BOULDER – In a matchup between two of the three worst basketball teams in the Pac-12, the Colorado Buffaloes put the Washington Huskies to sleep with a resounding 81-66 victory. Earning their fourth win in five games and head coach Tad Boyle his 200th career victory.
“We’ve said all year long that the strength of this team is the balance and the depth,” Derrick White said after the game. “Top to bottom we were great so we have to keep that mentality that the strength of the team is the team.”
The game had a lot less star power than what was anticipated. Washington’s star point guard and potentially the No. 1 in the 2017 NBA draft, Markelle Fultz did not play in the matchup due to a sore knee.
“I found out about an hour before the game,” Boyle said in regards to Fultz’s injury. “One of our managers ran up to my office. You hate to see a good player like that not play because he’s special. I know the fans wanted to see him, however, it didn’t break my heart.”
Wesley Gordon and Xavier Johnson did not play for the Buffs because of a team suspension that carried over from the California game and Deleon Brown also didn’t play for the Buffs due to a concussion. Both Johnson and Gordon are expected to be back on Sunday.
The only two ‘stars’ the Buffaloes needed were George King and White. For King to have big nights, he has to knock shots down early or he usually starts to disappear. King was able to do that tonight by hitting his first three shots of the ballgame and would go on to score 13 points in the first half.
“Tonight [King] had Andre Roberson-ish rebounds,” Boyle said on King’s performance. “He played within himself offensively, didn’t try to do much. Before the game I told our staff that I really hope George King steps up and he did.
The Buffs garnered themselves a 42-31 lead after the first half by shooting 51.6% from the field and also forcing the Huskies to turn the ball over ten times in the half.
“I think our defense has picked up these last five games,” King said after the game. “And that’s something that we can build on going forward. Even more so with Wes [Gordon] and X[avier Johnson] coming back. So the future is bright for us.”
That lead would prove to be enough as Colorado fought to keep it throughout the second half. Due to all of the player’s coach Boyle had inactive, his bench only went two deep so everyone had to contribute significant minutes. Freshmen Lucas Siewart and Bryce Peters were able to make the most of those extra minutes; Siewart by hitting big shots and Peters by being the great spark plug that he is.
The Huskies were able to cut CU’s lead to seven points with 5:37 left in the game but a Siewart three immediately after killed all of UW’s hopes for a comeback.
The Buffaloes had six different players finish in double figures. King led the team in scoring with 21 points and also added 12 rebounds. White was right behind him with 16 points and Siewart finished with 12 points.
PLAYER OF THE GAME:
George King
21 points (8-for-13), 12 rebounds (7 offensive)
TURNING POINT OF THE GAME:
Bryce Peters’ dunk with 10:06 left in the first half. It was in the middle of a 10-0 run and brought a ton of energy to the Keg.
BY THE NUMBERS:
HIGHLIGHTS:
#BuffVision highlights – sidenote, Coach Boyle had his 200th win as a coach tonight ???#GoBuffs #StrongerTogether pic.twitter.com/0h3xKRoG2g
— Colorado Basketball (@CUBuffsMBB) February 10, 2017
WHAT’S NEXT:
The Washington State Cougars will come to Boulder on Sunday to take on the Buffaloes at Coors Event Center. Tip-off set for 6:30pm MST.
