The Colorado Buffaloes snapped a 6-game winning streak and survived a second-half scoring outburst by Oregon to hand the Ducks their first conference loss. The Buffs controlled the game tempo with heavy defensive intensity and elite-level play from their guards. Defensively, 24 points off of 13 turnovers by the Ducks gave Colorado momentum and got the ball back into the hands of KJ Simpson and Cody Williams.
Photo Cred: USA Today
The duo was on fire all night for the Buffs, scoring 55 combined points (22 and 23 respectively). Adding to Colorado’s success was an excellent shooting night for the team, with 50% shooting from the floor and 42% from behind the arc. Although down by 14 near the end of the first half, the Ducks seemed poised to take control with a 21-6 run that gave them the lead early in the second.
Colorado refused to yield and roared back with a 30-13 point advantage over the last 10 minutes of the game. The Ducks struggled offensively throughout the match, with only two players. Jermaine Tracy (14) and Jermain Couisnard (11) were the only players to score double digits in a game where they could have used firepower from their stars.
Photo Cred: Deadspin
Speaking on his team’s disappointing outing, Oregon coach Dana Altman said “We got out-rebounded and gave up way too many easy baskets in transition. They went to the small lineup, and we had a hard time with it. They got to the rim whenever they wanted.”
Altman also emphasized his distaste for the Ducks defense, “We sure didn’t do it tonight. We’ve lost four games, and all of them have been in the 80s or 90s. Defensively, on the road, you can’t give up those kind of numbers.”
The Ducks were out rebounded 37-25, which tied for their worst rebound margin this season and set a season-low for total rebounds. Their total included just five offensive rebounds on 30 missed. That rebounding edge helped Colorado get down the court, and the Buffaloes outscored the Ducks 28-13 in fast-break points.
