Saturday, December 3
Portland, Ore.
8:00 PM
Colorado
6-2
76
at
63
Portland
4-3
1
2
F
Colorado
28
48
76
Portland
30
33
63
Photo by: Tony Harman
Strong Second Half Pushes Buffs Past Pilots, 76-63
December 03, 2016 | Men's Basketball, B.G. Brooks
CU regains shooting touches, four players reach double figures
PORTLAND – The Colorado Buffaloes rediscovered their offensive abilities and ratcheted up their defense in the second half here Saturday night and downed Portland 76-63 at the Chiles Center.
Shaking off the ill effects of a 72-58 home loss to rival Colorado State on Wednesday night, the Buffs (6-2) rallied from a 30-28 halftime deficit by outscoring the Pilots (4-3) 48-33 in the second half.
Four CU players scored in double figures, including Xavier Johnson (19), Josh Fortune (14), Derrick White (13) and George King (12).
Portland, of the West Coast Conference, was led by Jazz Johnson (18) and Alec Wintering (17).
After hitting only 32 percent from the field against CSU, the Buffs shot just 37 percent in the first half Saturday night and missed all seven of their treys. From 3-point range against the Rams, the Buffs hit only 16 percent.
A shooting about face was needed – and CU got it in Saturday night's second half. The Buffs shot 50 percent from the field (14-of-28) and hit five of their dozen 3-point attempts (42 percent).
"We've been kind of struggling as a team (offensively) but we broke out of it at the end," White said. "We just need to take high percentage shots."
CU coach Tad Boyle said his team continues "to struggle to put 40 minutes together . . . we're functioning at about a 60 to 65 percent clip right now."
HOW IT HAPPENED: CU opened by hitting just three of its first dozen shots, including 0-of-3 from long range – a continuation of the offensive problems the Buffs suffered in their home loss four nights earlier to CSU.
And their accuracy didn't get much better; they finished the first 0-of-7 from beyond the arc and hitting just 37 percent (11-of-30) from the field.
Still, they trailed only 30-28 at intermission but closing to that margin required a 7-0 run that helped bring them back from a 20-13 deficit and pulled them to within two.
That run was fueled by three free throws by Xavier Johnson and baskets by Josh Fortune and King. A Tory Miller put-back in the final minute produced CU's two-point deficit at the break.
Jazz Johnson opened the second-half scoring with a trey, increasing the Pilots' lead to 33-28. But the Buffs were finally about to regain their shooting touches.
Two-point baskets by King and White, followed by an "XJ" trey gave CU a 34-33 lead – its first since 10-8 – and the Buffs wouldn't relinquish it.
Of their next four field goals, two were treys – Bryce Peters, Fortune – that pushed the Buffs ahead 43-37. The Pilots stayed within four to six points until a Fortune 3-pointer capped a 15-4 run and opened CU's largest lead of the night at 14 points (66-52).
The Pilots got no closer than nine points the rest of the way.
Boyle said the Buffs "battled (and) in the second half we got much better. Some guys stepped up – Wesley (Gordon), Josh, 'XJ' . . ."
Gordon grabbed 10 rebounds but was only 2-of-5 from the field. He didn't score his first points until 10:26 remained, but his conventional three-point play – he was fouled on a put-back – gave CU a 50-45 advantage at a critical second-half juncture.
"We've got to get Wesley going offensively," Boyle said. "He's just not himself right now."
Boyle said the Buffs "have to be more balanced and the bench has to be better . . . we've got some guys who are pressing right now – George against CSU, Thomas (Akyazili) tonight. We've got to get certain guys playing better."
But Boyle was pleased with his backcourt defense on Wintering (17 points) and Johnson (18). Although they combined for 35 points, the Portland duo combined for 62 in their previous game.
TURNING POINT: Trailing 30-28 at the half, the Buffs put together a 15-4 second-half run and pulled away. CU hit five 3-pointers in the second half after going 0-for-7 from beyond the arc in the first half.
CU STANDOUTS: Xavier Johnson bounced back from a six-point effort against CSU with 19 on Saturday night. He was 5-of-11 from the field and 8-of-10 from the free throw line, with five rebounds . . . . Fortune (14 points) hit two of his three trey attempts and was 6-of-8 from the foul line . . . . In addition to his 10 rebounds, Gordon had two assists, a blocked shot and a steal . . . . White (13) had three assists, two blocks and three steals, but also committed six turnovers . . . . King (12) was 6-of-11 from the field and collected five rebounds.
NOTEWORTHY: The Buffaloes have struggled from 3-point range the last two games making just 8-of-38 (.211) but made 5-of-12 in the second half (.417) after starting out 0-of-7 in the first half ... Colorado turned 14 offensive rebounds into 22 second chance points, outscoring the Pilots by 15 in that category. The Buffaloes also enjoyed a 34-24 advantage in points in the paint and outscored Portland 19-9 off turnovers ... Josh Fortune saw his streak of consecutive free throws made end at 19, a team season-high. He has made 29-of-33 from the free throw line this season (.879) ... Wesley Gordon has recorded nine or more rebounds in seven of eight games .. Xavier Johnson had a career-high eight free throws made. He also passed the 1,100 point plateau and now has 1,105.
KEY STATISTICS: The Buffs shot only 43 percent from the field for the game, but hit half of their second-half field goal attempts (14-of-28) . . . . They outrebounded the Pilots 38-28 and held them to 38 percent shooting in the second half (40 percent for the game).
WHAT IT MEANS: A bounce-back game was needed after the disappointing home loss to the Rams, and the Buffs managed to get it in their first true road game of the season. It should give them momentum and a shot of confidence as they head into the final two games of a crucial non-conference stretch.
