Buffaloes Upset #6 Kansas
By Andrew Dill
Dec 7, 2013; Boulder, CO, USA; Kansas Jayhawks center Joel Embiid (21) defends an attempted basket by Colorado Buffaloes guard Xavier Talton (3) in the first half at Coors Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
The Colorado Buffaloes would upset the #6 ranked team in the country, Kansas Jayhawks Saturday afternoon at the sold-out Coors Event Center. They would snap a 19-game losing streak to the Jayhawks. The Buffs would have to inbound the ball from the opposite side of the court, having to run the floor with 3.0 seconds remaining. Xavier Johnson would inbound the ball to junior guard Askia Booker, and he would sink the running three-pointer as time expired, giving the Buffaloes the 75-72 win over Kansas.
The Buffaloes would have troubles stopping freshman center Joel Embiid in the first half. The 7-foot center out of Cameroon would score ten points in the first half as Colorado was searching for answers. The Buffs would then put in a 7-footer of their own in Ben Mills who rarely sees the court. He was a crucial part of the game, bothering Embiid on the offensive end. He would finish with four points and three rebounds, two of which were offensive. He would spark CU to a 7-0 run late in the first half, while Colorado took the lead after a 14-5 run, 33-30 heading into the second.
Colorado would continue to punish Kansas as sophomore center Josh Scott would score six early points in the second. He would finish 14 points, adding four rebounds and two assists. Kansas would answer right back as freshman phenom Andrew Wiggins turned it on in the second half, leading Kansas back on an 11-2 run. Wiggins had one of his better games of the young season this afternoon, shooting 7-of-11 from the field, 22 points and five rebounds. Jaron Hopkins has ice in his veins, as he proved that against Colorado State in CU’s last game. He would answer the Kansas run with a three-pointer in the corner, his only points of the game.
Kansas would be in foul trouble all game as freshman Joel Embiid would foul out late in the second half with 10 points. Andrew Wiggins would continue to give Kansas a lift on the offensive end, bringing the game within two points late. Junior guard Spencer Dinwiddie would end up being fouled, knocking down both free-throws, giving the Buffs the 70-66 lead. On the next possession for Kansas, Colorado failed to box out Perry Ellis who got the easy tip to bring it right back within two.
Colorado would have free-throw woes this game as Askia Booker would only hit one-of-two on the next possession. Colorado as a team entered the game shooting 74.1% percent from the charity stripe, but shot a dismal 22-for-37, 59.5% percent in today’s match-up. Spencer Dinwiddie would head to the stripe as his first free-throw attempt would rattle out, but would knock down the second giving Colorado the 72-70 lead.
Kansas would have the ball with eleven seconds remaining trailing Colorado by two as Perry Ellis would be wide-open under the hoop on a failed box-out attempt, getting the easy basket to tie the game up. Colorado would call a timeout with three seconds remaining to call up a play. Xavier Johnson would inbound the ball to Askia Booker and he would run to the left side of the court, knocking down the buzzer-beater three to give Colorado the 75-72 win over Kansas.
Colorado improves to (9-1, 0-0 in PAC-12) as they might just crack the top-25 next week after upsetting Kansas. Colorado will be back in play next Friday at home against Elon Phoenix. Tip-off scheduled for 8:30 PM ET, 6:30 PM MT.