Los Angeles, Calif. – The Colorado men’s basketball team (16-9, 7-7 Pac-12) hit the road Thursday night, only to lose their fourth game of their last five to a red-hot UCLA Bruins (14-11, 9-5) team.
The Buffs, continuously on the edge of the NCAA tournament this season, came into the matchup in dire need of a win. However, UCLA, amidst a four-game win streak, had other plans as they spoiled the Buffs’ visit to the Pauley Pavilion, winning 64-60.
Cody Williams (18 points, 8-9 FG, 2-3 3PT) and Tristan da Silva (16 points, 6-11 FG, 3-6 3PT) led the scoring charge in an attempt to overcome a UCLA lead that once reached 14 points, but ultimately came up just short. The duo accounted for over 50% of CU’s offense as KJ Simpson struggled, shooting 1-of-7 from the field.
Still, Colorado shot the ball well, shooting 52.2% from the field and 40% from 3-point range. But, nine first half turnovers dug themselves the hole they would be trying to get out of the rest of the contest. As CU committed offensive fouls and fumbled passes out of bounds, UCLA built a nine-point lead they would take into the break.
Adem Bona and Sebastian Mack led the Bruins through and through, bringing the energy and the buckets. In one sequence of events, Bona swatted a J’Vonne Hadley layup before finishing on the other end with a two-handed slam. With the UCLA faithful on their feet, the Bruins enjoyed multiple dunks and blocks in the first half, as well as a fair amount of fancy moves as UCLA gained momentum.
Coming out of the break, the Buffs were on the ropes following five straight unanswered points from UCLA to start the half. With just under 18 minutes left in the game, though, CU would lead a comeback that tied, yet never surpassed the Bruins’ point total.
Colorado ramped up the defense, only allowing 21 points over the final 17 and a half minutes. At the same time, they continued their decent shooting night while cutting down turnovers (five in the second half).
With seven minutes left, the Buffs finally tied the game at 51 apiece following a da Silva two-handed slam. However, that would be one of just two ties in the final minutes as the Buffs made just one too many mistakes. In the following possessions after tying the game, UCLA would score and Williams would commit an offensive foul, his fourth turnover and foul of the contest.
The Buffs ended up tying the game once more in Williams’ absence thanks to a da Silva 3-pointer, but UCLA built a quick 4-0 run that they would ride the rest of the game.
Colorado had a chance to tie the game at 63 each, having the ball with 17 seconds left down three. Unfortunately for the Buffs, da Silva would pass up a potential game-tying 3-point attempt to drive to the hoop with under 10 seconds left. As the senior missed the mark, UCLA gobbled up the rebound and went on to win on their fifth straight.
Mack finished with a game-high 19 points as he continues his push for Pac-12 Freshman of the Year. Bona, the former award winner, went for 14 points and seven rebounds in the win as he locked down the paint despite foul trouble.
With Colorado now even further from a potential March Madness berth, they head south to take on the USC Trojans (9-15, 3-10) on Saturday. Tipoff is set for Saturday (Feb. 17) at 8 p.m. MT.
Cover photo by @CUBuffsMBB/X
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