LOS ANGELES – No lead is safe on the road. None. Not even a 15-point lead with nine minutes left. That was proved on Wednesday night at the Galen Center in Southern California as the Colorado Buffaloes found themselves with an inexplicable 79-72 loss at the hands of the USC Trojans.
The Buffs were doing their thing all night, in control of the game. In fact, after grabbing a 16-14 lead with just under 12 minutes left in the first half, CU led for 28 consecutive minutes. Unfortunately for the Buffaloes, basketball games don’t last 36 minutes, they last 40 minutes and those last 3:25. . . and the five minutes before that were a nightmare for Colorado.
After taking a 60-45 lead with nine minutes left, the Buffaloes, for lack of a better phrase, completely and utterly collapsed. In just one minute the lead was down to 10, one minute after that it was down to seven, down to three, down to one and gone. It took the Trojans just 5:35 to erase the entire deficit the Buffaloes had worked 28 minutes to build.
Often times in basketball, the team that needs the big run to get back in the game uses all fo their energy on the run and can’t finish off the win. Fact is, the quick run didn’t take all that much energy from USC and they simply rode the momentum wave in a way one of their long blond-haired classmates proud, all the way to the shore, or finish line.
When all was said and done USC took advantage of Colorado going over eight minutes without a field goal to finish the game on a 34-10 run and remain perfect at home on the season.
HIGHLIGHTS
Welcome back, @J40Scott! 🔥👀 #Pac12Hoops pic.twitter.com/3cLMW17MuA
— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) February 18, 2016
WE SEE YOU, @Jujubilence 👀
Watch #Pac12Hoops LIVE on @ESPNU!https://t.co/OGi2aeTgWa
— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) February 18, 2016
PLAYER OF THE GAME
Jordan McLaughlin
USC’s sophomore standout led all scorers with 25 points (8-14) while adding in five rebounds and four assists to go with it. 11 of those 25 coming amidst the Trojan’s big run to close the game. After the Buffs seemingly held “J-Mac” at bay for most of the game, he seemed to really be the catalyst of the surge for SC.
QUOTE OF THE GAME
During 760 AM interview with Mark Johnson after the game, Tad Boyle admitted, "I did an absolutely terrible job coaching this team tonight."
— Adam Munsterteiger (@adamcm777) February 18, 2016
BY THE NUMBERS
20 – Colorado had 20 turnovers on the night.
28 – Colorado led the game for 28 minutes and 28 seconds.
37 – Colorado got 37 points from their bench on the night.
WHAT’S NEXT
Colorado travels just down the road to Westwood for a Saturday matchup with UCLA.
