-67 with beneath 4 minutes remaining when CU reeled off eight consecutive factors, pushing the result in 77-67 with 1:30 to go.
CU had at the least 4 gamers rating in double figures for the thirteenth time in 15 video games, with Rancik countering an 0-for-5 evening from 3-point vary by going 9-for-9 on free throws with a team-high 19 factors. Dak recorded 16 factors and 12 rebounds for his fourth double-double of the season and his third prior to now 5 video games.
The Buffs completed 19-for-21 on free throws and went an ideal 10-for-10 within the second half. Defensively, CU made it a tough evening for Utah’s high two scorers, guards Terrence Brown and Don McHenry. The duo mixed for 40 factors, however collectively they shot simply .359 (14-for-39) with as many assists (4) as turnovers.
“We did a greater job on the glass within the second half,” Boyle mentioned. “Did some good issues. It’s simply obtained to be a 40-minute recreation, a 40-minute effort.”
Colorado 85, Utah 73
UTAH (8-7, 0-2)
Dawes 6-11 3-6 16, Okonkwo 0-1 2-2 2, S.Traore 2-7 2-2 7, Brown 5-17 6-8 16, McHenry 9-22 3-5 24, Okay.Sanders 2-3 0-0 4, Hayes 0-0 0-0 0, Abbey 1-2 0-0 2, Howard 1-1 0-0 2, I.Traore 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 26-66 16-23 73.
COLORADO (12-3, 2-0)
Dak 6-12 2-2 16, Rancik 5-11 9-9 19, Malone 2-3 1-2 5, Hargress 4-9 0-0 9, Kossaras 1-5 0-0 3, Johnson 3-6 4-4 12, Holland 1-4 0-0 2, J.Sanders 4-6 1-2 9, Michaeli 3-6 2-2 10. Totals 29-62 19-21 85.
Halftime: Colorado 42-38. 3-point subject targets: Utah 5-16 (McHenry 3-7, Dawes 1-3, S.Traore 1-3, Okay.Sanders 0-1, Brown 0-2); Colorado 8-24 (Dak 2-3, Johnson 2-3, Michaeli 2-3, Hargress 1-3, Kossaras 1-4, J.Sanders 0-1, Holland 0-2, Rancik 0-5). Rebounds: Utah 35 (Dawes, McHenry 7), Colorado 41 (Dak 12). Assists: Utah 11 (Brown 3), Colorado 15 (Hargress 5). Turnovers: Utah 7 (Brown 3); Colorado 11 (4 gamers with two). Complete fouls: Utah 17, Colorado 15. A: 6,768.