CU's Collier Again Provides Big Boost In Clutch Moments

BOULDER — For the second game in a row, Colorado senior Dominique Collier came off the bench to provide a spark for the Buffs against a top-20 team.

Saturday, it was a 14-point, two-assist performance in Colorado's 80-77 win over No. 14 Arizona. That came on the heels of an 11-point, six-assist, three-rebound effort in Thursday's 90-81 overtime win over No. 4 Arizona State.

"There's not a player in the locker room that I'm happier for than Dominique Collier with what he's been through his senior year so far," head coach Tad Boyle said. "My challenge to Dom has been to just go ball, go play, to not worry about anything. I think now his teammates are telling him that too, telling him to not worry about anything else but playing his game. We know he's a great shooter, he made big time shots today when we needed him to and that's what seniors do. I'm really happy for him and really proud of him. He's overcome some adversity and tough times not only this year but even last year. But he hasn't quit, he's stayed with it and we certainly haven't quit on him and I never will."

Collier, a starter for much of his career, has started just once in CU's last nine games. But he was a key contributor in both of Colorado's recent wins over ranked teams.

"Coach Boyle and I met last week and he said just go out and have fun. Just play free," Collier said. "I really thought about that. I didn't want to have any regrets my last year. I'm not going to worry about things. I think we're all doing that. Just having fun and playing ball."

Saturday, he scored 10 points in a second-half stretch that helped the Buffs break open a tight game. After the Wildcats had closed a 16-point Colorado lead to three, Collier — who found himself on the court with four freshmen — sparked a 19-12 surge that put the Buffs back in control. The CU senior had two 3-pointers in the burst, along with a pair of drives to the basket that helped push CU's lead back to 10 with 4:33 to play.

"We had a team meeting the other day and the freshmen talked about looking up to us," Collier said. "I took that to heart. When I was out there, I felt like I had to lead that group of guys. They were looking for me to be aggressive so I took that to heart."

BIG DAY FOR WALTON: Colorado redshirt freshman Dallas Walton more than held his own against one of the nation's most-publicized big men, Arizona freshman Deandre Ayton.

Ayton finished with 26 points, but 21 of them came in the second half. Walton, meanwhile, had 15 points and a pair of blocked shots, and played solid defense throughout the game.

"I can't put into words how fired up I was," Walton said. "The opportunity to match up against two pros isn't something you get every day. That's kind of what we all signed up for when we came to CU to play in the Pac-12."

While Boyle was overall pleased with Walton's effort, he does want his big man to improve his production on the boards. While Walton did tip some balls out that produced rebounds for teammates, he was credited with just one rebound.

"I'm really proud of him," Boyle said. "He's growing up before our eyes. There's an intensity in his eyes that I saw before the game, at halftime, on the court. He was ready to play. … (Now) I need him to rebound the basketball offensively and defensively. I believe that Dallas can be a steady double-double guy."

QUIET WRIGHT: After struggling for the most part in the first 14 games of the season, CU Namon Wright has put together excellent back-to-back games.

Wright had 19 points and seven rebounds in 31 minutes of play in CU's 90-81 overtime win over No. 4 Arizona State; then followed that with 14 point, eight rebounds and two assists Saturday against Arizona.

Wright was also back in the starting lineup Saturday, his first start since the seventh game of the season.

Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu