Bu≠s win, but Boyle unhappy

boulder» Colorado men’s basketball coach Tad Boyle believes his team is breaking new ground. And he couldn’t be more disgusted.

Josh Fortune shook off a miserable slump with a season-high 15 points, and the Buffaloes withstood a 29point second half from Rob Davis in an 81-71 victory over Division II Fort Hays (Kan.) State on Saturday.

Fortune, who was 0-for-13 from the field in his previous two games for CU, shot 5-for-9 against the Tigers.

Deleon Brown added a career-high 15 points and Xavier Johnson also contributed 15 for the Buffs, who shot 43 percent from the field, including 46 percent in the first half.

It felt anything but victorious. CU’s seventh-year head coach began his postgame news conference with an apology to the fans who braved frigid temperatures to show up Saturday.

“This team has two things going for it right now,” Boyle said of the Buffs. “Number one, they own the most disappointing loss in that seven-year span, the Colorado State game a few weeks ago. And now they also can add to that, that they own the most disappointing win.”

After the Buffs held Davis scoreless at the break, the 5foot-11 senior guard went off in the second half. Averaging 24 points per game, Davis was a season-best 7for-10 from 3-point range.

Davis’ sharpshooting allowed the Tigers to mount a rally, using a 17-4 run to climb within 47-39 on a layup by Hadley Gillum with 14:46 left. Davis had 11 points during the burst after going 0-for-4 from the field in the first half.

“There’s no feeling,” Davis said of his stroke. “I’m just numb. No conscious, just keep shooting.”

Davis swished a jumper for his 29th point of the half to cut the Tigers’ deficit to 76-67 with 2:55 left. It was the most points in one half by any player in Coors Events Center history.

The Buffs (8-3) got a few timely free throws and rebounds down the stretch to hold off the Tigers (7-5).