Buffaloes Drop Third-Place Game to Hawai'i, 69-66

For the second straight game, Colorado faltered down the stretch, dropping a 69-66 decision to the Diamond Head Classic host Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors.

In an end-of-game situation that brought back painful memories of Tuesday's 53-50 loss to George Washington, Colorado had the ball with 17.2 seconds to play, needing a three to tie the game. Askia Booker found himself guarded by two UH defenders. He found Xavier Johnson open on the left wing beyond the three-point line. Johnson fired and airballed, and Colorado fell to 7-5.

Colorado led 33-32 at halftime, thanks in large part to 15 first-half points from Josh Scott. Scott finished the game with 23 points. Booker tallied 22 points, and Johnson added 15. Scott, Booker, and Johnson were the only Buffs to finish with more than five points. They combined for 60 of Colorado's 66 points.

Colorado begins Pac-12 play a week from tomorrow, when they host UCLA on Jan. 2.