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COLO

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Simpson scores career-high 34 as Colorado fends off Washington State 74-67

AP
Dec 31, 2023

BOULDER, Colo. (AP) KJ Simpson scored a career-high 34 points, sinking 13 of 14 in a Colorado parade to the foul line and the Buffaloes held off Washington State 74-67 on Sunday.

Simpson, who has scored at least 20 points in five straight games, made 10 of 18 shots from the floor with one 3-pointer for the Buffaloes (11-2, 2-0 Pac-12 Conference).

Andrej Jakimovski sank a 3-pointer and Myles Rice added two free throws to pull the Cougars (9-4, 0-2) within 65-64 with 3:24 remaining. Simpson answered with a layup and four free throws sandwiched around a 3-pointer from J'Vonne Hadley to keep the Cougars at bay. Hadley, who had one 3-pointer on the season, was 2 for 2 against Washington State and scored 12. Eddie Lampkin Jr. added 10 points and six rebounds for the Buffaloes.

Simpson had 14 points to guide Colorado to a 39-29 lead at halftime. Jakimovski hit all three of his 3-pointers and scored 13 to keep the Cougars within striking distance. The Buffaloes built most of their lead by going 7 for 7 at the foul line, while the Cougars did not attempt a free throw. Colorado was 15 of 19 at the foul line in the second half, while WSU finished 6 of 8.

Jakimovski scored 19 points on 7-for-14 shooting with four 3-pointers for Washington State. Isaac Jones had 16 points on 7-for-7 shooting with eight rebounds. Oscar Cluff pitched in with 16 points and six rebounds off the bench, scoring 14 in the second half.

Colorado leads the series 19-7, including 13-0 at home.

Washington State returns home to host Oregon State on Thursday. Colorado travels to play No. 4 Arizona on Thursday.

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1st Half
WSU
Cougars
29
COLO
Buffaloes
39

