Colorado
Loyola-Chicago
Buffaloes Win Pepsi Classic
December 28, 2002 | Men's Basketball
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Blair Wilson scored 17 points and Michel Morandais added 14 to lead Colorado to a 76-72 victory over Loyola of Chicago in Sunday's final round of the Pepsi Holiday Classic.
The victory was Colorado's third in the three-day round-robin tournament and fourth straight overall. The Ramblers (4-8) lost their sixth straight, all on the road.
Loyola twiced trimmed what had been a 15-point Colorado lead to three in the final minute, the last time on David Bailey's two free throws for 73-70 with 21 seconds left. But Stephane Pelle made 3-of-4 free throws down the stretch to seal the win.
Wilson scored the Buffaloes' first eight points of the second half as Colorado (8-3) opened a 45-30 lead with a 15-7 run. The Buffaloes maintained a double-digit advantage until Loyola closed the gap in the final five minutes.
Colorado had its largest first-half lead at 26-13 after Jayson Obazuaye blocked Terrance Whiters' 3-point attempt and made a layup with 4:37 left on the fast break that resulted from the rejection.
Paul McMillan, who led Loyola with 23, and DaJuan Gouard scored five points each as Loyola closed the half with a 10-4 run to trail 30-23.
The Buffaloes shut down Bailey, the Ramblers leading scorer at 17 points per game, on 0-of-8 shooting in the first half, as Loyola connected on 9-of-33 shots (27 percent).
