MBB Extends Streak With 79-75 Win Over Kansas State

BOULDER, Colo. (AP) - Chris Copeland scored 14 of his 17 points in the second half, with Richard Roby posting a team-high 18 as Colorado won its fifth straight conference game by beating Kansas State 79-75 Saturday night.

Copeland, who had only 11 points in his previous two games, was 5-for-10 shooting in the second half and had a career-high four blocks. Roby was held in check most of the game before finishing 7-for-12 for Colorado (15-3, 5-2 Big 12).

The Buffaloes last won five straight conference games in the 1996-97 season.

Colorado point guard Marcus Hall collapsed, suffering from lower back spasms with 2:02 left in the game. He was carried off the court on a stretcher for precautionary measures. He was later diagnosed with a lumbar muscle strain and preliminary tests were negative. He was taken to Boulder Community Hospital to for observation and further tests.

Cartier Martin led Kansas State (12-5, 3-3) with 24 points. Lance Harris had 23 for the Wildcats, who had their three-game conference winning streak snapped.

Copeland began finding the range early in the second half, hitting a pair of 3-pointers and a short jumper to put Colorado ahead 46-41. Martin, who had only six points at the half, and Harris hit 3-pointers to close the gap to 51-48 with 14:34 left.

The Buffaloes tightened their defense and led 63-56 after Martane Freeman converted two free throws and a 3-point play with 9:26 left. Martin hit consecutive 3-pointers to get the Wildcats within 63-62 with 7:31 remaining. David Hoskins made it a one-point game, 65-64, but Roby had a layup after Copeland's layup and two free throws and Roby had another layup to give Colorado some breathing room and a 71-66 edge with 3:26 left. Freeman sealed it with two free throws with under a minute left.

The game was tied at 35 at halftime after Kansas State rallied with an 18-7 surge in the last 7:36. Copeland's 3-pointer put Colorado ahead 27-18, and Freeman's 3-pointer made it 35-29 before a 3-pointer by David Hoskins and three-point play by Akeem Wright in the final 2:25 deadlocked the game.