TUSCON, Ariz. – Once again without Tristan da Silva (ankle) and Cody Williams (wrist), the Colorado Buffaloes got blown out by 47 points by a hungry No. 10 Arizona Wildcats squad in need of a win on Thursday night.
To make matters worse for the already beaten-up Buffs, guard Julian Hammond III left the game just before halftime with an apparent injury. As Kylan Boswell enjoyed a 12-point first half (4-of-7 3PT) for the Wildcats, he found Pelle Larson in transition for a layup on a beautiful bounce pass from the opposing foul line. As KJ Simpson and Hammond collapsed on Larson, the Buffs’ backcourt collided as Hammond stayed down in pain. The junior guard has started four games this season, including the last three, and scored two points on 1-of-6 shooting from the field before his injury.
With Boswell leading the early charge for Arizona, it was not without the rest of the Wildcats’ help. Caleb Love and Larson added 16 and 18 points, respectively, as UA dished out 19 assists in the contest. On a night where Arizona couldn’t miss (56% FG), they also shot a scorching 55% (11-of-20) from distance, including two threes that banked in.
On the black and gold side, however, Simpson and the Buffs struggled. Simpson, who has played as one of the best point guards in the country this season, was swallowed up as the focal point of a thin Colorado offense. The junior guard scored 10 points on 5-of-17 shooting from the field along with eight turnovers.
In addition, an early officiating mishap gave Eddie Lampkin Jr. two fouls before the 16-minute mark, forcing him to the bench. Before the mistake was fixed as the foul was correctly given to Simpson instead of Lampkin minutes later, the damage had been done as the Wildcats built a double-digit lead with Lampkin on the bench. Colorado’s big man ended the night with six points and four rebounds.
Now having to play from behind against a program they haven’t beaten on the road since 1965, the Buffs’ issues went from bad to worse as Arizona built the insurmountable lead they took into the intermission. Colorado turned the ball over nine times (18 in the game), resulting in 14 fast break points for the Wildcats. As UA pushed the break and ripped the net from the three-point line, the McKale Memorial Center rocked as the No. 10-ranked team in the nation went up by 27 points.
Coming out of the break, the Buffs showed some fight as they traded buckets with the Wildcats early. Unfortunately for CU, Arizona wasn’t finished as they went up 20 more points before the final buzzer. Backup center Motiejus Krivas led UA in the second half as he scored 15 points and grabbed nine rebounds in the huge win.
Despite nearly no bright spots for CU, Javon Ruffin led the Buffs in scoring with 11 points (4-of-10 FG) in just his third game back with the team after returning from injury. He played a season-high 21 minutes in the loss.
The Buffs head across the road to Tempe, Arizona to face the Arizona State Sun Devils on Saturday (Jan. 6). Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. MT.
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