Buffs fall short, drop third consecutive game in 3-point loss to Washington
December’s meeting with Washington may have lingered into Thursday’s game at the CU Events Center, but a late Colorado comeback ended with a crushing turnover giving the Huskies the final say in the series, 75-72.
A less than productive first half from the Buffs fueled the fire for a late push. Approaching two minutes left in regulation, a CU win seemed unattainable due to the Huskies' offensive efficiency in the second (63.6% from the field) and a soul-crushing defense.
Fans headed toward the exits, but then KJ Simpson found the lane for a layup and Julian Hammond III came up with a 3-pointer. They sat back down as Colorado was one possession away, with 1:48 left, from tying it up.
An aggressive second half press from Colorado forced the ball away on crucial Husky possessions which kept them in the game. The Buffs forced 22 turnovers, the most since UC Irvine’s 22 on Nov. 18, 2019.
The clock ran down as Washington led 73-72. Colorado had 5 seconds to take their first lead of the game, but what was supposed to be an assist from Simpson to Luke O’Brien resulted in a turnover.
A defense in shambles, not converting on offensive rebounds, the final turnover, head coach Tad Boyle pointed to many facets of the Buffs performance that produced tonight’s outcome, but ultimately it was their defense.
“Tonight we have 16 offensive rebounds,” Boyle said. “Well, we had 15 second chance points like we gotta convert when we get offensive rebounds and we're not doing that. They got great length but it's just disappointing. I can look at any facet of the game, but I will watch this film, and I'm gonna tell you, it's gonna come down to defense. Our defensive miscues 63.6% year round up at 64% field goal percentage defense in the second half in our building.”
In the first, the Huskies established their offensive efficiency, shooting 46.4% and keeping the Buffs at bay in the backcourt.
Washington’s defense has held opponents to an average 44.1% from the field and the Huskies didn’t make anything easy for Colorado in the first, holding them to 35.5% from the field (11-31). Shortly after tip, the Buffs offense laid down brick after brick until Julian Hammond III came in from downtown to give the Buffs a boost.
During Colorado’s three-minute offensive absence, the Huskies established an early 11-4 lead. Huskies shared the ball effectively as all the starters and the bench (except j.Grant) hit at least one bucket in the first half.
The Buffs’ mundane defense throughout the game allowed players such as Keion Brooks Jr., sitting at No. 3 in scoring in the Pac-12, rack up 25 points, 18 of which came in the second half.
“He’s a good player so he knows what kind of shots he can take and make,” Tristan da Silva said on Brooks Jr. “He got a couple of wide-open looks that we kind of handed to him and when a player like that starts feeling it then it’s easier for him to keep rolling.”
Da Silva rolled himself at moments putting up a total 17 points, but made attempts were infrequent, only hitting eight of his 21 attempts.
Colorado’s offensive weapon came off the bench as Hammond recorded tonight’s team-high and a career-high,18 points with one rebound and three assists.
“You see his minutes tonight and you look at his production and you’re like, ‘why isn’t he playing more?’” Boyle said. “That’s one question we have to ask ourselves as a coaching staff. Julian Hammond III is a good shooter.”
Hammond provided a bright performance, but it was overshadowed by many miscues that costed the Buffs the win.
“It stings,” da Silva said. “There are so many possessions that you could pick put where we didn’t do our job and we let them off the hook defensively and in a one-possession game, which it was essentially, you could pick out any possession.”
Colorado falls 11-9 overall and 3-6 in the Pac-12. They’ll have a couple of days to review tonight’s film before taking on Washington State at home on Sunday at 4 p.m.