Colorado edges Oregon, seals third place in Pac-12

Field Level Media|published: Fri 8th March, 02:38 2024

Colorado forward Bangot dunks the ball as the Oregon Ducks host the Colorado Buffaloes Thursday, March 7, 2024 at Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene, Ore. credits: Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK

J'Vonne Hadley dropped in a layup with 12 seconds to play for a three-point Colorado lead, and the Buffaloes held on for a 79-75 win over Oregon on Thursday night in Eugene, Ore.

Ducks guard Jermaine Couisnard missed what would have been a game-tying 3-pointer with five seconds left, and the Buffaloes' Luke O'Brien followed by making 1 of 2 at the foul line to seal the win.

Tristan da Silva put up 22 points, Hadley finished with 20 and KJ Simpson added 17 as Colorado (21-9, 12-7 Pac-12) boosted its NCAA Tournament at-large hopes with its fifth straight win. The Buffaloes took both games against the Ducks this season.

Colorado put together what looked like a decisive 9-0 run late in the second half, breaking a 61-61 tie with a 3-pointer from da Silva and three layups, two by Simpson and one by Hadley.

Those mistakes forced Oregon (19-11, 11-8) to play catch-up, and the Ducks almost succeeded. Missed free throws from Colorado helped Oregon get more possessions, and the Ducks made it a 76-75 game with 36 seconds left when Couisnard sank a 3-pointer.

However, Colorado was able to hold on and clinch the No. 3 seed for next week's Pac-12 tournament. Oregon, which got 23 points from Jackson Shelstad plus 20 points and 12 rebounds from N'Faly Dante, needs a win Saturday at home against Utah to seal the No. 4 seed and earn a first-round bye in the conference tournament.

Couisnard wound up with 17 points.

The Ducks held a 12-point lead early in the game, but Colorado responded with an 11-0 run, coming out of a timeout with back-to-back treys from Javon Ruffin and da Silva.

Shelstad made his first four shots of the game as the Ducks pushed the pace early. The Buffaloes settled in and made an adjustment on defense to force tougher shots and get back into the game.

da Silva had 16 points in the first half, including a short jumper with 1:53 to go for Colorado's first lead of the game, 33-32. He scored eight consecutive Buffaloes points during that stretch.

Shelstad had 16 and Dante 10 before halftime, and the teams were tied 37-37 at the break.

—Field Level Media