BUFFS TOP COUGARS
Five CU players in double figures
BOULDER» The Colorado student section in the south bleachers stretched from the floor to the concourse at Coors Events Center on Thursday night with classes back in session, and the basketball buzz typically reserved for a Pac-12 juggernaut was on display for a league basement dweller.
The allure of CU hoops is growing. Buffs fans’ exuberance was well rewarded.
CU defeated Washington State 82-73 by holding off a late rally. The Buffs led by 26 points early in the second half, only to watch Wazzu claw back behind a barrage of 3-pointers — 15 total on the night — and make a 26-5 run. With eight minutes left, CU’s advantage dwindled to five points.
But CU responded with its own surge, a 12-0 run, and the Buffs clinched their fourth victory in five games. It brought 7,477 in attendance to their feet as the sound of big-time basketball returned to Boulder.
“This team has a lot of fight,” CU guard Dominique Collier said. “We’ve overcome a lot this year.”
CU featured five players scoring in double figures — McKinley Wright (17), Namon Wright (16), George King (16), Collier (13) and Lucas Siewert (11) — and the team shot 51.7 percent from the field. WSU guard Viont’e Daniels led the Cougars with 18 points, hitting 6-of-9 from 3-point range.
The Buffaloes (12-7, 4-3) proved they could thrive as a home underdog earlier this month with wins over Pac-12 heavyweights Arizona and Arizona State. On Thursday, the Buffs showcased they could take care of business as the favorite inside the Coors Events Center as well against WSU (9-9, 1-5).
Next up for CU is a 4 p.m. Saturday tipoff at home against Washington.
“We made it interesting in the second half, obviously,” CU coach Tad Boyle said. “Hopefully we can learn from that lapse we had both defensively and offensively. But overall, a quality win.”