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Buffs drop second game in non-conference play
Colorado tried to stage a comeback, but couldn’t overcome a double-digit deficit against UMass for their second loss of the season. A 66-63 defeat in the first round of the Myrtle Beach Invitational on Thursday.
Noah Fernandes had 22 points to lead all scorers for the Minutemen, followed by 18 points from RJ Luis off the bench. Tristan da Silva put up 17 points for the Buffs, along with 13 points from KJ Simpson. The only two CU players in double-figures on the afternoon in South Carolina.
Colorado trailed 50-47 for a three-minute span in the middle of the second half before UMass went on an 11-0 run, putting the Buffaloes down by 13 with seven minutes left. Despite the uphill climb, CU came roaring back to trail by two with 53 seconds remaining. But too little, too late as they dropped another non-conference game to start the season.
A missed 3-pointer by da Silva with 13 seconds to go would’ve given Colorado their first lead since midway through the first half, and would’ve likely sealed the game.
The Buffs shot 25-for-73 (34.2 %) from the field with 20 more attempts than the Minutemen. Not at all a solid day on the road for Tad Boyle’s team.
“You have to figure out a way to finish,” Boyle said. ”We had some really good looks that didn’t go in. We have to be tough and UMass was the tougher team.”
NEXT UP:
Colorado will play No. 24 Texas A&M in a consolation game on Friday (10 a.m. MT/ TV: ESPNU). The Buffs former Big 12 rivals lost their opening round game to Murray State.
by Jeff Hauser
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