Dixon makes history as Villanova ends Colorado's season in College Basketball Crown blowout

The Colorado Buffaloes stand dejected amid a lopsided loss to Villanova on Tuesday. (Photo by CU Athletics)

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – The Colorado Buffaloes (14-21, 3-17 Big 12) finished their season in the first round of the College Basketball Crown tournament, falling to the Villanova Wildcats (20-14, 11-9 Big East) Tuesday night by a score of 85-64.

The young faces of the Buffaloes led the way, with four of the five starters likely to return for next season.

“I’m looking at it in two ways,” head coach Tad Boyle said when the Buffs accepted their tournament invitation. “Number one, giving our seniors that want to play a chance to continue to, but also using it as a springboard into next year with the returning players, that’s what I’m excited about.” 

Guard Harrison Carrington was also given the opportunity to play despite entering the transfer portal last Wednesday. The game served as his final opportunity to play alongside teammates he’d spent the past two seasons with.

The Buffs were tasked with shutting down a Villanova offense that came into the game leading the country in 3-point percentage at 39.8%. This task was made even more daunting with the absence of Colorado’s leading scorer, guard Julian Hammond III, due to a lingering back injury and forward Sebastian Rancik, who suffered a knee injury against the Houston Cougars in the Big 12 Championship quarterfinals. 

The Wildcats were also led by the country’s leading scorer, forward Eric Dixon. Dixon came into the game averaging 23 points per game and just nine points away from capturing Villanova’s all-time scoring record from Kerry Kittles. 

The Buffs’ means for an upset was to continue their forward momentum from the Big 12 Championship, but they struggled out of the gates and looked physically outmatched by the Wildcats. Rebounding was a struggle for both teams in the opening minutes, but Villanova had fewer offensive boards to grab due to efficient shooting. 

Colorado didn’t help its case, as turnovers proved to still be a problem in the first half. The Buffaloes gave the ball up eight times in the first 20 minutes and shot inefficiently when they had possession, just 12-of-32 (37.5%) from the field and 3-of-13 (23.1%) from beyond the arc.

Villanova’s scorers were finding their spots throughout the first half, with Dixon and guard Wooga Poplar finishing the half with 13 and 16 points, respectively. Additionally, Dixon claimed the Villanova all-time scoring record with four minutes to play in the first half. The Wildcats had two separate runs of nine and 13 points to close out the half and went into the locker room leading the Buffaloes by a score of 45-30.

Colorado’s one bright spot in the first half was center Elijah Malone, who nailed all four of his shots and ultimately started 5-for-5. He continued as a dynamic leader for the Buffs both on offense and the boards, as he finished the night with 17 points on 7-of-10 shooting along with 10 rebounds. 

Aside from Malone, however, the Buffaloes stayed cold in the second half. Shot inefficiency, turnovers and lackadaisical defense served as their downfall in a nightmarish finish to the season. 

Colorado controlled the turnovers slightly better in the second half but still finished with 13, leading to 16 points. 

The Buffs’ defense looked nothing more than uninspired, especially against Villanova’s premier scorers. Dixon and Poplar finished the night with 22 and 24 points, respectively, while guard Jordan Longino emerged in the second half to finish the night with 13 of his own. The Wildcats offense looked as efficient as they have all season, shooting 33-of-62 from the field, good for 53.2%. 

Colorado finished the night shooting a mere 25-of-63 from the field (39.7%), 7-of-25 from 3-point range (28%) and 7-of-13 on free throws (53.8%). The Buffaloes’ typically reliable shooters were hard-pressed to find a clean look. Namely, forwards Andrej Jakimovski and Bangot Dak finished the night a combined 6-of-23 shooting, just a 26% clip. 

The Wildcats stormed to victory and led by as much as 29 in the final six minutes. They advance to the second round of the tournament to play the USC Trojans on Thursday. 

Meanwhile, the Buffs begin the offseason and look towards the fall, hoping to complete a successful renaissance in Boulder around their young core. 

“The future is bright,” Boyle said postgame. “I'm disappointed in the year, but I'm not down.”