Boyle, Buffs Quickly Turn Attention To Rams

BOULDER — It didn't take the Colorado Buffaloes long to turn their attention to rival Colorado State.

Minutes after CU had collected a 95-71 win over Fort Lewis on Wednesday at the Coors Events Center, the 6-1 Buffs began mentioning Sunday's noon matchup with the Rams at Moby Arena.

“We have an unbelievable challenge on Sunday,” head coach Tad Boyle said. “Colorado State is a very good team. They physical and tough and the environment is going to be great.”

The Buffs no doubt remember last year's 62-60 loss to CSU in Boulder, a game in which the Buffs were knocked off their game early and never recovered.

“We know it's going to be a battle,” CU senior Josh Scott said. “Bumps, bruises after the game. That's always how it is when we play them. We're not expecting anything different.”

The 5-1 Rams play at home tonight vs. Long Beach State. Boyle said he expects a typically loud Moby Arena crowd — and expressed disappointment that CU's crowds have been relatively light this year. Wednesday's attendance was listed at 7,587.

“It's going to be a raucous environment, which we haven't had here at the Coors Events Center,” Boyle said. “The fans that are here, thank you and I love you. (But) to say I'm disappointed would probably be an understatement. We've got a great team that's fun to watch, and the people who aren't showing up are missing out. But the people who are coming, we appreciate them and we love them.”

BIG MAN NUMBERS: CU's Josh Scott became the third player in CU history to reach 1,300 points, 700 rebounds and 100 blocks. The other two to record those numbers are Cliff Meely and David Harrison. Scott also passed Alec Burks and Jay Humphries on CU's all-time scoring list Wednesday night, and is now 15th on the list with 1,311 points.

Scott also notched his 26th career double-double with 24 points and 15 rebounds.

FOND FAREWELL: A sizable number of former CU, Fairview High School and Fort Lewis players were on hand to honor Fort Lewis “head coach emeritus” Bobby Hofman. The former Buffs player and assistant coach announced his retirement in the offseason, but was named coach emeritus and thus spent his last game on the bench with the Skyhawks on Wednesday.

Hofman coached 20 years at Fort Lewis, where he won 341 games, three RMAC titles and four postseason RMAC tournaments, and led the Skyhawks to seven NCAA Division II Tournaments. Overall, he had more than 400 Division II wins.

“He should be giving me advice, since he's had an unbelievable career,” Boyle said. “He played here and he loves CU. We're very fortunate to have a guy like that. The reason we played this game was for Bob Hofman. I think the world of him, so I'm glad we were able to play this game kind of in his honor.”

Earlier in the week, CU renamed the lower practice floor in the Coors Events Center “Hofman Court.”

NOTABLE: Tory Miller recorded a season-high 11 points. … Josh Fortune's 17 points was just one shy of his career high. … The Buffs finished with 26 second-chance points. … Fort Lewis' 27 second-half points was the fewest by any CU opponent in any half this year. … CU has scored at least 81 points in its last six wins.

Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu