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The Buffs move on to 8-2 in this young season.
The Buffs keep on chugging along in their non-conference schedule, winning another game at the CU Events Center. This time it was an 81-70 win over the South Dakota State Jackrabbits.
The bovine and the hares were fairly even in this game. Colorado had a clear size advantage both in the paint and on the boards, while South Dakota State spread the ball and hit more than a few three-pointers.
Elijah Malone carried the offense early. He was too big and too skilled for Oscar Cluff, the former Wazzu center and Colorado foe, and it forced South Dakota State into sending double teams to help out. Malone handled the pressure and the Buffs played some inside-out offense that led to open threes, including 3/3 shooting by RJ Smith.
The Jackrabbits stayed close thanks to hot shooting of their own, as they shot 7/15 from deep in the first half. There was no standout — no Mike Daum torching the nets* — just good and clean team basketball from Eric Anderson’s squad.
While Colorado led for nearly the entire game, SDSU managed to take a 56-55 lead with about 10 minutes left in the game. Colorado responded well, as they buckled down on defense and hit back-to-back threes from Malone and Julian Hammond III.
Hammond scored a career-high 23 points, 16 of which came in the final 10 minutes of the game. He was fantastic in this game. He diced up the Jackrabbit defense in the pick-and-roll, made some crisps passes and smart cuts, and always looked in control when pulling up for floaters and threes.
Colorado didn’t pull away until the final minute of the game, when Hammond converted a four-point lead to extend CU’s lead to 79-70. It was a nice cap to a competitive game, and a great one from the fifth-year senior.
*Mike Daum is hooping in Serbia, for those wondering.
by Sam Metivier
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