Time		Play	Score
20:00		Rueben Chinyelu vs. Eddie Lampkin Jr. (Myles Rice gains possession)
19:43	+2	Rueben Chinyelu makes two point hook shot	2-0
19:21		Eddie Lampkin Jr. turnover (traveling)
18:50		Kymany Houinsou misses three point jump shot
18:49		Cougars offensive rebound
18:49		Cougars turnover (shot clock violation)
18:38		KJ Simpson misses two point jump shot
18:36		Isaac Jones defensive rebound
18:21		Kymany Houinsou misses three point jump shot
18:19		Buffaloes defensive rebound
18:08	+2	KJ Simpson makes two point layup (Eddie Lampkin Jr. assists)	2-2
17:48		Andrej Jakimovski misses two point jump shot
17:46		J'Vonne Hadley defensive rebound
17:29	+2	Julian Hammond III makes two point jump shot	2-4
17:11		J'Vonne Hadley personal foul
16:53		Myles Rice misses three point jump shot
16:51		Luke O'Brien defensive rebound
16:36		Julian Hammond III misses two point layup
16:34		Buffaloes offensive rebound
16:22		KJ Simpson misses three point jump shot
16:20		Kymany Houinsou defensive rebound
15:54		Myles Rice misses two point jump shot
15:52		Julian Hammond III defensive rebound
15:43	+2	J'Vonne Hadley makes two point hook shot	2-6
15:21		Kymany Houinsou misses two point layup
15:19		Julian Hammond III defensive rebound
15:14		Julian Hammond III turnover (bad pass)
15:14		TV timeout
14:50		Oscar Cluff turnover (traveling)
14:38	+2	KJ Simpson makes two point layup	2-8
14:38		Kymany Houinsou shooting foul (KJ Simpson draws the foul)
14:38	+1	KJ Simpson makes regular free throw 1 of 1	2-9
14:27	+2	Jaylen Wells makes two point layup (Kymany Houinsou assists)	4-9
14:02		Andrej Jakimovski blocks Harrison Carrington's two point layup
14:00		Kymany Houinsou defensive rebound
13:51	+2	Andrej Jakimovski makes two point layup	6-9
13:41	+2	KJ Simpson makes two point layup (Eddie Lampkin Jr. assists)	6-11
13:16		Oscar Cluff misses two point layup
13:14		Luke O'Brien defensive rebound
13:09	+2	Luke O'Brien makes two point layup	6-13
12:45		Jump ball. Kymany Houinsou vs. Julian Hammond III (Buffaloes gains possession)
12:45		Kymany Houinsou turnover (lost ball) (Julian Hammond III steals)
12:36	+2	KJ Simpson makes two point layup (Javon Ruffin assists)	6-15
12:19		Jabe Mullins misses three point jump shot
12:17		Oscar Cluff offensive rebound
12:10	+2	Oscar Cluff makes two point layup	8-15
11:59		KJ Simpson misses two point jump shot
11:57		Oscar Cluff defensive rebound
11:51		Kymany Houinsou turnover (bad pass)
11:51		TV timeout
11:32		Javon Ruffin misses two point jump shot
11:30		Rueben Chinyelu defensive rebound
11:14	+2	Isaac Jones makes two point dunk (Jaylen Wells assists)	10-15
10:53		Rueben Chinyelu blocks J'Vonne Hadley's two point jump shot
10:51		Jabe Mullins defensive rebound
10:45		Julian Hammond III blocks Jabe Mullins's two point layup
10:45		Julian Hammond III defensive rebound
10:45		Rueben Chinyelu personal foul
10:33	+3	Julian Hammond III makes three point jump shot (J'Vonne Hadley assists)	10-18
10:16	+2	Isaac Jones makes two point hook shot	12-18
9:57		Julian Hammond III turnover (Jabe Mullins steals)
9:52		Myles Rice turnover (lost ball)
