Men lose to Kansas State, 87-71
The CU men’s basketball team could not capitalize on a solid first-half effort Saturday, falling to visiting Kansas State 87-71.
The Buffs (6-18, 2-12) shot an impressive 61 percent from the field during the first half and led the Wildcats 30-29 at halftime. Despite CU’s first-half success, Kansas State (20-9, 9-5) wrested control of a mistake-laden second half and sent the Buffs on to their fifth straight loss.
CU head coach Ricardo Patton said defense played a part in the loss.
“We did not feel we could give them a steady diet of any one defense,” Patton said. “I thought the zone defense hurt them at times, and our zone had been good for us in the first half. In the second half, they made a couple of (3-point) baskets early against our zone.”
CU lost its ninth game at the Coors Events Center this season, the most home losses in school history.
Patton blamed inexperience on the blown second-half lead.
“I think that one of the things that hurts you is when you are coming off the bench with all freshmen. So certainly youth and lack of experience has something to do with (losing a halftime lead), but the opponent has as much to do with it as well,” Patton said.
Richard Roby, who led the Buffs with 26 points, hit two critical 3-pointers toward the end of the first half to help give CU the lead before the first 20 minutes expired.
“I think we need to do a better job helping each other and if we foul a person (we need to make sure) they don’t score the basket and make them earn it at the free throw line,” Roby said, referring to the abundance of 3-point play opportunities Kansas State had during the second half.
The men in purple also hit 26 of their 33 free throw chances, most of which came after halftime.
CU freshman Xavier Silas returned to the floor after missing the team’s last game at Iowa State with a left ankle injury. The forward led CU in scoring six of his last nine appearances going into Saturday’s match up.
“It is definitely frustrating to know that we can play with these teams, and we keep losing. But that is something we need to work on for next year,” Silas said.
Silas put up 17 points against Kansas State, including three 3-pointers.
Kansas State improved its play tremendously in the second half. After shooting only 34.7 percent throughout the first half, the Wildcats made amends by shooting almost 67 percent after the break.
Despite the loss Patton said CU played tough.
“One thing you cannot measure is a kid’s heart, and there won’t be any team in the NCAA that plays with any more toughness than they play with,” Patton said. “I thought our guys pushed back when they got pushed, and that is what we were looking for. But along with pushing back, you still have to make plays.”
Forward David Hoskins led the Wildcats with 21 points and Cartier Martin came off the bench to score 19.
Kansas State earned its first series sweep of the Buffaloes since 1992. The Wildcats beat visiting Colorado 78-59 on Feb. 10.
CU travels to Missouri on Feb. 28 and concludes the season at home against Nebraska on March 3.
KANSAS ST. (20-9)
Hoskins 7-10 6-8 21, Colon 0-0 0-0 0, Harris 3-9 1-2 8, Stewart 5-10 3-4 16, Wright 2-4 0-0 4, Patzwald 0-0 0-0 0, Young 4-6 5-6 13, Afeli 0-0 0-0 0, Martin 4-9 9-11 19, Maybank 2-3 2-2 6, Merriewether 0-1 0-0 0, Yearby 0-0 0-0 0, Kent 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 27-53 26-33 87.
COLORADO (6-18)
Williams 2-3 0-0 4, Jackson-Wilson 1-5 1-2 3, King-Stockton 1-2 3-4 5, Coleman 4-6 0-0 8, Roby 8-17 8-11 26, Thorne 2-6 0-0 5, Silas 5-9 4-4 17, Van Burck 0-1 0-0 0, Kowal 0-1 0-2 0, Bay 1-3 0-0 3. Totals 24-53 16-23 71.
Halftime_Colorado 30-29. 3-Point Goals_Kansas St. 7-21 (Stewart 3-4, Martin 2-5, Hoskins 1-2, Harris 1-6, Maybank 0-1, Kent 0-1, Wright 0-1, Young 0-1), Colorado 7-17 (Silas 3-5, Roby 2-5, Thorne 1-2, Bay 1-3, Coleman 0-1, Williams 0-1). Fouled Out_King-Stockton, Wright. Rebounds_Kansas St. 26 (Hoskins 5), Colorado 34 (Coleman. Assists_Kansas St. 12 (Hoskins 4), Colorado 17 (Coleman 4). Total Fouls_Kansas St. 21, Colorado 25. A_4,582.
Contact Campus Press Staff Writer Corey Jones at corey.jones@thecampuspress.com.
