MBB Hosts Western State, Wednesday

vs. THE MOUNTAINEERS... Colorado holds a 9-4 advantage and the two schools have not played one another since 1936. The series began in 1925. CU is 5-4 in Boulder and 4-0 in Gunnison. Western State College resides in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (Division II) with an enrollment of 2,500 students, was the state’s first college on the western slope founded in 1901. The Mountaineers finished 15th nationally in the 2006-07 Director’s Cup. Last season, WSC finished 10-17 (8-11 RMAC) in head coach Mike Moskowitz’ first year. Currently, WSC is 3-2 in its last five games and have four players averaging over 10 points.

FAMILY REUNION... Tonight’s match up features a head-to-head brother clash between CU’s Andrew and Western State’s Steve. Andrew is in his second year as a sophomore walk-on, while Steve, is a junior.

LAST GAME RECAP... Dwight Thorne II scored 18 points and Austin Dufault added 13 in CU’s 70-67 loss at SMU. CU received balanced scoring with five players in double-digits. In addition to Thorne, who also hit a career-high four three-pointers, Cory Higgins recorded 11, Nate Tomlinson and Jermyl Jackson-Wilson added 10 apiece. The Buffs have not placed five players in double-digit scoring since Dec. 29, 2007 against Grambling State.

FREE THROW KING... Cory Higgins broke the Big 12 and Colorado school record with 40-consecutive free throws at SMU. Higgins made all four of his shots at the charity stripe and the 40-straight has come over the last seven games. Ironically, Higgins made CU’s 39th and 40th points scored in the game. The Big 12 record for consecutive free throws made was 39 (Joey Graham, OSU, 2004-05). The CU record was 39, Rob Gonzalez, Jan. 10-Feb. 26, 1983 (13 games)

LAST GAME RECAP... Nate Tomlinson has had an assist in every game played this season. At SMU, he tied his season-high with five ... Cory Higgins led CU in assists for the fourth time this season (one shared) ... Seventh straight game with the same starting line up (Tomlinson, Higgins, Dufault, Thorne II, Jackson-Wilson) ... Dufault, Higgins, Thorne II have started all 13 games ... With five assists at SMU, Tomlinson has 44 assists moving into 14th place on CU’s all-time freshman assists list ... CU has made a 3-pointer in 208-straight games dating back to the 2001-02 season ... Thorne led CU in scoring for the first time solo (he has one shared) ... Dufault grabbed a season-best seven boards and played a season-high 39 minutes at SMU.

FALL 2008 SEMESTER... The CU men have nine student-athletes with a 2.9 grade point average or higher. The team also has five student-athletes with a 3.0 or better G.P.A. (Trent Beckley, Austin Dufault, Trey Eckloff, Levi Knutson, Andrew Zehnder).

BROADCAST... The Colorado men’s basketball team can be heard live on KKZN AM 760. Mark Johnson and Charles Johnson call the action including the pre- and postgame. Live internet audio of all CU basketball games is available through Yahoo! Sports. Colorado’s games will also be streamed live on CUBuffs.com through the BuffsTV subscription service.

RAINBOW CLASSIC RECAP... CU went 1-2 over the three days with its lone win coming on the opening day against Coppin State. CU sophomore Cory Higgins was named to the All-Tournament team. leading the Buffaloes in scoring in every game and averaging 18 points a game. He also recorded his first career double-double (21 pts., 10 rebs.) against Coppin State. CU averaged 66.3 ppg., shot .489 from the field (69-of-141) with an impressive .852 from the free throw line (46-of-54). All-Tournament Team: Cory Higgins, Colorado; Calvin Betts, Buffalo; Roderick Flemings, Hawai?i; Mike Trimboli, Vermont; Marcus Walker, Colorado State; Andy Robinson, Buffalo (MVP).

Team Notes... CU will be idle for seven days prior to the Big 12 Conference opener at Missouri (Jan. 14). It’s the first time in the 13-year history of the Big 12, CU is opening at Mizzou. It’s also first time since 2003-04 playing a northern division opponent and first time in Big 12 play playing a north opponent on the road.

BIG 12 OPENER... For the second straight year, CU will open conference play on the road (at Missouri). The Buffaloes have lost 11-straight conference openers and have not won an opener since Jan. 4, 1997.

1997-2008 Big 12 Openers

Jan. 12, 2008 at Texas A&M L, 68-81

Jan. 6, 2007 Texas L, 78-102

Jan. 7, 2006 at Texas L, 64-89

Jan. 8, 2005 at Oklahoma L, 55-85

Jan. 5, 2004 KANSAS L, 62-77

Jan. 11, 2003 at Oklahoma L, 54-69

Jan. 5, 2002 KANSAS L, 85-97

Jan. 6, 2001 at Baylor L, 56-61

Jan. 8, 2000 KANSAS L, 69-84

Jan. 2, 1999 TEXAS L, 68-73

Jan. 3, 1998 OKLAHOMA L, 68-69

Jan. 4, 1997 Nebraska W, 79-73

BB HOMECOMING... On Jan. 23 and 24, the men’s basketball team is sponsoring a Homecoming Weekend for former CU players. Last season, Coach Bzdelik started this tradition in the hopes of bringing back former alumni and honor those who have played for past Buffalo teams. On Friday, a reception from 6-9 p.m. will be held at the Broker Inn, and on Saturday former players will meet two hours before tip at the Events Center.

HAWAII BOUND...AGAIN... The Buffaloes will be making another trip to the Hawaiian Islands playing in the 2009-10 Maui Invitational in Honolulu. The dates are Nov. 23-25 (Mon.-Wed.) of Thanksgiving week. It will be CU’s first-ever appearance in the Maui hosted by Division II college Chaminade, and sponsored by EA Sports. The Buffaloes will be one of eight schools participating in the 26th edition of the tournament. Joining CU next year will be Arizona, Gonzaga, Louisville, Maryland, Vanderbilt, and Wisconsin.

FTs 5 MINUTES TO PLAY... Sophomore Cory Higgins is the team’s most experienced from the free throw line with under five minutes to play (including OT) making 42-of-53 (.793). Here ar e totals for this season.

2008-09 2-5 Pct. *0-2 Pct.

Matt Favaro - - 2-2 1.000

Cory Higgins 12-14 .857 8-9 .889

Ryan Kelley - - 3-4 .750

Nate Tomlinson 2-2 1.000 6-9 .667

Andrew Zehnder - - 1-4 .250

Austin Dufault 2-2 1.000

Dwight Thorne II 2-2 1.000 1-4 .250

Levi Knutson 2-2 1.000 - -

Casey Crawford - - 1-2 .500

Toby Veal - - 1-2 .500

J. Jackson-Wilson - - 0-2 .000