Colorado
5-0
Mercer
4-2
Buffs Top Mercer For Paradise Jam Title
November 19, 2017 | Men's Basketball, Neill Woelk
LYNCHBURG, Va. — A tournament that started Friday with a heart-stopping buzzer-beater for a win culminated Sunday with a championship, as the Colorado Buffaloes carved out a 79-70 win over Mercer in the Paradise Jam title game.
George King, named to the tourney's All-Star team, scored 25 points and grabbed eight rebounds to lead the Buffs to their third win in three nights as CU improved to 5-0 for the season. Namon Wright and Deleon Brown each added 13 points and Buffs freshman point guard McKinley Wright IV cemented his tournament Most Valuable Player award with 11 points, seven assists and four rebounds.
"These guys have unbelievable heart," head coach Tad Boyle said. "This guy (McKinley Wright) saved our bacon on Friday night and these guys have responded the next two games with unbelievable heart and desire. I've said I love this team's spirit from Day 1 and they showed it this weekend."
The Buffs indeed improved each day in the tournament. After erasing a 13-point deficit in the final four minutes Friday against Quinnipiac for a 70-69 win — capped by a McKinley Wright 3-pointer at the buzzer — they survived a Drake rally Saturday to claim an 86-81 semifinal win.
Sunday, they took the lead over Mercer for good with seven minutes to go in the first half and never trailed again.
"They've got toughness, we've got talent and we're going to get better," Boyle said of a team that includes four true freshmen, two redshirt freshmen and just three scholarship seniors. "We're just scratching the surface in terms of where we can be. This group's got a big-time upside. They have hearts and they're together. You can win championships when you have that."
The championship is CU's first preseason title since winning the Charleston Classic in 2012 and the 5-0 start is the Buffs' best since a 6-0 start that same season.
HOW IT HAPPENED: After falling behind early by as many as seven, the Buffs slowly chipped away at Mercer's lead. Fittingly, it was a 3-point bucket from McKinley Wright at the 7:03 mark of the first half that gave them the lead for good. Colorado led by two at the half, 39-37, then slowly built a double-digit cushion, one that hit 13 points at the midway point of the second half, 64-51.
King put forth his best game of the season thus far, coming up with big baskets and rebounds and critical moments. He closed a 12-4 run that provided the big lead with a 3-pointer and a free throw, then came up with some crucial rebounds and baskets down the stretch when Mercer pulled back to within seven.
"George King had two offensive rebounds that were just big time," Boyle said. "He shot the ball well, he played within himself. That's the best game he's played for sure this year."
After the Buffs took their big lead, Mercer made a stab at a comeback, shaving the margin down to seven.
But with 3:34 to go, King drove inside for a basket to push the lead back to nine, 70-61. Less than a minute later, he grabbed an offensive rebound and converted it to a basket, drawing a foul in the process and hitting the free throw to bump the margin to 73-61.
Then, with just more than a minute to go, King extended a CU possession with an offensive rebound, which Namon Wright then converted into a basket for a 77-68 lead, putting the game away.
At the same time, the Buffs kept up the defensive pressure on Mercer, refusing to allow easy baskets.
"We are a good defensive team," King said. "That's what I kept stressing to the guys. We were up eight or nine with about four minutes to go and I was saying, 'Guys, this game is not over. We have to still defend every shot at a high level.'"
Wright also had his share of crucial plays while playing the point at a level far beyond what would normally be expected of a freshman. After hitting the game winner Friday night (he had 21 points and five rebounds vs. Quinnipiac), he scored 32 points and dished out 16 assists in the next two games — and committed just two turnovers.
Sunday, he had three of his seven assists in a 13-6 Buffs run to start the second half.
"He plays with a poise about him, and when he's got the ball in his hands, everybody who is a Buff fan feels pretty comfortable, especially in transition," Boyle said. "He's a great playmaker in transition. He made some big-time plays tonight that you can't coach."
But Sunday's win was by no means a two-man show. Along with Namon Wright's 13 points, the Buffs received another solid effort off the bench from Brown. The sophomore guard had six points in a CU run midway through the half, then drew a charging call that led to a King 3-pointer and the Buffs' big lead of the night.
CU also got a nice effort from redshirt freshman big man Dallas Walton, who had four points and a pair of rebounds.
TURNING POINT: After Mercer had cut a 13-point CU lead down to seven, King scored five straight points to push the margin back to 12 with under three minutes to go and Mercer never came closer than seven again.
WHAT IT MEANS: Now with their best start since 2012-13, the Buffs have some momentum heading into next Sunday's home game vs. Air Force. More importantly, a young team continues to mature on virtually a nightly basis.
CU STANDOUTS: George King had 25 points and eight rebounds. … Namon Wright and Deleon Brown each scored 13 points. … McKinley Wright IV had 11 points, seven assists and four rebounds.
KEY STATISTICS: The Buffs outrebounded the Bears 32-29 and had a 13-8 edge in second-chance points. CU also outscored Mercer 21-9 on points off turnovers.
NOTEWORTHY: It's CU's best start since a 6-0 beginning to the 2012-13 season, and the Buffs' first tourney title since winning the Charleston Classic that same year. … King's 25 points were two off his career high and was his 11th 20-point game. ... McKinley Wright is the first freshman to win the Paradise Jam MVP award. He finished the tournament with 53 points, 18 assists and six turnovers.
QUOTEWORTHY: "This is a together group. They're a team. They're not caring about themselves, there's no hidden agendas. If we can maintain that, we can play with anybody in the country. It's one game at a time, but I really like this team." — CU head coach Tad Boyle.
"It's huge, especially with everybody doubting us. We came together at the beginning of the season and said we don't care what anybody thinks — we're going to play for each other and with each other." — CU freshman McKinley Wright IV
NEXT UP: The Buffs return home next Sunday (Nov. 26) for a 2 p.m. game vs. Air Force at the Coors Events Center.
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
