BOULDER – With KJ Simpson out of the lineup solely and Tristan da Silva relegated to a reserve function after struggling an ankle harm in opposition to UCLA, most of Colorado’s scoring punch started the common season finale Saturday on the bench.
The beginning 5 head coach Tad Boyle turned to in opposition to Utah took the ground with a mixed scoring common of 24.6. Or about 4.9 factors per participant.
All issues thought of, CU turned in considered one of its gutsiest performances of the season.
The Buffs capped a tough common season by celebrating Senior Day with a 69-60 victory on the CU Occasions Heart. With the win, CU (16-15, 8-12 Pac-12) averted what would have been simply the second sub-.500 common season in 13 years below Boyle.
The victory ended a run of 4 losses in 5 video games for the Buffs, whereas Utah sustained its fifth consecutive loss to shut the common season.
CU is the ninth seed for subsequent week’s Pac-12 Convention match in Las Vegas because of Oregon’s win in opposition to Stanford. The Buffs will play eighth-seeded Washington within the opening recreation of the primary spherical on Wednesday.
The Buffs scored 9 consecutive factors on a Jalen Gabbidon 3-pointer, adopted by a pair of 3s from da Silva, halfway by means of the primary half and by no means trailed once more. CU led 33-21 at halftime and opened up a 16-point lead on a pair of Ethan Wright 3-pointers early within the second half.
Da Silva in the end displayed few issues together with his ankle, ending 5-for-8 with 15 factors off the bench. CU’s Nique Clifford posted his first profession double-double with 14 factors and a career-high 11 rebounds. With Simpson sidelined, Julian Hammond III acquired a begin and responded with 15 factors, 5 assists and three rebounds.
Colorado 69, Utah 60
UTAH (17-14)
Be.Carlson 1-4 0-0 3, Br.Carlson 5-15 3-4 13, Anthony 1-7 2-4 4, Stefanovic 4-15 0-0 12, Worster 5-8 4-4 15, Madsen 3-10 0-0 9, Holt 1-1 0-0 2, Keita 1-1 0-0 2, Brenchley 0-0 0-0 0, Exacte 0-2 0-0 0, Tarlac 0-0 0-0 0, Saunders 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 21-63 9-12 60.
COLORADO (16-15)
Lovering 3-8 0-0 6, Clifford 5-8 2-2 14, Hammond 5-12 5-5 15, O’Brien 2-3 0-0 4, Wright 3-9 2-4 10, da Silva 5-8 2-3 15, Gabbidon 2-5 0-0 5, Allen 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 25-54 11-14 69.
Halftime — Colorado 33-21. 3-Level Targets — Utah 9-30 (Stefanovic 4-12, Madsen 3-9, Be.Carlson 1-2, Worster 1-3, Exacte 0-1, Br.Carlson 0-3), Colorado 8-21 (da Silva 3-5, Clifford 2-3, Wright 2-6, Gabbidon 1-3, Allen 0-1, Hammond 0-3). Fouled Out — Holt. Rebounds — Utah 33 (Br.Carlson 10), Colorado 39 (Clifford 11). Assists — Utah 14 (Stefanovic 5), Colorado 12 (Hammond 5). Complete Fouls — Utah 15, Colorado 11.