It took till the season’s fourth recreation, however the Colorado Buffaloes lastly have been at full power Monday night time.
And, coming off an underwhelming efficiency in opposition to a nationally-ranked foe, the full-strength Buffs might have supplied a glimpse of their intriguing potential. CU took benefit of its measurement benefit for simple appears on offense whereas handing over a harassing effort on protection, main the way in which to a lopsided 81-45 victory in opposition to Northern Colorado within the Buffs’ delayed dwelling opener on the CU Occasions Heart.
CU scored practically as many factors within the first half in opposition to the overmatched Bears (45) because it did the whole recreation final week throughout a 56-47 loss at Tennessee.
The Buffs made a concerted effort to get beginning forwards Dallas Walton and Evan Battey concerned early in opposition to the smaller Bears. Walton, who was held to at least one shot try and two factors at Tennessee, went 4-for-6 from the sector and 3-for-3 on free throws whereas recording 12 factors and 4 rebounds. Battey, who struggled to a 6-for-19 mark by way of the season’s first three video games, completed 5-for-7 with 14 factors and eight rebounds.
Northern Colorado, whose season was delayed as a consequence of preseason coronavirus points, held a short 3-2 lead early, however CU scored the subsequent seven factors and by no means trailed once more the remainder of the way in which. A 16-0 run by CU within the latter levels of the primary half led to a 45-21 Buffs lead at halftime.
CU level guard McKinley Wright IV turned in one other standout all-around efficiency, going 8-for-10 whereas posting 19 factors, seven assists, and 5 rebounds. General, the Buffs shot .533 whereas holding UNC to a .288 mark.
As a consequence of coronavirus points throughout the CU program, the Buffs performed with out senior D’Shawn Schwartz within the season’s first two video games, whereas beginning guard Eli Parquet and freshman Luke O’Brien missed final week’s loss at Tennessee. On Monday, although, all 13 scholarship gamers performed.
Colorado 81, N. Colorado 45
N. COLORADO (2-0)
Jockuch 2-5 2-4 6, Hume 4-12 0-0 11, Johnson 2-5 2-2 7, Kountz 2-9 1-2 5, Masten 2-8 2-2 6, McCobb 1-2 0-0 2, Bowie 0-5 0-0 0, English 1-2 0-0 3, Smoots 1-2 0-0 3, Grigsby 0-1 0-0 0, Kennedy 0-0 0-0 0, Little 0-0 0-0 0, Melvin 0-0 2-2 2, Hughes 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 15-52 9-12 45.
COLORADO (3-1)
Battey 5-7 4-6 14, Walton 4-6 3-3 12, Parquet 3-5 1-1 7, Wright 8-10 0-0 19, Schwartz 1-4 0-0 3, Horne 3-5 2-2 9, Daniels 3-6 0-0 6, Barthelemy 3-7 0-0 6, Walker 1-5 1-2 3, Clifford 0-3 0-1 0, da Silva 0-0 0-0 0, O’Brien 1-2 0-0 2, Strating 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 32-60 11-15 81.
Halftime — Colorado 45-21. 3-point targets — N. Colorado 6-18 (Hume 3-7, Johnson 1-1, Smoots 1-1, English 1-2, Grigsby 0-1, Masten 0-1, Bowie 0-2, Kountz 0-3), Colorado 6-13 (Wright 3-4, Horne 1-1, Schwartz 1-1, Walton 1-2, Clifford 0-1, O’Brien 0-1, Walker 0-1, Barthelemy 0-2). Rebounds — N. Colorado 26 (Jockuch 8), Colorado 35 (Battey 8). Assists — N. Colorado 6 (Hume, Kountz, Masten, McCobb, Bowie, Kennedy 1), Colorado 16 (Wright 7). Whole fouls — N. Colorado 18, Colorado 13.
