Colorado University Athletics
Colorado
Iowa State
Buffs Edge Iowa State, 63-61
January 16, 2002 | Men's Basketball
BOULDER - After shooting a mere 4-of-19 from the field for the first 39:57 of the game, sophomore Stephane Pelle hit the biggest shot of the night and his career as a beautiful 10-foot fade away with just 2.9 seconds remaining capped an 8-0 CU run to end the game and gave the Colorado Buffaloes (10-4, 1-2 Big 12) a huge 63-61 win over Iowa State (9-9, 1-3 Big 12) Wednesday here at the Coors Events Center.
Pelle ended the game with his fourth double-double of the season and 16th of his career with 12 points and 14 rebounds as CU's impressive streak against a solid Iowa State program improves to five wins in the last six match-ups at the Events Center.
David Harrison showed what kind of player dominant player he can be with 21 points, one off his career high of 22, and career-highs in both rebounds (15) and blocks (5). The 7-foot sensation also shot 9-of-12 from the field and set a Colorado freshman record for rebounds that included nine offensive. His dominance was never more prevalent than in the final minute.
With just 56 seconds left, he rose above three Cyclones and grabbed a perfect lob from James Wright, who was standing well outside the three-point arc. A little off balance, he put the ball nicely off the glass and tied the game at 61-61. He then blocked a Tyray Pearson shot and grabbed the rebound with 31 seconds left. After Pelle's winning shot, he capped off the career night with the decisive steal in a futile last second attempt to win the game by the Cyclones.
Along with David Harrison and Pelle, sophomore Michel Morandais also scored in double-figures for the Buffs and nearly had his first career double-double with 12 points and eight boards in 29 minutes.
Wright ended the game with nine points and three assists, which D.J. Harrison added six points and Blair Wilson capped of CU's scoring with three points.
Jake Sullivan and Shane Power led the Cyclones, who led the game for the entire second half until David Harrison's lay-up with 56 seconds remaining. The Cyclones final score of the game at the 4:58 mark. Sullivan ended the game with 20 points and a game high five assists while Power had 15 points. Pearson ended the game with 10 points and 11 rebounds in a solid effort of his own for the Cyclones.
Postgame Quotes CU Head Coach Ricardo Patton
GENERAL: "It was a good win for us. I thought we were a group that played with a lot of focus. Ever since we got off the bus after the Nebraska loss, we have had a lot of focus and we really had practiced well on Monday and Tuesday. I think that carried over into tonight. Iowa State played a tremendous game and it just goes to show how tough this league is and that anybody can beat you on any given night."
ON MULTIPLE DEFENSES: "We tried to junk (our defenses) up tonight so we wouldn't give them a steady dive with just one defense. Our guys had really good focus on the floor and it shows them what they can do when on the run and how they can adjust during the game. I think our guys played really well on defense. We know that the key is `if you don't get stops, then you can't be stopped (on offense).' That's something we are learning and starting to play well with."
ON C DAVID HARRISON: "I don't know if he has done anything so far to deserve to being double-teamed. I was just glad to see him have some one-on-one coverage, and I thought he did a good job for us tonight."
ON F STEPHANE PELLE'S WINNING SHOT: "That play was designed to send David (Harrison) and Stephane (Pelle) down low and for Stephane to set the pick. But somehow he was unable to set the pick and he rolled out to take the shot. He has got free reign as long as he is not being selfish, just like we have seen he is not."
ON HIS 100th WIN: "I haven't thought about it yet...and I probably won't think about it until I am 100."
Postgame Quotes COLORADO PLAYERS
F STEPHANE PELLE:
ON HIS GAME-WINNING SHOT -- "Coach Patton set a play for us to run. I kind of screwed it up at first but like Coach said, I got to be tough to guard. I saw an opening and went for it. I knew there was about seven seconds left in the game and I knew that this was it, and it was. I felt comfortable and I took the shot. I knew I had the confidence of my coach and my teammates and that they trusted me with the ball."
C DAVID HARRISON:
GENERAL -- "It was a good game tonight. I want to say thanks to the fans. They were cheering us on at the end. They made it so loud that they (Iowa State) could not hear and the shot clock ran out on them."
ON HIS CONFIDENCE -- "Every time I come out at the beginning of the game I get too fired up and get stupid fouls. If I come out with a more relaxed mentality, and just play hard, I play sound both offensively and defensively. So far this season, we have been getting ahead and then just putting it on cruise control. I do not like being down, but we do play harder when we are. It's our team m/o right now. When Stephane made the shot at the end of the game, I felt confident about it. I guard him in practice a lot and he always seems to make the clutch shots."
Postgame Quotes
Iowa State Head Coach Larry Eustachy
ON COLORADO'S STRENGTH -- "We just couldn't stop them and we didn't get the offensive boards. We just couldn't execute anything. This is a good team and they don't lose at home much."
ON THE LAST OFFENSIVE PLAY -- "The game wasn't about the last play. College basketball is bout the last six minutes of the game. We just don't have the speed to dribble down the court with 2.9 seconds left in the game. There is a fine line between winning and losing, this is the best performance our team has had all year."
ON C DAVID HARRISON -- "He is one of the top 10 centers in the country. Nobody could guard him. He is too big of a load. We tried everything we could, but nothing would work."
