Colorado University Athletics
Colorado
Nebraska
Colorado Falls To Nebraska, 75-67
January 12, 2002 | Men's Basketball
LINCOLN, Neb. - John Robinson scored Nebraska's first 14 points of the second half to push the Cornhuskers to a 10-point lead, then made five of six free-throws in the final 1:41 to seal a 75-67 win over Colorado.
Nebraska (8-6, 1-2 Big 12) fell behind 11-0 in the first four minutes of the game, but rallied to lead 41-35 at halftime.
Robinson led the Cornhuskers with a career-high 25 points.
Colorado (9-4, 0-2) shot just 40 percent for the game and scored just seven points in the first nine minutes in the second half. By then, Robinson had scored 11 and Nebraska led 52-42.
The Buffaloes made a quick charge, closing the Nebraska lead to two points on Michel Morandais' basket with nine minutes left.
Wilson Thomas then hit a driving shot to put Nebraska back up by four and Cary Cochran followed with a 3-pointer to push the margin to 60-53 with 7:34 remaining.
Colorado stayed close and cut the lead to four on Chevis Brimmer's scoop shot with 1:10 remaining.
Cochran and Robinson then each hit a pair of free throws to put the game away for Nebraska.
Nebraska won the game at the free throw line, outscoring Colorado by four, and at the 3-point line, shooting 13-of-24 compared to 9-of-26 for the Buffaloes. Nebraska added 13 steals to help overcome Colorado's 44-32 rebounding advantage.
Joining Robinson in double figures for Nebraska were Cochran with 13 and Brennon Clemmons with 11.
Brimmer and Blair Wilson led Colorado with 16 points each. David Harrison had 11 for the Buffaloes and Morandais added 10.
Colorado Head Coach Ricardo Patton quotes:
ON THE GAME OVERALL -- "The biggest thing was we didn't make enough shots. As simple as it sounds, that's the key. You have to make shots on the road. You can't win big games when your upperclassmen don't play well."
ON JOHN ROBINSON II -- "They did a good job setting screens for him. We knew they had some guys that could really shoot the ball off screens. We talked about it all week long. One of the things we're missing right now is leadership on the court."
ON COMPETITION IN THE BIG 12 -- "Isn't it amazing how things have changed? People used to expect us to come to Nebraska and come away with a win every time. It's tough to win games on the road. I think the must-win games are the games in Boulder. Anytime you can win on the road, that's extra."
ON THE GAME OVERALL -- "One of the things that our post players have to recognize is that sometimes the best thing to do is throw it right back out. I thought they (Nebraska) did a great job of swarming the post."
Colorado center David Harrison quotes:
ON COMPETITION IN THE BIG 12 -- "Nebraska is not a bad basketball team. Anybody in this league can beat anybody. We played well, but not well enough to beat a team of this caliber."
Colorado guard Chevis Brimmer quotes:
ON STOPPING JOHN ROBINSON II -- "It was real hard - especially since he was not known as a shooter on the scouting report. We knew he could hit shots, but not as consistently as he did."
ON GETTING THE BALL INSIDE -- "We wanted to get the ball inside and then kick it out. It was hard because they were double- and triple teaming us underneath. We have to make ourselves available outside."
ON COMPETITION IN THE BIG 12 -- "That's how tough the Big 12 is. You have to come out every night and bring it. Whoever plays the best will win - regardless of talent. This is a game we definitely wanted to win. Looking down the schedule, this is one we thought we could get."
Nebraska Head Coach Barry Collier quotes:
ON THE GAME IN GENERAL: "I thought Colorado came out really ready to play in this game. I like that our guys were able to get up off the ground after the Kansas game and in this one down 11-0. We have to credit our players with determination to get back in the game. We had some great play off our bench. It took a while for some of our starters to get going, but once again took care of the ball pretty well. We are really pleased to be at home and to get this win."
ON BOUNCING BACK FROM 11-0 DEFICIT: "I thought the bigger issue was that our defense was not as sound as it needed to be. There also looked to be some hesitation offensively. But I think that we have a good shooting team. Our overall field goal percentage is affected by our limited number of low-post shots we have been getting. I eventually think we will come back offensively if we can execute well and get those good shots."
ON GETTING OPEN SHOTS: "I think these guys are very willing screeners. They will give up the play offensively in order to get a teammate open. That's the character that they have and they are trying to do that every game."
ON JOHN ROBINSON II: "I think the bottom line is that John Robinson is playing like a senior. The most important thing to John is winning can contributing anyway he can. Sometimes he is not on and doesn't get to play as much, but he has been very aggressive and a smarter basketball player as time has gone on. He has accepted the role of really being a two-guard. I think he will accept anything if it puts us in a position to win."
Nebraska player quotes:
Senior guard John Robinson II:
ON TAKING A CHARGE FROM CU'S DAVID HARRISON: "I thought about moving. He is a big kid and I just had to protect myself. I knew they (officials) were going to call the charge. I saw him coming, but I had to take the charge or coach Collier would have pulled me out of the game. I was just in the way."
ON HIS RECENT HOT SHOOTING HAND: "I've been getting a lot of shot in before and after practice, before the games and early in the morning. I am just getting my rhythm early, and I was feeling really good, and my teammates were getting me the ball. The guys are getting me the ball at the right times and setting screens and the shots are just falling for me."
ON COMING BACK FROM EARLY 11-0 DEFICIT: "We have a great group of guys on this team. Everybody plays hard and everybody has the will to win. I knew we weren't going to give up it just took a little bit of time. This team bounced back like I knew we would."
Freshman guard Corey Simms:
ON PROVIDING A SPARK OFF THE BENCH: "My role is to add that spark coming off the bench. I just tried to go in and hit the glass and get the loose balls and do the things we need to do. We knew all week that they were a bigger team, and we were going to have to block out. Coach was depending on me going in and getting a couple of rebounds, so I just tried to go in and get position and grab some boards."
