Colorado
8-6, 0-2
Oregon
11-4, 1-1
Buffs Fall At Oregon
December 31, 2017 | Men's Basketball, Neill Woelk
EUGENE, Ore. — Another slow start, turnovers and poor shooting in crucial moments sent the Colorado Buffaloes home with another road loss Sunday night, this time a 77-62 defeat at Oregon.
The Buffs shot just 42 percent from the floor (25-for-59) and just 31 percent from 3-point range (7-for-22), and also committed 20 turnovers, which the Ducks converted into 18 points. Oregon also shot 51 percent from the field (26-for-51).
Colorado dropped to 8-6 overall and 0-2 in Pac-12 play while Oregon improved to 11-4 and 1-1. The loss was CU's fourth in as many road games this season and sixth overall in the last eight games.
Namon Wright led Colorado with 20 points while McKinley Wright IV added 13. Oregon's Troy Brown scored 21 points and Elijah Brown added 17.
But despite the outcome, CU head coach Tad Boyle said he was far more encouraged than he was after Friday night's 76-57 loss at Oregon State.
"I thought our guys really battled and they really competed," Boyle said. "I can't ask for anymore from them than that. … I told our guys I have a total different feeling in my gut right now than I did Friday night. Friday night I was sick to my stomach because of our effort, our lack of concentration, that sort of thing. We didn't take care of the ball and we couldn't get to the free throw line, but it wasn't because we weren't trying. I like the spirit, I like the fight, I like the competitiveness of the group tonight."
HOW IT HAPPENED: Once again, the Buffs were plagued by a slow start. The Ducks jumped out to a 13-2 lead and maintained that cushion through the midway point of the first half, thanks to a bundle of early CU turnovers.
But, Colorado managed to cut the deficit to four late in the period with a 6-0 run, getting a pair of baskets from McKinley Wright and a Lazar Nikolic layup to pull to within 29-25. Oregon, though, promptly responded with an 8-3 run over the final four minutes to take a 37-28 lead at intermission, getting a 3-pointer from Payton Pritchard just before the buzzer.
"Obviously the area that hurt us were turnovers, on the road," Boyle said. "Twenty, and that was the key. That was our offensive key to the game, was not turning it over, and it was our defensive key to the game, not turning it over. You get them in transition and they can make plays. They've got great athletes and they get downhill."
The Buffs also faced a rather large disparity at the free throw line all night. Oregon connected on 19 of its 22 tries from the line while CU hit five of its eight free throws.
"Physical game both ways, but when you lose a game by 15 and you get outscored 14 at the free throw line, it's a little frustrating," Boyle said. "We have to figure out what's a foul and what's not a foul. Now sometimes a foul on one end is not a foul on the other end. That gets confusing for our players and certainly for me — but we have to do a better job of not fouling."
The second half was much like the first. The Buffs briefly cut the deficit to four early in the period when Dallas Walton hit a long 3-pointer and McKinley Wright banked in a floater from the lane to pull cut Oregon's lead to 39-35.
But that was as close as Colorado could come. Oregon answered with a 13-2 run to build a 15-point cushion, 52-37, thanks in part to six Buffs turnovers in the first 5:30 of the half.
Oregon then maintained control for the rest of the game, building its lead to as much as 16. The Buffs did manage to hold Oregon without a basket for a six-minute stretch, helping them narrow the deficit to 10 with just under five minutes to go on a Namon Wright three-point play. But that was as close as CU could come and Colorado never mustered a serious threat down the stretch.
The Buffs did play better defense in the second half, holding Oregon to just 39 percent shooting from the field. But CU couldn't take full advantage, missing open shots on its end.
"We continue to get some looks that we have to convert," Boyle said. " Our players aren't trying to miss those shots. … Eventually you have to make shots to win in this league. We have good shooters. We shot 42 percent from the field but only 30, 31 percent from three. We're better shooters than that, but until we start proving it, it's just hot air coming out of my mouth."
TURNING POINT: After CU had whittled Oregon's lead to four early in the second half, the Ducks put together a 13-2 run to take control for good.
WHAT IT MEANS: Already in an 0-2 hole in Pac-12 play, the Buffs need a win in a hurry to get some momentum back in the right direction. It won't come easily, as they host Arizona State (Thursday) and Arizona (Saturday), both top-20 teams.
CU STANDOUTS: Namon Wright had 20 points on 8-for-13 shooting and three rebounds. … McKinley Wright IV scored 13 points and dished out seven assists. … Dallas Walton and Lazar Nikolic each grabbed six rebounds as the Buffs outrebounded the Ducks 32-30.
KEY STATISTICS: The Buffs shot just 7-for-22 from 3-point range and committed 20 turnovers, which the Ducks converted into 18 points.
NOTEWORTHY: Namon Wright's 20 points tied his CU high. … McKinley Wright had his fourth straight game with at least six assists and sixth overall. … Oregon has won five of the last seven in the series. … It was the second straight game the Buffs outrebounded an opponent but still lost.
QUOTEWORTHY: "I told our team we're turning the page. We have 16 games left and we have to approach this kind of like it's a new season. We're on a little bit of a slide right now and we have to correct that. What an opportunity we have next week. Two top programs coming into Boulder and the Coors Events Center. We need to turn the page and get ready for those guys. We have to strap it on." — CU head coach Tad Boyle.
"We have to play at high level. Tonight gives me encouragement that we can play at high level. We have to secure the ball at a high level, we have to shoot the ball at a high level, we have to defend at a high level. We're capable but we have to be consistent and right now we're not. We have to figure out how to get better in that area and that's my job as a coach." — Tad Boyle
"You can't have slow starts, especially in a league like this. We're 2-6 in our last eight games and all those losses, we put ourselves in a hole and tried to dig our way out. That's just not going to work in this league." — CU's McKinley Wright IV
"It's not confidence, it's just focusing. It's executing, focusing. We had 20 turnovers. You can't win any games on the road with 20 turnovers. Focus. We're down six with 20 seconds to go in the first half and they hit a 3. It's just little things like that." — CU's Namon Wright
NEXT UP: The Buffs play their Pac-12 home opener Thursday with a 6:30 p.m. game against Arizona State at the Coors Events Center. CU then plays host to Arizona on Saturday at noon.
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
