It was closer than head coach Tad Boyle would have wanted it but in the end the No. 19 Colorado men’s basketball team pulled out a close victory in two overtimes, 85—80, against Texas Southern University(1—6). The Buffs started slow but got a big second half from Andre Roberson and Spencer Dinwiddie to improve their record to 6—0 for the first time since the 1989—90 season.
“We have to get better,” Boyle said. “We need to learn from tonight and get better from tonight.”
[nggallery id = 132]Down by 10 points at halftime, the Buffs came storming back, scoring the first 11 points of the second half to go up by one. The rest of the half was back and forth and it ended tied at 59. The first overtime was a lot of the same ending tied at 71. It wasn’t until the second overtime that the Buffs started pouring it on the Tigers though, leading by nine at one point, their largest lead of the game.
Roberson finished the game with 11 points and 12 rebounds his second double—double of the year. Dinwiddie finished with 24 points to lead all Buffs in scoring.
It was a tough first half for the Buffs as they shot only 30 percent from the field and gave up 29 points to Texas Southern guard Omar Strong. Strong scored 20 points in the first half and led all scorers with 39 in the game. He hit nine 3-pointers, six coming in the first half.
The crowd was quiet for much of the first half with the Buffs doing so poorly. It was a packed house, but the crowd didn’t come alive until the second half and into the overtimes.
Roberson fouled out with 1:30 left in regulation and it was looking bleak for the Buffs. “It was tough,” Boyle said. “Andre’s important to us.”
Freshman Josh Scott stepped up and had the first double—double of his young career. Scott scored the first two baskets in the second overtime and finished with 18 points and 12 rebounds.
“I don’t think I played especially well,” Scott said. “I’m glad we came out with a win.”
The Buffs were down by as many as 15 in the first half but pulled together and came away with a win.
This game helped the young team learn a few lessons and with the toughest part of their non—conference schedule coming up, better sooner than later.
“If we play like we did tonight Colorado State will beat us by 20.” Boyle said.
Boyle added that the expectation level is going up, and that winning even when you don’t play your best is the sign of a good team.
The Buffs will need to play better next week as they travel to Wyoming and play the undefeated Cowboys on Dec. 1.
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Scott Annis at Robert.annis@colorado.edu.
