Colorado
3-2
Arizona
3-1
Buffs Drop OT Thriller in Maui
November 24, 2009 | Men's Basketball
MAUI - Junior Cory Higgins scored 28 points, but was outdueled by Arizona's Nic Wise who scored 30 as the Wildcats defeated the University of Colorado men's basketball team 91-87 in overtime on the second day of the EA Sports Maui Invitational at the Lahaina Civic Center, Tuesday afternoon.
Wise scored 15 points in the second half and carried his hot hand into overtime, scoring eight of Arizona's 11 points in the extra frame. Higgins scored 22 of his points in the second half and overtime.
The game went to overtime after a wild finish in regulation that saw an 11-0 run by Arizona answered by an 8-0 run by Colorado.
After a three-pointer by sophomore Austin Dufault put CU up 72-69 with 3:31 remaining, Arizona went on an 11-0 run, including two treys by Wise, to put the Wildcats up 80-72.
Sophomore Nate Tomlinson and Higgins each hit threes in the final minute, capitalizing on missed free throws by Arizona, to tighten the Wildcats' lead to 80-78 with 24 seconds left. A Dufault steal on an inbounds pass followed by two Higgins free throws knotted the game at 80 with 20 seconds remaining. Wise missed a three-pointer in the final seconds of regulation and the game headed to overtime.
Tomlinson hit a three-pointer on CU's first possession of overtime and Colorado led 85-82 after Higgins hit a jumper with 3:35 left in the extra period. Then Nic Wise took over, scoring eight straight points to put Arizona ahead for good.
"I thought Nic Wise, when the game was there, he wanted the ball in his hands," Colorado Associate Head Coach Steve McClain said following the game.
"I guarantee you most people thought that when we were down eight at the end of regulation that the game was over. We had some big steals and some big shots and we're right there . . . you got to just keep fighting."
McClain stepped in for Head Coach Jeff Bzdelik for the third time this season as Bzdelik left Maui on Sunday upon learning that his mother had fallen ill. Colorado is now 1-2 in games coached by McClain this season (an 88-72 win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff in the season opener and a 76-72 loss yesterday against Gonzaga).
CU's efficiency from the charity stripe allowed them to keep the game close in the first half. The Buffs got to the line 18 times in the half, converting on 15 of those attempts.
Tomlinson provided a spark off the bench leading Colorado with 10 points at the break, including the Buffs' only three-pointer in the first half. Arizona led 35-34 at halftime.
Both teams protected the ball after halftime as Colorado committed zero turnovers in the second half and Arizona only committed two.
Arizona's hot shooting from the three-point line proved too much for the Buffaloes to overcome though. The Wildcats shot 14-of-24 (58.3 percent) from beyond the arc as a whole, including a perfect 5-of-5 from Jamelle Horne. Wise went 5-of-9 from long distance and his 30 points were a career high. Horne was Arizona's second leading scorer with 17. Arizona's 14 treys today was the most for the program in a single game since the Cats connected on 14-of-23 attempts (60.9 percent) on Jan. 17, 2004, in a 97-72 win at UCLA. That covers a span of 189 games played.
Tomlinson finished with a career-best 20 points and freshman Alec Burks scored 19 to add to Higgins' 28. Dufault also contributed 14 points.
The Buffs have had balanced scoring throughout this young season, as in all five games, they have had at least four players score in double digits. Higgins and Burks have accomplished the feat in every game.
Burks has scored 84 points through his first five collegiate games, the most by a CU freshman since Chauncey Billups scored 121 through his first five games in the 1995-96 season.
Dufault led the Buffs with a career-high 11 rebounds and recorded his first career double-double. Tomlinson led the team with four assists.
CU will next play host Chaminade who lost 68-41 to Vanderbilt earlier today. The game will tip tomorrow at noon (MST) and be televised on ESPNU.