9:31	+3	J'Vonne Hadley makes three point jump shot (Javon Ruffin assists)	12-21
9:16		Jaylen Wells offensive foul
9:16		Jaylen Wells turnover (offensive foul)
9:00	+2	Eddie Lampkin Jr. makes two point layup (J'Vonne Hadley assists)	12-23
8:55		Cougars 30 second timeout
8:39		Jaylen Wells misses two point jump shot
8:37		Julian Hammond III defensive rebound
8:33		Julian Hammond III turnover (bad pass)
8:13	+2	Myles Rice makes two point jump shot	14-23
7:59	+2	Eddie Lampkin Jr. makes two point layup (KJ Simpson assists)	14-25
7:37		Rueben Chinyelu turnover (traveling)
7:36		TV timeout
7:16		KJ Simpson misses two point jump shot
7:14		Jaylen Wells defensive rebound
7:01		Oscar Cluff misses two point layup
6:59		Javon Ruffin defensive rebound
6:39		Eddie Lampkin Jr. turnover (lost ball) (Andrej Jakimovski steals)
6:27		Jaylen Wells misses two point jump shot
6:25		J'Vonne Hadley defensive rebound
6:16		Kymany Houinsou blocks Luke O'Brien's two point layup
6:14		Andrej Jakimovski defensive rebound
5:53	+2	Andrej Jakimovski makes two point layup	16-25
5:27		Javon Ruffin misses two point layup
5:26		Eddie Lampkin Jr. offensive rebound
5:26		Oscar Cluff shooting foul (Eddie Lampkin Jr. draws the foul)
5:26	+1	Eddie Lampkin Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2	16-26
5:26	+1	Eddie Lampkin Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2	16-27
5:01		Jaylen Wells misses two point jump shot
4:59		Cougars offensive rebound
4:59		KJ Simpson personal foul
4:57	+3	Andrej Jakimovski makes three point jump shot (Myles Rice assists)	19-27
4:39		Joe Hurlburt misses three point jump shot
4:37		J'Vonne Hadley offensive rebound
4:31	+2	Javon Ruffin makes two point layup (J'Vonne Hadley assists)	19-29
4:03	+3	Andrej Jakimovski makes three point jump shot (Isaac Jones assists)	22-29
3:39		KJ Simpson turnover (out of bounds)
3:39		TV timeout
3:26		Julian Hammond III personal foul
3:23	+3	Andrej Jakimovski makes three point jump shot (Myles Rice assists)	25-29
2:53		Myles Rice shooting foul (KJ Simpson draws the foul)
2:53	+1	KJ Simpson makes regular free throw 1 of 3	25-30
2:53	+1	KJ Simpson makes regular free throw 2 of 3	25-31
2:53	+1	KJ Simpson makes regular free throw 3 of 3	25-32
2:42		Myles Rice misses two point jump shot
2:40		Javon Ruffin defensive rebound
2:17		Javon Ruffin turnover (bad pass) (Myles Rice steals)
1:59		Jaylen Wells turnover (bad pass) (KJ Simpson steals)
1:55	+2	KJ Simpson makes two point layup	25-34
1:36	+2	Myles Rice makes two point layup	27-34
1:17	+2	Julian Hammond III makes two point layup	27-36
1:02		Myles Rice misses two point jump shot
1:00		Eddie Lampkin Jr. defensive rebound
0:47		Javon Ruffin misses three point jump shot
0:45		Rueben Chinyelu defensive rebound
0:31		Eddie Lampkin Jr. personal foul
0:22	+2	Isaac Jones makes two point layup	29-36
0:09		Myles Rice personal foul
0:09		Buffaloes 30 second timeout
0:01	+2	Harrison Carrington makes two point layup (Julian Hammond III assists)	29-38
0:01		Andrej Jakimovski shooting foul (Harrison Carrington draws the foul)
0:01	+1	Harrison Carrington makes regular free throw 1 of 1	29-39
0:00		End of period

