Tristan Da Silva bid farewell to the CU Events Center in grand style, delivering a stellar performance to cap off his collegiate career on home turf. The Colorado Buffaloes triumphed over the Stanford Cardinal 81-71 on Sunday, clinching a remarkable 16-1 record at home for the season. Da Silva, a seasoned veteran, poured in a season-high 27 points, showcasing his scoring prowess with an 11-18 shooting display, including a 5-10 mark from beyond the arc. Adding to his impressive stat line, Da Silva snagged 11 rebounds, further solidifying his impact in the Buffaloes’ victory.
Photo Cred: The Coloradoan
In his final two home appearances of the regular season, Da Silva elevated his game, notching his highest scoring totals in conference play. Earlier in the week, he contributed 22 points in a decisive 88-78 win over the California Golden Bears. Senior point guard KJ Simpson continued his hot streak with 22 points, while J’vonne Hadley and Eddie Lampkin Jr. chipped in with 15 and 11 points respectively. Despite the valiant efforts of junior forward Maxime Raynaud, who recorded his 11th double-double of the season with 26 points and 12 rebounds, Stanford found themselves on the losing end once again.
The Cardinal’s struggles persist as they have now dropped six consecutive games and eight of their last nine, languishing in a late-season slump. Colorado held a seven-point lead at halftime, but Stanford kept the contest competitive behind Raynaud’s first-half performance. However, the Buffaloes seized control in the second half, embarking on a decisive 22-9 run that effectively put the game out of reach for the Cardinal.
Photo Cred: CU
Efficiency was key for Colorado, shooting 53.2% from the field and converting 11 of 25 attempts from three-point range. Defensively, they limited Stanford to just 43.9% shooting overall and stifled their long-range attempts, holding them to a mere 7-28 from beyond the arc. With their NCAA tournament hopes hanging in the balance, Colorado concluded their regular-season home stand with a perfect 3-0 record. Next up, they face a critical road matchup against Oregon, aiming to bolster their resume with a quality win.
Meanwhile, Stanford looks to regroup as they prepare to face their rival, California, in their final regular-season contest. Although their aspirations for an at-large berth in the NCAA tournament have dimmed, the Cardinal remain focused on building momentum heading into the Pac-12 tournament. As the regular season winds down, both teams are poised for postseason play, with Colorado eyeing a top-four seed in the Pac-12 tournament and Stanford aiming to make a statement in their conference tournament.
