Free Throws Doom Buffaloes in 72-58 Rivalry Loss
BOULDER— The Buffs took a tough loss tonight to their instate rival Colorado State. The Rams came out guns blazing and the Buffs were never able to match their energy.
“They were tougher than us and outplayed us they deserved to win, we didn’t. Very very disappointing for what we’ve done up until this point,” Coach Tad Boyle after the game.
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Free throws hurt the Buffs badly tonight, they got to the line 31 times but only knocked down 17 of them. On the other hand, the Rams were 26-of-33, they didn't miss their first free throw until four minutes left in the game.
“It’s not the reason we lost, got to step up and make the free throws, simple as that,” Derrick White on free throws.
“Big factor, big factor obviously, it started in the first half it bleed into the second half, you know that could have got us back into the game, tied the score, maybe gotten us a lead, they were much better at the free throw line than we were,” Boyle on how much free throws played a role tonight in the loss. “We’re a good free-throw shooting team but not tonight when it counted and that’s all that matters.”
After the Wofford game, Coach Boyle talked about his team’s lack of energy and tonight they still lacked that energy and it cost them the game.
“They out-toughed us today. We made it close but we never really got over the edge. We’re not taking it as a moral victory,” White after the game.
“You got to win ugly sometimes and we weren't mentally tough enough to win ugly tonight, we got our heads down, they stayed down, we didn't have anybody who could pick us up,” Boyle on tonight’s energy.
The Buffs did outrebound the Rams 46 to 37, 19 rebounds coming offensively but the Buffs couldn't seem to get the ball in the basket off those rebounds.
Also, they struggled to keep control of the ball, turning it over 14 times and Colorado State capitalized off those turnovers scoring 14 points, the Buffs only had four points off of the Rams 10 turnovers.
“The message to our team is we can't feel sorry for ourselves because nobody is going to feel sorry for us, we got to bounce back and again we’re tested right now,” Coach Boyle.
White lead the team with 17 points, he also had six rebounds. Wesley Gordon ended the night with 11 points and nine rebounds but the Buffs only shot 23.5% from the field in the second half and they only made one three-pointer in the second half.
“The game should have been a wake-up call,” White on losing to Colorado State. “It was just one of those nights I guess.”
“I think we underestimated the guys and they came out and handled it to us. It’s just another loss under our belt. I don't like to lose period. No matter who it is, it’s a loss. We lost to a team that we should have beat. If we don't come out to play, that’s what’s going to happen every game,” Gordon on the loss.
The Buffs have three tough games coming up on their schedule, Portland, Xavier, and BYU, this game is going to be a big wake-up call for this team if they continue to struggle on the floor.
“I knew coming into this game that the next two weeks would tell us a lot about our team and where we are because this is kind of the meat of our non-conference schedule and it started tonight, we are at Portland on Saturday, we got Xavier next Wednesday and we’re at BYU, I still that feel that way probably even more now,” Boyle said. “We’ll find out where this team is toughness wise, mental toughness and physical toughness next Saturday night in Provo when that game is over with.”
The Buffs will need to improve in all aspects if they want to finish their non-conference schedule off strong, right now they are nowhere close to where they need to be.
