Colorado University Athletics
Colorado
18-7,12-6Pac-12
USC
19-5,13-4Pac-12
Horne, Wright Lead Buffs As CU Rolls Past USC
February 25, 2021 | Men's Basketball, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — Colorado's Jeriah Horne and McKinley Wright IV both recorded double-doubles Thursday night and the Buffaloes' defense was outstanding as CU rolled to an 80-62 win over No. 19 USC at the CU Events Center.
Colorado improved to 18-7 overall and 12-6 in conference play, giving the Buffs their most-ever Pac-12 victories. USC, which entered the game leading the conference standings, fell to 19-5, 13-4.
The win was the Buffs' sixth straight over the Trojans and gave them sole possession of fourth place in the league standings, guaranteeing them a first-round bye in the Pac-12 tournament.
Horne finished with 24 points and 11 rebounds, tying his CU career high in scoring, while Wright had 15 points and a career-high 14 assists, just one off the CU single-game record. D'Shawn Schwartz added 12 points for the Buffs and Eli Parquet chipped in 10.
The Buffs dominated in nearly every statistical category.
Defensively, Colorado held USC's Evan Mobley and Tahj Eaddy to just 13 points each, both under their season scoring average, as the Trojans shot just 38 percent (23-for-60) from the floor.
Colorado, meanwhile, shot 47 percent, including a solid 12-for-22 from 3-point range, led by Horne's 6-for-9 night from beyond the arc. The Buffs also finished with 20 assists, tying their season high, and they produced 17 points off 12 USC turnovers.
Colorado controlled the tempo for most of the game, taking a 42-29 lead at the half and never allowing the Trojans to cut the lead back to single digits after intermission.
"When we play at a high level on the defensive end and rebound the ball, we can beat anybody and that is why we beat USC tonight," CU coach Tad Boyle said. "It just so happened our shots were going in … Guys were dialed into the scouting report. When we share the ball and have 20 assists on offense we're a joy to watch and a joy to coach, and the guys are a joy to play with."
HOW IT HAPPENED: The Buffs took control early, building a 19-8 lead early and never allowing USC to get on track. The Trojans did manage to momentarily cut the gap to three, 25-22, but the Buffs responded by outscoring the Trojans 17-7 over the final five minutes of the half to take a 42-29 lead into intermission.
Wright provided the spark for the Buffs' surge. After the senior point guard was whistled for a technical foul — his first at Colorado — he scored two quick layups, then assisted on three 3-pointers — two from Horne — over the final minutes of the half.
"I let my emotions get the best of me," said Wright, who apologized to his teammates for the out-of-character moment. "Their bench kept yelling at our players every time we shot that it was off, and I said some words I shouldn't have said. But it was a big momentum change for me. That's my first technical since I've been to Colorado so that's not who I am but it just happened tonight. That's not something that's going to happen again."
The technical was a rarity for the Buffs — and was one of three whistled against CU. While Boyle didn't excuse the call on Wright, he did note that such whistles were an aberration.
"That technical fired McKinley up," Boyle said. "The emotions were running high with our team tonight and we played with it. We played with great energy and emotions. We have to keep them in check a little bit more, but that technical kind of fueled McKinley. He got a couple of buckets in transition after that. The blood was flowing through the veins. When he gets like that and he is aggressive, he is a really good finisher in transition."
The Buffs then made sure USC never got back in the game after intermission. CU built its lead to 17 on a 3-pointer from Maddox Daniels with 8:52 to play, and when the Trojans managed to cut the cushion to 10 with just more than four minutes to play, Colorado answered with a 7-0 run to put the game away. Wright hit two free throws and then drained a 3-pointer with two minutes remaining before Parquet wrapped up the run with a dunk to give CU a 76-59 lead with just 1:27 left on the clock.
CU's effort from 3-point range was a welcome sight, as Colorado has struggled over the last three games, shooting just .217 from beyond the arc in that stretch.
"I knew it was just a matter of time if we're getting good shots and taking good shots that they'd start falling," Boyle said. "I see us in practice. I see how guys shoot the ball and it translated to the game tonight."
TURNING POINT: When USC cut Colorado's lead from 11 down to three in the first half, it looked as if the Trojans might be finding their rhythm. Instead, Wright sparked a 17-7 surge over the final five minutes and CU's defense produce five straight stops to regain control. USC never came closer than 10 again.
WHAT IT MEANS: The Buffs are now guaranteed of a first-round bye in the conference tournament, the first time in their Pac-12 history that they won't have to play in the opening round. The win over the Trojans will also boost their NCAA Tournament resume, as well as improve their NET and Kenpom rankings.
KEY STATISTICS: CU held USC to 38 percent shooting while limiting the Trojans' three leading scorers to a combined 28 points, 13 under their season average … The Buffs had 20 assists, tying their season high … CU reaped 17 points off of 12 USC turnovers … Colorado shot 54.5% (12-22) from 3-point range.
QUOTEWORTHY: "We have to turn around and play a good UCLA team who has had our number here the last three times we have played them. We have to figure some things out for the Bruins. It is a short turnaround for us and a short turnaround for them so here we go." — CU coach Tad Boyle.
NEXT UP: The Buffs play host to UCLA in an 8 p.m. game Saturday (ESPN2), then wrap up the regular season Thursday, March 4, against Arizona State.
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
