Colorado-Washington State Notes
Colorado improved to 4-3 in Pac-12 Conference play, its first above-.500 conference record since the end of the 2015-16 season (10-8). The Buffaloes didn’t win their fourth Pac-12 game until the 12th game last season.
Colorado’s bench outscored Washington State’s 19-3 in the first half. Washington State eventually shortened that margin 26-23 by the end of the game.
The Buffaloes hold a 12-4 series lead over the Cougars, 7-0 in Boulder.
Colorado is 10-0 this season when leading its opponent at halftime, 12-0 when outshooting its opponent.
The Cougars’ leading scorers Robert Franks (18.2 PPG) and Malachi Flynn (15.4 PPG) who combine to average 33.6 points per game were held to 13 points on 5 of 18 shooting. All but four of those points came in the second half.
This is the second game of the season that at least five players scored double-figures for Colorado (Namon Wright (16), George King (16), McKinley Wright (17), Dominique Collier (13), Lucas Siewert (11)). The first came at home against Arizona (01/08/2017)
Washington State failed to get to the free throw line in the first half. Their five free-throw attempts is the lowest total amongst Pac-12 teams this season. Their four free throws made is a tie for second (Washington State vs Idaho State 11/18/2017) and (USC at Stanford 01/07/2018) as a season low amongst Pac-12 teams.
George King (16 points, 6-of-12 FG, 4-of-10 3FG, 9 rebounds) Is now number 22 on Colorado’s all-time rebound list with 589. He also moves in the top 20 for most games started in school history with 77. King is averaging 21 points on 20-38 FG (.526) and has made 15 three pointers on 15-31 3FG (.483) over the last three games.
Dominique Collier (13 points, 4-of-6 FG, 2-of-3 3FG, 5 rebounds) Has scored 38 points on 13-20 FG (.650), 7-of-11 3FG (.636) in the last three home games. His five rebounds were also a season high. Scored 12 of his 13 points in the first half, hitting all four of his field goal attempts.
McKinley Wright IV (17 points, 6-10 FG, 5 assists) Has now led the team in scoring eight times this season, a team-high. Had his 11th game with at least five assists and sits at an even 100 on the season. That mark puts him at fourth by a CU freshman in one season, passing the legendary Jay Humphries tonight (99 in 1980-81). He is 43 assists away from Chauncey Billups’ freshman record of 143 in 1995-96. Overall it’s the 37th time a Buff has reached 100 assists in a season.
Namon Wright (16 points, 10 rebounds) Records his first double-double at Colorado and the second of his collegiate career (12 points, 12 rebounds for Missouri at Arkansas in February of 2016).
Lucas Siewert (11 points, 4-6 FG, 4 rebounds) second double-digit scoring effort of the season and fourth of his career. He had not scored in three games and only 10 points and two field goals made in the first six Pac-12 games.
Colorado’s bench outscored Washington State’s 19-3 in the first half. Washington State eventually shortened that margin 26-23 by the end of the game.
The Buffaloes hold a 12-4 series lead over the Cougars, 7-0 in Boulder.
Colorado is 10-0 this season when leading its opponent at halftime, 12-0 when outshooting its opponent.
The Cougars’ leading scorers Robert Franks (18.2 PPG) and Malachi Flynn (15.4 PPG) who combine to average 33.6 points per game were held to 13 points on 5 of 18 shooting. All but four of those points came in the second half.
This is the second game of the season that at least five players scored double-figures for Colorado (Namon Wright (16), George King (16), McKinley Wright (17), Dominique Collier (13), Lucas Siewert (11)). The first came at home against Arizona (01/08/2017)
Washington State failed to get to the free throw line in the first half. Their five free-throw attempts is the lowest total amongst Pac-12 teams this season. Their four free throws made is a tie for second (Washington State vs Idaho State 11/18/2017) and (USC at Stanford 01/07/2018) as a season low amongst Pac-12 teams.
George King (16 points, 6-of-12 FG, 4-of-10 3FG, 9 rebounds) Is now number 22 on Colorado’s all-time rebound list with 589. He also moves in the top 20 for most games started in school history with 77. King is averaging 21 points on 20-38 FG (.526) and has made 15 three pointers on 15-31 3FG (.483) over the last three games.
Dominique Collier (13 points, 4-of-6 FG, 2-of-3 3FG, 5 rebounds) Has scored 38 points on 13-20 FG (.650), 7-of-11 3FG (.636) in the last three home games. His five rebounds were also a season high. Scored 12 of his 13 points in the first half, hitting all four of his field goal attempts.
McKinley Wright IV (17 points, 6-10 FG, 5 assists) Has now led the team in scoring eight times this season, a team-high. Had his 11th game with at least five assists and sits at an even 100 on the season. That mark puts him at fourth by a CU freshman in one season, passing the legendary Jay Humphries tonight (99 in 1980-81). He is 43 assists away from Chauncey Billups’ freshman record of 143 in 1995-96. Overall it’s the 37th time a Buff has reached 100 assists in a season.
Namon Wright (16 points, 10 rebounds) Records his first double-double at Colorado and the second of his collegiate career (12 points, 12 rebounds for Missouri at Arkansas in February of 2016).
Lucas Siewert (11 points, 4-6 FG, 4 rebounds) second double-digit scoring effort of the season and fourth of his career. He had not scored in three games and only 10 points and two field goals made in the first six Pac-12 games.