Colorado University Athletics
Colorado
11-5, 3-1
California
14-4, 4-1
Buffs Fall To Cal 57-50 In Pac-12 Road Opener
January 13, 2012 | Men's Basketball
Austin Dufault hit a three-pointer to make it a one-point game at 51-50 with 1:05 left in the game, but Cal's Harper Kamp responded with a layup to put the Bears up three. Colorado (11-5, 3-1 Pac-12) turned it over on their next possession and after Justin Cobbs made his first free throw, Allen Crabbe got an offensive rebound on the missed second attempt. Crabbe made both his ensuing free throw attempts to push the Bears' lead to 56-50 with 35.3 seconds remaining.
"Our guys battled," CU head coach Tad Boyle said following the loss. "They scratched and they fought, and like I told them in the locker room, I'll live with that kind of effort. Now we have to get better, certainly. Our offensive execution has to get better, especially in the second half, but I love the grit this team plays with."
Cal (14-4, 4-1 Pac-12) struggled to get over the hump, finally taking a lead at 39-37 with 10:08 left in the game on a David Kravish put-back. It was the Bears' first lead since being ahead 9-8 with 12:40 remaining in the first half. Cal would take a five-point lead at 42-37, but CU fought back to retake the lead at 45-43 on a Dufault three. Cal then went on an 8-0 run, including four points from Richard Solomon, from 5:41 to 2:23 showing on the clock to take control of the game and go ahead 51-45.
Colorado led 29-22 at halftime as Dufault hit a jumper late in the period to extend the Buffs' lead to seven points. CU created the separation with a 7-0 run to break an 11-11 tie from 10:31 to 6:21 left on the clock in the first half. Dufault led all scorers with nine points at the break. Cal opened the second half on a 5-0 run to get back to within one possession.
Dufault led the Buffs with a game-high 19 points, and Andre Roberson added a double-double with 11 points and 14 boards. Kamp led Cal with 14 points with Cobbs also scoring in double-digits with 12.
Colorado won the rebounding battle 40-36, but was outshot by the Bears 35.1 percent (20-of-57) to CU's 31.9 percent (15-of-47). The Buffs also turned the ball over 17 times, leading to 22 points by Cal. The Golden Bears only turned the ball over eight times, leading to just two points for the Buffs off turnovers.
"17 turnovers to eight, on the road, you're putting yourself behind the eight-ball," Boyle said about the significance turnovers played in the game.
CU returns to action on Saturday as they head to Stanford to take on the Cardinal. The game will tip at 2 p.m. (MT) and will be televised by Fox Sports Net.
