Colorado Basketball: Buffs avoid Berkeley Blues, take down Bears 70-62
By Andrew Dill
The Colorado Buffaloes found a way to win Thursday night against the California Golden Bears, avoiding the Berkeley Blues. The first half was all but pretty, but then a second-half spark helped the Buffs capture their ninth conference win of the season.
If it hasn’t been evident already, it’s pretty clear that this is Jabari Walker‘s team. The sophomore forward recorded his 14th double-double of the season, scoring 19 points on 6-of-14 shooting, pulling down 15 rebounds which ties a season-high.
After trailing by seven at halftime, the Buffs went on a 28-8 run to begin the second half and never looked back.
KJ Simpson was another reason why the Buffs won this game. The freshman guard scored 18 points on 5-of-9 shooting, collecting two rebounds and two assists.
More notable, KJ went 7-of-9 from the charity stripe.
Simpson accounted for all 18 points from Colorado’s bench unit.
Buffs forward Evan Battey also recorded 18 points in the victory.
The Buffs as a team shot 21-of-24 (87.5%) from the free-throw line.
Colorado’s main objective on the defensive side of the ball was to contain Jordan Shepherd. Shepherd helped California defeat Oregon by scoring a game-high 33 points.
The Buffs stuck to their plan.
Shepherd struggled from the field, shooting 2-of-7 while scoring just seven points. Colorado continued to apply pressure at the top of the arc and sent doubles constantly, forcing Shepherd to dish it off.
Similar to their victory over Oregon State this past weekend, Colorado controlled the glass against California who was without forward Andre Kelly. The Buffs out rebounded the Bears 43-28 — a +15 margin.
Colorado turned the ball over just 10 times tonight which did them plenty good.
California had three players in double-figures, led by Grant Anticevich and Jalen Celestine each scoring 11. Kuany Kuany provided a spark off the Bears bench by adding 10 points.
The Buffs play their third and final game of their three-game road trip Saturday night against the Stanford Cardinal. Another pivotal game for Colorado as they look to move up in the Pac-12 standings before the conference tournament.
Worth mentioning, Colorado head coach Tad Boyle notched his 250th win with the Buffs.
Congrats, coach!
Ex-Buffs guard Daylen Kountz named Big Sky Player of the Week. dark. Next