Colorado University Athletics
Colorado
12-4, 1-2Pac-12
Utah
12-4, 1-2Pac-12
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
|---|---|---|---|
| Utah | 26 | 30 | 56 |
| Colorado | 24 | 30 | 54 |
Brooks: Late Layup, Turnovers Doom Buffs In Pac-12 Home Opener
January 08, 2016 | Men's Basketball, B.G. Brooks
BOULDER – A basketball team's shots are supposed to fall more frequently on its home court. And by that same theory, the home team allegedly should own any late advantage.
But try telling that to the Colorado Buffaloes, whose poor shooting and shoddy execution down the stretch Friday night doomed them in their Pac-12 Conference home opener.
Lorenzo Bonam's layup with 1.1 seconds left completed a late 11-2 Utah run and gave the Utes a 56-54 Pac-12 win – their first of the season – at the Coors Events Center.
The Buffs (12-4, 1-2) led by as many nine points in the second half and were up 52-45 with 5:25 remaining. But they made only one field goal and committed three of their 12 turnovers during that final stretch. Desperate for their first conference win, the Utes (12-4, 1-2) took full advantage and defeated CU for the fourth consecutive time and the fifth time in the last seven meetings.
"This was a heck of a basketball game (and) it was won by the team that made plays down the stretch," CU coach Tad Boyle said. "We have to execute (down the stretch) and finish better."
Boyle said he blamed himself for the loss "for not calling time out at the end and making sure we got a great shot. I'm kicking myself for it because we had one left."
He was referring to his team's final full possession when a Josh Fortune baseline pass off a drive to the basket was stolen by Bonam, who finished with 17 points, with 24 seconds to play.
Utah called timeout with 13.1 seconds left, and if Bonam's layup wasn't what was drawn up by coach Larry Krystkowiak it was all the Utes needed. Bonam's winning basket gave Utah 19 points off of CU's dozen turnovers while the Buffs managed only 4 points off of the Utes' 11 errors.
"I tip my hat to (Bonam), he made a big-time play at the end," Boyle said. "I thought our defense was great, but he made a tough shot."
The Buffs were left with time for only an almost full court heave. There were no miracles on this night.
CU shot only 27.3 percent from the field in the first half (9-of-33) and finished the night at 38.3 percent (23-of-60). The Buffs were 5-of-16 (31.3 percent) from beyond the arc – not the kind of long-range home performance Boyle might have expected from the Pac-12's leader in 3-pointers (8.3 a game) and percentage (39.7).
"I don't think we took a lot of bad shots, we just didn't make any shots," Boyle said.
CU's most effective shooter was George King, who scored a game-best 21 points on 8-of-10 from the field, including 3-of-4 from beyond the arc.
King, who had averaged 10.2 points in his last five games, scored 13 of his total in the first half and kept the Buffs from withering offensively. King said a shooting regimen after practice began to pay off for him: "It's muscle memory after that, especially since I do most of my shooting here in that gym we just played in. It's the reason those shots went in."
The anticipated "bigs battle" between CU's Josh Scott and Utah's Jakob Poeltl went to Scott – at least statistically. Scott recorded his eighth double-double of the season (10 points, 10 rebounds) and 31st of his career and contributed three assists, one steal and one block.
Poeltl missed his first five shots, finished 2-of-8 from the field and matched his season low of six points – 11.7 below his team-leading average. But he collected a game-high 11 rebounds.
"I think defensively I did great," Scott said. "Offensively I was a little frustrated. I didn't get some calls that I thought I should have got, but that's basketball. It's going to happen some nights."
Averaging 25 free throw attempts a game (18 makes), the Buffs were only 3-of-4 from the line Friday night. The Utes were 8-of-9 from the stripe. Boyle said the "officials let us play . . . it was a physical game and we knew that it probably would be going in."
He also said he "wouldn't trade (Scott) for any big man in the country. (He's) my guy and I love him. I'll take the attitude and effort he brings every night. The kid's a stud and I thought he was terrific."
The Buffs trailed 26-24 at halftime and undoubtedly went to their locker room thankful. In the game's first 6 minutes, no style points were awarded – and not many of the sort that show up on the scoreboard either.
At the 11:22 mark – which found CU trailing 9-5 – the teams had combined for nine turnovers and five field goals in 22 attempts. Ugly hung in the arena like a thick fog. But the Buffs had expected a grind and those expectations were met.
Boyle was counting on the Buffs doing a number of things better in the second half – including shooting better than 27 percent. Getting higher percentage shots is one way to pump up that percentage, and that's what CU did.
With Poeltl starting the half with two personal fouls, the Buffs challenged him with direct drives. After Dominique Collier, who was 0-for-4 in the first half, hit consecutive layups to give CU a 32-30 lead, King followed with a nifty pivot and stretched to lay it in from the left side of the lane.
The Buffs led 34-30, and the roll was just starting. After Wes Gordon and Scott hit inside baskets, Collier buried a 3-pointer from the left corner to give CU its largest lead of the game to that point – 41-34 – with just under 13 minutes remaining.
And shortly before the clock struck 12, Poeltl went to the bench with his third foul. A sweet opportunity was there for the Buffs if they could seize it. But Poeltl didn't sit long; he was back in at 11:13 with CU still ahead by seven points.
The Buffs stretched their lead to nine before the Utes found an offensive answer – Jordan Loveridge. His back-to-back treys and a uncontested dunk by Kyle Kuzma brought Utah to within 46-43 – finishing an 8-2 run with 8:21 left – and prompted a timeout by Boyle.
The Buffs went immediately to Scott for a quick basket inside, then got an elbow jumper from King. Their lead was back to seven, but the Utes weren't rolling over.
Two free throws by Poeltl and a 3-pointer by Bonam sliced the Buffs' lead to 52-50 and put Boyle in the mood for another timeout with 3:29 remaining.
A CU turnover and a Bonam layup tied the score 29 seconds later, and another Buffs bobble gave Poeltl the chance for a layup at the other end. Utah led 54-52 – its first advantage since 28-26.
King answered with a tying jumper (54-54) but Fortune's baseline pass was picked off by Bonam, who came up even bigger at the offensive end.
"Players have to make plays down the stretch," Boyle said. "Their guys made some plays and we didn't . . . we've got to finish better. We talked to our team after the SMU game (a 70-66 loss) and told them there's going to be a lot of these close games. We didn't get it done tonight."
Contact: BG.Brooks@Colorado.EDU
