Colorado
4-2
Chaminade
0-3
Buffs Leave Maui with Victory
November 25, 2009 | Men's Basketball
MAUI - The University of Colorado men's basketball team took a while to wake up, but finished strong in the second half to pull away with a 73-58 victory over Chaminade in the seventh-place game of the EA Sports Maui Invitational at the Lahaina Civic Center on Wednesday morning.
The win over Chaminade was declared a road win for the Buffaloes, 73-58. The NCAA determined later in the evening it was a home game for Chaminade. CU breaks a 18-game losing skid on the road and their last road win came on Dec. 22, 2007 at Colorado State, 73-70.
Freshman Alec Burks and junior Marcus Relphorde led the Buffs in scoring with 13 points apiece. This marked the first time that junior college transfer Relphorde had at least shared the team lead in points.
The game tipped at 9 a.m. local time and both teams struggled shooting in the first half. The Buffaloes were 9-of-27 (33.3 percent) and Chaminade was 7-of-28 (25 percent) from the field in the half.
Colorado took a 27-24 lead into the break after senior Dwight Thorne II hit CU's first three-pointer with six seconds left to break a tie. Thorne led the Buffs with seven points at halftime.
The Silverswords kept the game tight for the first ten minutes of the second half behind the three-point shooting of Steven Bennett. Bennett made his first four treys after halftime and led Chaminade with 22 points for the game.
Colorado then went on a 13-2 run to gain separation and open a 60-46 lead with 5:57 remaining. Burks scored six points and Relphorde scored five during this run.
"I knew the kids had the right attitude in the locker room, but I also knew that the same energy wouldn't be there (from the first two games)," Associate Head Coach Steve McClain said. "When you line up and leave it all out there every night, to come back and play a Division II team, you can say everything you want in your own mind, but it isn't the same. My whole goal was to manage it to the point where we could get out of here with a win."
McClain stepped in for Head Coach Jeff Bzdelik for all three games of the EA Sports Maui Invitational. Bzdelik left Maui on Sunday upon learning that his mother had fallen ill. McClain also coached the Buffs in a season-opening 88-72 win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff as Bzdelik attended to another family emergency.
Junior Austin Dufault scored 12 points and Thorne finished with 10 for the Buffaloes. As had been the case in the previous five games this season, Colorado had four players score in double digits. Burks has done so in all six games; the first six of his collegiate career.
Junior Cory Higgins, the Buffs' leading scorer this season, did not attempt a field goal in the first half and finished with only six points. It marked the first time this season that Higgins did not at least share the team lead in points.
Sophomore Nate Tomlinson matched a career-high with eight assists. His previous high came earlier in the tournament against Gonzaga. Tomlinson also set a career high by recording five steals.
Freshman Shane Harris-Tunks notched a team-high seven rebounds; the first time he has led the Buffs in his young college career.
Junior Levi Knutson saw his first action of the season for CU, scoring four points in seven minutes. Knutson had missed the first five games after injuring his right hip last month in a scrimmage against Utah.
The Buffs finished 1-2 in their first appearance at the Maui Invitational and are 4-2 for the season. Colorado returns to the court next Tuesday, Dec. 1, to host San Francisco at the Coors Events Center. The game will tip at 7 p.m.
