Josh Scott (40) takes a shot during the first half of Colorado’s 94-70 win over Jackson State. (James Bradbury/CU Independent)
CU men’s basketball defeated the Jackson State Tigers 94-70 at Coors Events Center Saturday morning.
The Buffs’ offense was the main attraction. It was the second time since the season opened last week that the Buffs topped 90 points. Seven different players scored double figures, which is the most for any game in Head Coach Tad Boyle’s career.
Twenty-three of the Buffs’ 28 field goals came off of assists, 12 of which came from junior guards Spencer Dinwiddie and Askia Booker.
“When we move the ball like that, we are hard to guard and we can win games,” Booker said.
The Buffs came out firing on all cylinders in the first half, scoring 46 points and building an 11-point lead over Jackson State before heading into the locker room. Freshman guard Jaron Hopkins sparked the scoring by hitting a three-pointer in the Buffs’ first offensive possession. It was the first of six three-pointers that the Buffs made in the first half to go along with a field goal percentage of 64.
Hopkins, a freshman from Mesa, Ariz., ended the game with 12 points, two rebounds and two assists in 19 minutes of play.
“I thought Jaron was terrific,” Boyle said after the game. “He is going to be very good.”
The other true freshman that played for a significant amount of the game, forward Dustin Thomas, added 13 points and four rebounds off the bench.
The Buffs opened the second half much like the first, with a three-pointer from Booker in the first possession. From there, the Buffs only built on their lead. Booker finished the game with 15 points and a career-high six assists.
The Buffs forced 13 turnovers and held Jackson State to 40 percent on the field. The Tigers scored just 18 points in the paint and relied more on jump shots throughout the game.
With their third consecutive home win, the Buffs improved to 3-1.
This streak will be put on the line on Monday against Arkansas State. Tipoff is set for 7:00 pm.
Contact CUIndependent Staff Writer Sam Showalter at Samuel.showalter@colorado.edu.
