Colorado Buffaloes outlasted Oklahoma State Cowboys 83-69, securing a 14-point victory on their home court. The final margin suggests a game that could have gone either way, with the Buffaloes ultimately emerging on top. The NET rankings of the two teams, Colorado at #76 and Oklahoma State at #77, hint at a closely contested matchup.
The game was decided by a narrow margin, with the Buffaloes holding a 14-point lead. The first half saw Colorado take a 42-34 advantage, while the second half was more evenly split, with the Buffaloes edging out the Cowboys 41-35. This back-and-forth scoring suggests that the outcome was far from predetermined, and the Buffaloes' ultimately decisive performance was likely the difference-maker.
Bangot Dak's consistent performance on the glass and in the paint was a significant factor in Colorado's victory. He notched 17 points, including a respectable 5-of-8 shooting from the field, and hauled in 7 rebounds. Dak's ability to convert at the free throw line, going 6-of-7, proved crucial in securing the win. Defensively, he made an impact with 2 blocks, limiting Oklahoma State's scoring opportunities in the paint.
Barrington Hargress and Alon Michaeli played complementary roles in Colorado's offense. Hargress led the team with 8 assists, showcasing his exceptional court vision and ability to set up teammates for scoring opportunities. He scored 16 points, including 3 three-pointers, and shot a respectable 5-of-10 from the field. Michaeli, meanwhile, provided a scoring punch off the bench, netting 12 points, including 2 three-pointers, on 5-of-8 shooting from the field. His 5 rebounds and 1 block also contributed to the team's overall effort.
Parsa Fallah's 14-point performance was a bright spot for Oklahoma State, but it ultimately wasn't enough to offset the team's overall struggles. His 4-for-9 shooting from the field and 6-for-9 from the free throw line suggest that he was opportunistic, but his efficiency could have been improved. Fallah's lack of defensive contributions, with only two rebounds and no assists, further highlighted the team's overall deficiencies.
Christian Coleman's all-around effort was a mixed bag. His 11-point, 9-rebound double-double is a respectable achievement, but his 5-for-11 shooting from the field and 1-for-3 three-point shooting indicate that he was not at his best. Additionally, his two blocks were a positive, but they were not enough to disrupt the Colorado offense significantly. Vyctorius Miller's 11 points and 6 rebounds were also solid, but his 2-for-9 shooting from the field and 2-for-6 three-point shooting suggest that he was not as sharp as he could have been.
Notably, Isaiah Johnson's performance fell significantly short of his season averages, with a 7.3-point drop in scoring and a 1.7-rebound decrease. Johnson's 2.3-point increase in assists was a rare bright spot, but it wasn't enough to offset his struggles from the field, where he shot 27.3% from the field and 33.3% from three-point range, well below his typical standards.
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Final
In the end, the pre-game prediction of a Colorado victory by 7.7 points proved correct, as the Buffaloes emerged victorious by a margin of 14 points. This outcome was not unexpected, given the disparity in shooting efficiency between the two teams. Colorado's offense was particularly effective in this regard, with their in-game effective field goal percentage (eFG%) nearly 15 percentage points higher than their season average, and over 15 percentage points higher than Oklahoma State's eFG% in this contest.
The disparity in three-point shooting also played a significant role in the outcome, with Colorado connecting on 40.7% of their attempts, nearly 5 percentage points higher than their season average. Conversely, Oklahoma State struggled from beyond the arc, converting at a rate nearly 8 percentage points lower than their season average. Additionally, Colorado's ability to secure rebounds on the offensive glass, with an in-game OREB rate nearly 2 percentage points higher than their season average, allowed them to limit Oklahoma State's second-chance opportunities and maintain control throughout the game.
For Colorado, this crucial Quad 3 win bolsters their NCAA Tournament resume, now standing at 15-12 with a NET ranking of #76. They've secured a respectable 2-3 record against Quad 2 opponents, a notable strength, and will likely be considered for a lower seed in the tournament. Colorado's profile will be closely watched in the coming weeks as they aim to solidify a spot in the field, with a potential seeding around the 12-line. Their NET ranking, however, still lags behind the top 65 teams, making a first-round bye or a favorable matchup in the opening round unlikely. This win, however, sets them up for a potential postseason run as a lower-seeded underdog. Colorado's momentum will be a key factor in their tournament bid.