SALT LAKE CITY — If there was a positive from this one, it’s that the Colorado men’s basketball team didn’t fold after one of their worst halves in a conference run that has been full of bad halves.
However, a little grit and fortitude wasn’t nearly enough to change the Buffaloes’ fortunes.
Colorado’s Big 12 Conference misery continued on Wednesday night, as Utah held off the Buffs’ comeback bid to hand CU a 72-59 defeat at the Huntsman Center.
The defeat left CU at 0-11 in the Big 12, the program’s worst start to a conference schedule since the 1985-86 team finished 0-14 in the Big Eight, and it extended the Buffs’ longest losing streak in 15 seasons under head coach Tad Boyle.
After a cold-shooting first half, CU trailed by 12 at halftime before mounting a comeback, scoring the first seven points of the second half. The Buffs battled to within two points on a pair of Assane Diop free throws with 8 minutes, 1 second remaining, and still were within 55-52 with 3:58 to play.
Utah, though, quickly ended the Buffs’ rally, scoring the next 12 points to keep the Buffs winless in the Big 12. Javon Ruffin led the Buffs with 13 points.
This story will be updated.
Utah 72, Colorado 59
COLORADO (9-13, 0-11 Big 12)
Baskin 2-6 0-1 4, Dak 5-8 0-0 11, Jakimovski 2-9 2-2 7, Rancik 2-5 0-0 5, Hammond 3-9 1-1 8, Ruffin 4-9 2-3 13, Diop 3-6 5-6 11, Malone 0-0 0-0 0, R.Smith 0-2 0-0 0, Kossaras 0-1 0-0 0, Carrington 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 21-55 10-13 59.
UTAH (13-9, 5-6)
Ausar 3-6 4-7 10, Wahlin 3-6 1-1 9, Lovering 4-7 4-10 12, G.Madsen 5-10 3-4 17, Sharavjamts 0-0 2-5 2, Erickson 1-2 0-0 3, Dawes 0-2 1-2 1, Keller 4-5 0-2 8, M.Madsen 3-8 3-4 10, Little 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 23-47 18-35 72.
Halftime: Utah 32-20; 3-Point Goals: Colorado 7-27 (Ruffin 3-6, Dak 1-2, Rancik 1-2, Hammond 1-4, Jakimovski 1-6, Kossaras 0-1, Baskin 0-2, Diop 0-2, R.Smith 0-2), Utah 8-18 (G.Madsen 4-7, Wahlin 2-3, Erickson 1-2, M.Madsen 1-3, Ausar 0-1, Keller 0-1, Little 0-1); Rebounds: Colorado 31 (Baskin 7), Utah 39 (Ausar 7); Assists: Colorado 8 (Ruffin 3), Utah 16 (Lovering, Erickson, M.Madsen 3); Total Fouls: Colorado 23, Utah 17.
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