Colorado Buffaloes hold off the Oregon State Beavers in their PAC-12 opener

Jan 2, 2014; Boulder, CO, USA; Oregon State Beavers guard Malcolm Duvivier (11) guards Colorado Buffaloes guard Spencer Dinwiddie (25) in the first half at Coors Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

The 20th ranked team in the nation Colorado Buffaloes held off the Oregon State Beavers in their Pac-12 home opener with the final score of 64-58. The Buffs improved to 12-2 on the season as Josh Scott led the team, collecting a double-double with 13 points, 10 rebounds and 3 blocks. With the win, Colorado matched their best start in school history set back in 1979-80.

Junior Askia Booker and freshman Jaron Hopkins also scored 13 points apiece. Oregon State stayed in the ball game with their three-point shooting, going 8-for-15 for the game. Senior guard for Oregon State Roberto Nelson led the way, scoring 23 points on just 5-of-14 from the field, but went a perfect 10-10 at the charity stripe. Oregon State would get Eric Moreland back from a 12-game suspension for violation of team rules as he came off of the bench, scoring 2 points while adding 10 rebounds.

Buffs junior guard Spencer Dinwiddie had an off night and didn’t get to the line much. The 6’6″ guard would score just 9 points on 2-0f-9 shooting with 5 assists. He was effective on the defensive end however with 3 steals. Colorado came into the game with 28 consecutive free-throws made, but freshman Dustin Thomas would miss their first attempt on the game. They would struggle from the line, shooting 17-of-27, 63.0% percent.

Colorado took a 10-point lead in the second half but Oregon State would quickly respond. The Beavers put together a 12-2 run led by a Langston Morris-Walker three-ball to tie the game at 40. The Buffs wouldn’t let them take the lead, as they went on a run of their own, taking the lead 53-43 with just under 7 minutes remaining. Xavier Johnson threw down a one-handed slam on an offensive rebound, followed by an Askia Booker put-back layup off of Josh Scott’s miss.

Oregon State’s Malcolm Duvivier would knock down a three with just 2:17 left bringing the Beavers within four, 60-56 Buffaloes. Spencer Dinwiddie would hold off the Beaver comeback attempt, draining all three of his free-throws at the end of the game.

The Colorado Buffaloes improve to 12-2 on the season, 1-0 in the Pac-12. They will host the #10 ranked Oregon Ducks Sunday afternoon. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:00 PM ET, 3:00 PM MT.