Men's Basketball Celebrates 2015-16 At Annual Awards Banquet

BOULDER – The University of Colorado men's basketball team celebrated the 2015-16 season at its annual Awards Banquet Tuesday night at the George Boedecker, Jr., Practice Gym at the Coors Events Center.

Senior forward Josh Scott earned his third straight Chauncey Billups Award as the team's Most Valuable Player. The Chauncey Billups MVP Award is one of four voted on by Colorado men's basketball student-athletes. Sophomore wing George King won the Most Improved Player Award, junior forward Wesley Gordon was awarded as the team's Best Defender and senior guard Xavier Talton was voted Most Inspirational.

In addition, two statistical champion awards were handed out. Scott won the Stephane Pelle Rebounding Award while sophomore guard Dominique Collier earned the Jay Humphries Assist Award.

Scott, a 2016 All-Pac-12 First Team selection, led Buffaloes at 16.3 points and 8.8 rebounds while hitting 53 percent from the field and 75 percent from the free throw line. He was one of 10 finalists for the 2016 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award given to the nation's top big man.

On the Pac-12 charts Scott ranked fourth in double-doubles (13), fifth in scoring, rebounding, blocks (1.6 bpg) and defensive rebounds (6.1 drpg), seventh in offensive rebounds (2.7 orpg), 12th in field goal percentage and 14th in free throw percentage. Scott was a two-time Pac-12 Player of the Week as a senior and a second team All-District pick.

Scott won the Stephane Pelle Rebounding Award, named after Colorado's all-time rebound leader (1,054 from 1999-2003), for the second time in three seasons. His 282 rebounds as a senior ranks 16th on CU's single-season list. Scott led the Buffaloes in rebounding 16 times and had a team-best 14 games with double-digit rebounds, including a season-high 15 against Fort Lewis.

King fittingly received the Most Improved Player Award after receiving an honor with a similar name from the Pac-12 Conference last month. He led the Pac-12 in 3-point shooting at 45.6 percent (68-of-149). His percentage was the second-best single-season performance in team history and his 68 3-pointers rank as the 10th most in a season at Colorado.

King was Colorado's second leading scorer at 13.6 points per game. He had 24 double-figure scoring outings, including a career and team season-high 27 points against Auburn. Along with his conference best 3-point percentage he also ranked sixth in 3-pointers made (2.0 3mpg), 15th in free throw percentage (.748) and 19th in scoring.

Gordon earned the Best Defensive Player award for the third straight year. Gordon topped the team in blocked shots, also for a third year in a row, finishing with 68; the fourth most in a season at Colorado since 1977-78. He tied a career high with seven blocks against Nicholls State, also matching the third best single-game in team history.

Gordon was second on the team and 10th in the Pac-12 in overall rebounding as a junior at 7.6 per game.

Talton picks up the second team award of his career; he earned Most Improved honors after his sophomore season of 2013-14. Talton averaged 4.8 points as a senior and was third on the team in both assists (65) and steals (25). He is second in career games played at Colorado at 135.

Collier won the Jay Humphries Award, named after the Buffaloes' all-time leader in assists (562 from 1980-84), finishing the season with 91. Collier had seven games with five or more assists including a personal best and team season-high eight against Hampton.

Head coach Tad Boyle took time to recognize Colorado's senior class of Scott, Talton, Eli Stalzer and Brett Brady. The 2016 senior class won 82 games, the third best mark in team history. The quartet had three 20-win seasons and participated in four postseason events including three NCAA Tournaments.

Colorado finished the 2015-16 season at 22-12 overall and placed fifth in the Pac-12 Conference at 10-8. The Buffaloes advanced to their 14th NCAA Tournament and fourth in the past five seasons. Colorado won at least 20 games for the ninth time in team history, and fifth in the past six seasons.