CU’s mens basketball team continued their road game struggles going ice cold in the desert.
The Colorado Buffaloes lost 71-57 to the Arizona Wildcats (17-8, 8-4 Pac-12) in Tucson, Ariz., on Thursday night. The Buffs are now 16-8 overall and 8-4 in the Pac-12.
The Buffs shot a dismal 37.3 percent, only managing to make 4-of-19 attempts from beyond the three-point arc and 9-of-14 free throws.
Carlon Brown goes up for a basket in the Feb. 4 win over Oregon. In Tucson on Thursday, the Buffs fell to the Arizona Wildcats 71-57 and Brown scored 11 points. (CU Independent File/James Bradbury)
Arizona didn’t do much better in Thursday night’s defensive struggle hitting 43.8 percent from the floor. The Wildcats made only 3-of-16 three-pointers but made up for it by hitting 26-of-35 free throws.
Arizona’s experience was a huge factor as senior forward Jesse Perry led the Wildcats in scoring with 17 points, 13 of which came in the second half. Junior forward Solomon Hill had 16 points and grabbed 14 rebounds. Senior guard Kyle Fogg scored 15 for the Wildcats.
Colorado sophomore forward Andre Roberson led the Buffs with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Senior guard Carlon Brown struggled, only managing 11 points. Freshman guard Spencer Dinwiddie and senior forward Austin Dufault each contributed 10 points.
The game was tight for much of the first half until the Wildcats broke the game open late. Arizona led by as many as nine, but a Colorado three with just seconds left to go cut the Arizona lead to 34-28 at halftime.
The Buffs fought back but were never able to regain the lead after halftime. The Wildcats came through down the stretch, making baskets and frustrating the Buffs defensively.
“Our effort and determination were definitely there,” said CU head coach Tad Boyle of the Buffaloes’ performance to the Sports Information Department. “Our game just wasn’t there in the second half to beat a good Arizona team at home.”
The Buffs have another chance to find victory in Arizona, taking on the Arizona Sate Sun Devils at 4:30 p.m. (MT) on Saturday, Feb. 11 at the Wells Fargo Arena in Tempe, Ariz.
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Mark McNeillie at Mark.mcneillie@colorado.edu.
