BOULDER – The Colorado men’s basketball team (18-9, 9-7 Pac-12) took care of business Saturday night, defeating the Utah Utes (16-11, 7-9) 89-65 behind a complete team performance.
On a night featuring 19 assists and the fewest turnovers all season (four), four Buffs scored in double-digits. Per usual, KJ Simpson led the scoring charge with 28 points on 10-of-15 shooting (5-8 3PT, 3-3 FT) just a game after dropping 30 points in CU’s double-overtime win over USC. J’Vonne Hadley followed close behind with 20 points (7-10 FG, 1-2 3PT, 5-6 FT) of his own.
“KJ was KJ tonight,” Colorado head coach Tad Boyle said after the game. “He was doing what he’s been doing all year for us and J’Vonne Hadley was phenomenal both offensively and defensively.”
While the offense clicked, so did the defense. Despite allowing Utah to shoot 44.3% from the field, 51 of their 65 points came in the paint or from the line. Colorado guarded the outside well, only allowing 4-of-23 (17.4%) shooting from beyond the arc. On multiple occasions, the Buffs held the Utes scoreless for multiple minutes at a time. The biggest Ute drought came at the beginning of the game with the Buffs not allowing a Ute basket for four minutes. In that time, CU built a 12-2 lead that they never looked back on.
Gabe Madsen kept Utah in the game for as long as he could, scoring 16 of his 18 points in the first half. His contribution allowed Utah to only trail by nine (43-34) at the half despite no other Ute scoring above four points. When Hadley switched on to Madsen after the break, though, the Buffs were able to break it open.
“We made the switch to put him (Hadley) on Madsen in the second half,” Boyle said. “... He had 16 in the first half and he ended up with 18. So, credit to J’Vonne with his defensive effort.”
The Buffs won the second half by 15, putting together one of the most consistent performances of the season. They moved the ball, and themselves, well within the offense, generating 42 points in the paint and 10 3-point makes in 21 attempts.
“Coach challenged us because he watched New Mexico play Colorado State,” Simpson said about taking care of the ball, “and he was talking about how they have four turnovers. So it was nice to go out there and live up to his expectations or what he wanted. But I think, just this team, we did a great job of being patient tonight, being well disciplined and not forcing things, finding guys when they’re open and making 100% passes.”
The New Mexico Lobos defeated the No. 22 Colorado State Rams last Wednesday 68-66, dishing out 10 assists with just four turnovers.
Branden Carlson, Utah’s leading scorer (16.9 PPG), was limited to just six points on 3-of-8 shooting from the field. This was his second-lowest scoring performance of the year, just one point shy of the five points Colorado held him to in Salt Lake City.
In addition to Carlson’s struggles, former Buffs’ center Lawson Lovering made his return to Boulder. Lovering, who received boos and jeers from a packed CU Events Center, scored six points, grabbed two rebounds, and turned the ball over twice. Assane Diop, who had a good game in general, hit a jump shot over Lovering and swatted him at the rim, garnering some bonus points from the Colorado faithful.
The contest’s only smudges were the absence of Julian Hammond III (knee) and Cody Williams going down with a sprained ankle in the first half. Williams returned to the game in the second half but didn’t look to be himself as he limped around the court. Hammond, on the other hand, hopes to return on Wednesday with the regular season in its waning moments. Boyle said the imaging on Hammond's knee came back "good" but that the Buffs' backup guard was still in pain.
“(Rawley) Klinksmith might be our MVP,” Boyle said about the team's trainer. “He’s just got his hands full every single day.”
With a win to begin their final home stretch of the season, the Buffs look to ride the momentum with the California Golden Bears (13-15, 9-8) coming to town on Wednesday.
“It’s all about trying to win on Wednesday,” Boyle said. “That’s all we got to worry about. Not that other stuff. That’s for you guys.”
Cover photo by Trent Wobschall/Sko Buffs Sports
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