CINCINNATI — It’s a commendable trait that the Colorado men’s basketball team always refuses to throw in the towel, even when faced with a daunting deficit.
Yet continuing to rally from margins of 20-plus points is a difficult way to make a living, as the Buffaloes learned once again at Cincinnati.
The Buffs stumbled out of the gate and trailed by 21 points early in the second half but, much like Saturday’s loss against Texas Tech that featured a 24-point deficit, Colorado stormed back. Also like Texas Tech, the late rally wasn’t enough, as the Buffs dropped a 77-68 decision Wednesday night at Cincinnati’s Fifth Third Arena.
CU (12-5, 2-2 Big 12) fell behind 10-0 right out of the gate and faced a 43-25 deficit at halftime. That margin grew to 21 points early in the second half before the Buffs rallied, using a 13-3 run to get within 11 points.
The Bearcats still led by 15 points when CU managed to unleash another surge, using another 13-3 run to get within 61-56.
Cincinnati reestablished a 12-point lead before the Buffs tried to rally once again, scoring eight consecutive points to cut the Bearcats lead to 68-64 with 1 minute, 22 seconds remaining. Yet the Bearcats held off the Buffs once again, converting free throws down the stretch to ruin CU’s first visit to Cincinnati since Dec. 28, 1981.
Cincinnati entered the game with a Big 12-low field goal percentage of .425 but shot .571 (16-for-28) in the first half.
CU committed 17 turnovers, it’s second-highest total of the season, and Cincinnati enjoyed a 28-18 advantage in points off turnovers, including a 19-5 mark in the first half.
Colorado freshman Isaiah Johnson scored 16 of his team-leading 18 points in the second half. CU guard Barrington Hargress recorded 14 points and three assists, while Bangot Dak finished with 12 points, four rebounds and four assists.
Cincinnati 77, Colorado 68
COLORADO (12-5, 2-2 Big 12)
Dak 5-9 1-2 12, Rancik 1-5 3-3 5, Malone 1-5 0-0 2, Hargress 4-9 4-4 14, Kossaras 0-2 0-0 0, Johnson 7-10 2-4 18, Sanders 3-6 0-0 6, Michaeli 3-8 1-2 8, Inman 1-2 0-0 3. Totals 25-56 11-15 68.
CINCINNATI (9-8, 1-3)
Miller 10-17 5-9 25, Thiam 6-8 3-4 15, Harris 3-7 3-6 9, James 1-9 4-4 6, Thomas 3-7 2-2 9, Celestine 1-4 0-0 3, Abaev 1-2 4-6 7, McKinley 0-1 0-0 0, Tillery 0-1 3-4 3, Dzellat 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 25-56 24-35 77.
Halftime: Cincinnati 43-25; 3-Point Goals: Colorado 7-20 (Johnson 2-3, Hargress 2-4, Dak 1-2, Inman 1-2, Michaeli 1-4, Sanders 0-1, Kossaras 0-2, Rancik 0-2), Cincinnati 3-16 (Abaev 1-2, Thomas 1-2, Celestine 1-4, Thiam 0-1, Harris 0-2, James 0-2, Miller 0-3); Fouled Out: Rancik; Rebounds: Colorado 33 (Dak 7), Cincinnati 32 (Miller 11); Assists: Colorado 15 (Dak 4), Cincinnati 18 (Miller, Harris, Thomas 4); Total Fouls: Colorado 24, Cincinnati 17.