Media after yesterday's win:
Article -
https://cubuffs.com/news/2024/2/24/mens-basketball-buffs-vs-utah
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Buffaloes Roll Past Utah
By: Neill Woelk, Contributing Editor
BOULDER — Colorado's
KJ Simpson scored 28 points Saturday and the Buffaloes' men's basketball team rolled to an 89-65 win over Utah at the CU Events Center.
Tad Boyle's Buffs improved to 14-1 at home this year while bumping their overall record to 18-9 and their Pac-12 mark to 9-7. The Utes fell to 16-11, 7-9.
Colorado led by nine at the half and the Utes were still within 10 with just under 14 minutes to play. But the Buffs used a 9-0 run to boost their cushion to 19, then quickly pushed the margin into the 20s and Utah never shaved the margin below 20 again.
Simpson led four Buffs in double figures while shooting 10-for-15 from the floor, including a 5-for-8 night from long range.
J'Vonne Hadley added 20 points and nine rebounds,
Eddie Lampkin Jr. scored 13 points and grabbed seven rebounds and
Tristan da Silva chipped in 12 points.
Gabe Madsen led Utah with 18 points, but he scored just two in the second half thanks to stellar defense from Hadley.
Colorado had an outstanding shooting night, connecting on 54 percent of its shots (32-for-59), including a 10-for-21 effort from 3-point range. The Utes shot 44 percent (27-for-61) but hit just four of their 23 attempts from beyond the arc and were just 12-for-31 in the second half.
But perhaps the most important statistics for the Buffs came in the turnover department. Colorado entered the game dead last in the Pac-12 in turnovers, but gave the ball away just four times against the Utes — a season low and tying the fewest ever by CU in a conference game. The Buffs also forced 10 Utah turnovers that led to 10 CU points.
The turnover number produced a big smile on Boyle's face.
"That was fantastic, and 19 assists to go with it," Boyle said. "If you do that, you're going to win a lot of games. We were efficient offensively, we showed great patience, we shared the ball and defensively we cranked it up in the second half. KJ did what he's been doing for us all year and J'Vonne was phenomenal both offensively and defensively."
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DECISIVE MOMENT: After Utah pulled to within 10 early in the second half, the Buffs put together a 9-0 run, part of an 18-4 surge that gave Colorado a 24-point cushion. Utah never came closer than 22 again.
WHAT IT MEANS: The win keeps the Buffs squarely in contention for a top-four conference finish, which would mean a first-round bye in the Pac-12 tournament.
KEY STATISTICS: Colorado committed a season-low four turnovers, which also tied the program record for fewest turnovers in a conference game. … CU shot 54 percent (32-for-59), including a 10-for-21 effort from 3-point range … The Utes shot 44 percent (27-for-61) but hit just four of their 23 attempts from beyond the arc and were just 12-for-31 in the second half … Colorado also had 19 assists, tying their season high in Pac-12 play.
NEXT UP: The Buffs wrap up their home schedule for the season next week with a pair at the Events Center. CU plays host to Cal on Wednesday in a 6 p.m. matchup (Pac-12 Network), then welcomes Stanford to the Events Center on Sunday for a 7 p.m. game (FS1).
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Box score - https://cubuffs.com/sports/mens-basketball/stats/2023-24/utah/boxscore/16615
Quotes -
Colorado Head Coach Tad Boyle Opening statement: “You go into these games this time of year in mid-February, and you don't expect to be up 30 at one ...
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