First-half burst carries Colorado past Colorado State

Field Level Media|published: Sat 7th December, 22:47 2024

NCAA Basketball: Colorado State at Colorado

Dec 7, 2024; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado State Rams forward Rashaan Mbemba (21) with the ball against Colorado Buffaloes guard Harrison Carrington (31) and center Elijah Malone (50) and forward Assane Diop (35) in the first half at CU Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Bangot Dak scored 16 points off the bench as host Colorado rolled to a 72-55 win over in-state rival Colorado State on Saturday night in Boulder, Colo.

The Buffaloes (7-2) effectively put the game out of reach early with a 16-0 first-half run and built a double-digit lead they carried the rest of the game. Colorado has won nine straight home games.

Julian Hammond III scored 13 points, Elijah Malone scored 10 points and Trevor Baskin had nine points and 11 rebounds for Colorado.

Jalen Lake racked up a game-high 18 points for the Rams. Kyan Evans scored 11 points and Nique Clifford added 10 points and eight rebounds for Colorado State (5-4).

The Rams shot just 26.5 percent in the first half, including 2-of-12 from 3-point range. The Buffaloes hot start featured 54.5 percent shooting from the field and 5-of-13 from long range.

Malone's layup gave Colorado a 12-5 lead and highlighted a 7-0 run that prompted Colorado State to call a timeout just over four minutes into the game.

The Rams scored four straight points, and Baskin and Lake traded baskets. Baskin's two-hand jam then pushed the Buffaloes' lead to 16-11 and started the 16-0 burst.

The Buffaloes' decisive run featured back-to-back hoops from Dak that put Colorado up 20-11 with 10:23 left in the first half. Colorado went up by double digits for the first time on a Malone dunk. and on the next Buffaloes' possession, the 6-foot-10 center stepped back for a deep 3-pointer and a 25-11 lead.

The run ended when Keshawn Williams hit 3-pointer with 7:14 left in the half. The Rams went almost five minutes without a bucket.

RJ Smith (nine points) drilled a 3-pointer as the half ended, giving the Buffaloes a commanding 43-21 lead.

A 9-0 run by Colorado State featured a four-point play by Lake, who was fouled while dropping a 3-pointer from the top of the key with 10:06 left in the game.

The Rams pulled within 56-39 after two more free throws by Lake, but Hammond went up and under with a scoop layup for the first Colorado basket in over four minutes.

- Field Level Media

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