BUFFS CLINCH FIRST-ROUND BYE WITH WIN OVER HUSKERS

Saturday, March 6

Boulder, Colo.

2:00 p.m.

Colorado

Nebraska

March 06, 2004 | Men's Basketball

By: Jody Woodman, Student Assistant SID

BOULDER, Colo. ? The Colorado men's basketball team closed out its regular season with at 78-75 victory over Nebraska on Saturday afternoon at the Coors Events Center.

Lamar Harris hit 2-of-4 free throws and grabbed a clutch offensive board, all in the final two seconds, to seal the victory for Colorado (18-9, 10-6 Big 12). David Harrison led the Buffs with 24 points, and Michel Morandais added 23.

“Having the lead late and then getting a couple of key stops and that rebound that Lamar got off the free throw were all key,” head coach Ricardo Patton said. “That (rebound) was huge because they have so many people who can shoot it. You're at the mercy of them if they get it.”

The victory gave Colorado its most conference victories since recording 11 during the 1996-97 season and ensured the Buffs a No. 4 seed. Colorado will play No. 5-seeded Texas Tech at the Big 12 Tournament at 1:20 p.m. (CST.) Friday at the American Airlines Center.

The Huskers (16-11, 9-7) gave Colorado all they could handle before Colorado walked away with its first season sweep of Nebraska since the 1972-73 season.

After trading leads six times in the first half, the Buffs went into the break up 33-28 on the strength of eight consecutive points from Morandais in the final 1:40 of the first. All told, Morandais hit the final 13 points for the Buffaloes in the frame.

“It's just a feeling that you get, when you feel like the goal is so big you can't miss,” Morandais said of his hot-streak. “I started the game struggling, missed my first four or five shots, but it's my house, I practice here everyday and once you get that rhythm going, the rim was looking big.”

Colorado would never trail in the second half, but the Huskers would tie the score on two occasions, at 63 points with 5:58 remaining and at 75 with 20 seconds remaining.

Neither team would net a field goal after that. The Buffs, who shot a dismal 42.1 percent from the free throw line in the game, would be lifted by a 3-of-6 performance in the final seconds. Blair Wilson made 1-of-2 and Harris grabbed the rebound on Wilson's miss setting up the first of his two trips to the line. Harris would shoot 1-of-2 on each trip, putting the Buffs up by three.

Nebraska would try a desperation shot from well-beyond the half-court line, but it was all for naught as Colorado claimed the victory.

The Buffs then said good-byes to seniors Morandais, Wilson, Harris, Amadou Doumbouya and Trennis Jones and now turn their attention to post-season play.