Buffs stampede the Cougars, win 92-83

The Colorado Buffaloes claimed their eighth win of the year with a 92-83 victory over the BYU Cougars in Boulder on Saturday night, snapping a two game winning streak for BYU. The Buffs took a 48-36 lead into the half, capitalizing on 38% shooting for BYU while shooting 52.6% from the field. Colorado opened the scoring with a Dom Collier three on their first possession and took a lead that they would hold until the final whistle. George King led the scoring for the Buffs with 23 points, and Josh Scott finished the night with 22 after his 16 point first half.

Nick Emery led the Cougars with 23 points on 8-for-16 shooting, and the Buffs were able to hold NCAA triple-double king Kyle Collinsworth in check, limiting him to 17 points, six assists and six rebounds thanks to the defensive efforts of George King and Tre'Shaun Fletcher.

After starting the second half off with an 11-0 run, building their lead to a game high of 24 with 15 minutes to play, Colorado got sloppy and BYU found their stroke again after a cold start that caused the lead to dwindle. The Cougars methodically worked their way back into the game and got the lead down to six with under thirty seconds to play before the Buffs regained control and finished strong, making three of the four free throws they attempted in crunch time.

Josh Scott once again asserted his dominance, finishing with his third double-double of the year, all coming in the Buffs last three matchups. The Buffs found the holes in a BYU defense that is allowing an average of 68 points a game and exploited them in a shootout.

Colorado was helped by 22 points from the bench, lead by eight from Xavier Talton. They shot 45% from the field for the game in an offensive outburst that included 10 three-pointers. It was an impressive win for the Buffs over a BYU program that has participated in postseason play for ten straight years, including eight appearances in the NCAA tournament.

The Buffs now turn their attention to next Friday, when the Nicholls Colonels come to Boulder in the opening game of the Las Vegas Classic.