NEXT UP: The Buffs play host to No. 7 Xavier on Wednesday night (7 p.m., Coors Events Center, Pac-12
Contact: BG.Brooks@Colorado.EDU
Shaking off the ill effects of a 72-58 home loss to rival Colorado State on Wednesday night, the Buffs (6-2) rallied from a 30-28 halftime deficit by outscoring the Pilots (4-3) 48-33 in the second half.
Four CU players scored in double figures, including Xavier Johnson (19), Josh Fortune (14), Derrick White (13) and George King (12).
Portland, of the West Coast Conference, was led by Jazz Johnson (18) and Alec Wintering (17).
After hitting only 32 percent from the field against CSU, the Buffs shot just 37 percent in the first half Saturday night and missed all seven of their treys. From 3-point range against the Rams, the Buffs hit only 16 percent.
A shooting about face was needed – and CU got it in Saturday night's second half. The Buffs shot 50 percent from the field (14-of-28) and hit five of their dozen 3-point attempts (42 percent).
"We've been kind of struggling as a team (offensively) but we broke out of it at the end," White said. "We just need to take high percentage shots."
CU coach Tad Boyle said his team continues "to struggle to put 40 minutes together . . . we're functioning at about a 60 to 65 percent clip right now."
HOW IT HAPPENED: CU opened by hitting just three of its first dozen shots, including 0-of-3 from long range – a continuation of the offensive problems the Buffs suffered in their home loss four nights earlier to CSU.
And their accuracy didn't get much better; they finished the first 0-of-7 from beyond the arc and hitting just 37 percent (11-of-30) from the field.
Still, they trailed only 30-28 at intermission but closing to that margin required a 7-0 run that helped bring them back from a 20-13 deficit and pulled them to within two.
That run was fueled by three free throws by Xavier Johnson and baskets by Josh Fortune and King. A Tory Miller put-back in the final minute produced CU's two-point deficit at the break.
Jazz Johnson opened the second-half scoring with a trey, increasing the Pilots' lead to 33-28. But the Buffs were finally about to regain their shooting touches.
Two-point baskets by King and White, followed by an "XJ" trey gave CU a 34-33 lead – its first since 10-8 – and the Buffs wouldn't relinquish it.
Of their next four field goals, two were treys – Bryce Peters, Fortune – that pushed the Buffs ahead 43-37. The Pilots stayed within four to six points until a Fortune 3-pointer capped a 15-4 run and opened CU's largest lead of the night at 14 points (66-52).
The Pilots got no closer than nine points the rest of the way.
Boyle said the Buffs "battled (and) in the second half we got much better. Some guys stepped up – Wesley (Gordon), Josh, 'XJ' . . ."
Gordon grabbed 10 rebounds but was only 2-of-5 from the field. He didn't score his first points until 10:26 remained, but his conventional three-point play – he was fouled on a put-back – gave CU a 50-45 advantage at a critical second-half juncture.
"We've got to get Wesley going offensively," Boyle said. "He's just not himself right now."
Boyle said the Buffs "have to be more balanced and the bench has to be better . . . we've got some guys who are pressing right now – George against CSU, Thomas (Akyazili) tonight. We've got to get certain guys playing better."
But Boyle was pleased with his backcourt defense on Wintering (17 points) and Johnson (18). Although they combined for 35 points, the Portland duo combined for 62 in their previous game.
TURNING POINT: Trailing 30-28 at the half, the Buffs put together a 15-4 second-half run and pulled away. CU hit five 3-pointers in the second half after going 0-for-7 from beyond the arc in the first half.
CU STANDOUTS: Xavier Johnson bounced back from a six-point effort against CSU with 19 on Saturday night. He was 5-of-11 from the field and 8-of-10 from the free throw line, with five rebounds . . . . Fortune (14 points) hit two of his three trey attempts and was 6-of-8 from the foul line . . . . In addition to his 10 rebounds, Gordon had two assists, a blocked shot and a steal . . . . White (13) had three assists, two blocks and three steals, but also committed six turnovers . . . . King (12) was 6-of-11 from the field and collected five rebounds.
NOTEWORTHY: The Buffaloes have struggled from 3-point range the last two games making just 8-of-38 (.211) but made 5-of-12 in the second half (.417) after starting out 0-of-7 in the first half ... Colorado turned 14 offensive rebounds into 22 second chance points, outscoring the Pilots by 15 in that category. The Buffaloes also enjoyed a 34-24 advantage in points in the paint and outscored Portland 19-9 off turnovers ... Josh Fortune saw his streak of consecutive free throws made end at 19, a team season-high. He has made 29-of-33 from the free throw line this season (.879) ... Wesley Gordon has recorded nine or more rebounds in seven of eight games .. Xavier Johnson had a career-high eight free throws made. He also passed the 1,100 point plateau and now has 1,105.
KEY STATISTICS: The Buffs shot only 43 percent from the field for the game, but hit half of their second-half field goal attempts (14-of-28) . . . . They outrebounded the Pilots 38-28 and held them to 38 percent shooting in the second half (40 percent for the game).
WHAT IT MEANS: A bounce-back game was needed after the disappointing home loss to the Rams, and the Buffs managed to get it in their first true road game of the season. It should give them momentum and a shot of confidence as they head into the final two games of a crucial non-conference stretch.
NEXT UP: The Buffs play host to No. 7 Xavier on Wednesday night (7 p.m., Coors Events Center, Pac-12
Contact: BG.Brooks@Colorado.EDU
Team Stats
COLO
POR
FG%
.431
.404
3FG%
.263
.263
FT%
.700
.800
RB
38
28
TO
13
18
STL
7
6
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
19
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
8
Pts
14
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
6
Pts
13
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
12
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's BasketballG/F
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballG
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