Colorado
UMKC
Colorado Holds Off UMKC, 62-59
December 06, 2002 | Men's Basketball
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Junior guard Blair Wilson converted four free throws during the last 20 seconds as the Colorado Buffaloes withstood a second-half UMKC barrage of three-pointers to hang on for a 62-59 victory at Municipal Auditorium, Saturday afternoon.
Colorado (3-2) held the Kangaroos to 20% shooting in the first half, but couldn't put the game out of reach as UMKC finished the first half on a 12-3 run trimming the Buffaloes lead 22-21 at the break.
UMKC junior guard Michael Watson, who had a game-high 36 points, hit a three-pointer at the 15:46 mark to put the Kangaroos up 31-28. Freshman forward Brandon Lipsey's block triggered a dunk by junior forward James Williams to put UMKC ahead 33-28, its biggest lead of the game.
Colorado tied the game at 33 when Michel Morandais drove through the lane with a spectacular one-handed dunk and regained the lead less than 42 seconds later when sophomore center David Harrison followed Morandais' dunk with one of his own at 12:38 remaining to put CU ahead 35-33. The teams traded three-pointers before the Kangaroos tied the game at 49-49 with 7:26 to go on a Watson trey. Colorado then answered with a Harrison jumper to regain the lead for good.
UMKC (0-4) shot 21-for-63 from the field for a .333 field goal percentage, while Colorado was 23-for-55 from the floor for a .418 shooting clip.
Wilson led three Colorado players in double-figure scoring with 16 points. Harrison and Morandais each scored 12 for the Buffaloes. Harrison tallied four blocked shots while Morandais led all CU players with seven boards.
Sophomore center Carlton Aaron scored eight points and added eight rebounds for the Kangaroos.
Colorado hosts Chicago State (0-3) this Wednesday, Dec. 11 at 7 p.m.