2nd Half
WSU
Cougars
38
COLO
Buffaloes
35

Time		Play	Score
19:47		Rueben Chinyelu offensive foul
19:47		Rueben Chinyelu turnover (offensive foul)
19:31	+2	KJ Simpson makes two point layup	29-41
19:06		Myles Rice misses three point jump shot
19:04		KJ Simpson defensive rebound
19:03		Isaac Jones personal foul
18:50		J'Vonne Hadley misses two point layup
18:49		Isaac Jones defensive rebound
18:49		Eddie Lampkin Jr. personal foul
18:28		Luke O'Brien shooting foul (Oscar Cluff draws the foul)
18:28	+1	Oscar Cluff makes regular free throw 1 of 2	30-41
18:28		Oscar Cluff misses regular free throw 2 of 2
18:28		Kymany Houinsou offensive rebound
18:13	+2	Isaac Jones makes two point layup (Kymany Houinsou assists)	32-41
17:59		KJ Simpson turnover (lost ball) (Myles Rice steals)
17:51		Andrej Jakimovski misses two point layup
17:49		Oscar Cluff offensive rebound
17:49	+2	Oscar Cluff makes two point layup	34-41
17:42		Myles Rice personal foul
17:32	+2	J'Vonne Hadley makes two point layup	34-43
17:10		Oscar Cluff misses two point layup
17:08		KJ Simpson defensive rebound
17:02		KJ Simpson turnover (bad pass) (Myles Rice steals)
16:46		Andrej Jakimovski misses two point layup
16:44		Buffaloes defensive rebound
16:29		Eddie Lampkin Jr. offensive foul
16:29		Eddie Lampkin Jr. turnover (offensive foul)
16:18	+2	Kymany Houinsou makes two point dunk	36-43
16:00		Julian Hammond III misses two point jump shot
15:58		Oscar Cluff defensive rebound
15:43		Oscar Cluff misses two point layup
15:41		Oscar Cluff offensive rebound
15:37	+2	Oscar Cluff makes two point layup	38-43
15:34		Buffaloes 60 second timeout
15:34		TV timeout
15:25		Isaac Jones shooting foul (J'Vonne Hadley draws the foul)
15:25		TV timeout
15:25	+1	J'Vonne Hadley makes regular free throw 1 of 2	38-44
15:25	+1	J'Vonne Hadley makes regular free throw 2 of 2	38-45
15:07	+2	Isaac Jones makes two point layup	40-45
14:48	+2	Julian Hammond III makes two point layup	40-47
14:25		KJ Simpson personal foul
14:09	+2	Isaac Jones makes two point jump shot (Kymany Houinsou assists)	42-47
13:48		Isaac Jones blocks Joe Hurlburt's two point layup
13:46		Joe Hurlburt offensive rebound
13:45		Oscar Cluff shooting foul (Harrison Carrington draws the foul)
13:45	+1	Harrison Carrington makes regular free throw 1 of 2	42-48
13:45		Harrison Carrington misses regular free throw 2 of 2
13:45		Oscar Cluff defensive rebound
13:23		Kymany Houinsou misses two point layup
13:21		Julian Hammond III defensive rebound
13:13		Joe Hurlburt turnover (traveling)
12:56		Oscar Cluff misses two point hook shot
12:54		Isaac Jones offensive rebound
12:48	+2	Andrej Jakimovski makes two point layup (Isaac Jones assists)	44-48
12:33		Kymany Houinsou blocks KJ Simpson's two point layup
12:31		Isaiah Watts defensive rebound
12:22		Joe Hurlburt shooting foul (Isaac Jones draws the foul)
12:22	+1	Isaac Jones makes regular free throw 1 of 2	45-48
12:22	+1	Isaac Jones makes regular free throw 2 of 2	46-48
12:13	+3	KJ Simpson makes three point jump shot (Julian Hammond III assists)	46-51
11:53	+2	Rueben Chinyelu makes two point jump shot	48-51
11:32		Julian Hammond III misses two point jump shot
11:30		Isaiah Watts defensive rebound
11:20		Andrej Jakimovski misses two point layup
11:18		Eddie Lampkin Jr. defensive rebound
11:09		Isaac Jones shooting foul (KJ Simpson draws the foul)
11:10		TV timeout
11:09	+1	KJ Simpson makes regular free throw 1 of 2	48-52
11:09	+1	KJ Simpson makes regular free throw 2 of 2	48-53
10:54		Rueben Chinyelu turnover (bad pass) (Eddie Lampkin Jr. steals)
10:41		Luke O'Brien misses three point jump shot
10:39		Eddie Lampkin Jr. offensive rebound
10:38		Isaiah Watts shooting foul (Eddie Lampkin Jr. draws the foul)
10:38		Eddie Lampkin Jr. misses regular free throw 1 of 2
10:38	+1	Eddie Lampkin Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2	48-54
10:23	+2	Oscar Cluff makes two point jump shot (Andrej Jakimovski assists)	50-54
10:10		Luke O'Brien misses two point layup
10:08		Isaac Jones defensive rebound
9:56	+2	Oscar Cluff makes two point jump shot (Myles Rice assists)	52-54
9:34		Myles Rice personal foul (KJ Simpson draws the foul)
9:34	+1	KJ Simpson makes regular free throw 1 of 2	52-55
9:34	+1	KJ Simpson makes regular free throw 2 of 2	52-56
9:15	+2	Oscar Cluff makes two point layup	54-56
9:00	+2	KJ Simpson makes two point jump shot (Luke O'Brien assists)	54-58
8:32		Kymany Houinsou misses three point jump shot
8:30		Isaac Jones offensive rebound
8:24	+2	Isaac Jones makes two point layup	56-58
8:10		KJ Simpson misses two point jump shot
8:08		Isaiah Watts defensive rebound
7:47		Isaiah Watts misses three point jump shot
7:45		Javon Ruffin defensive rebound
7:37		Oscar Cluff shooting foul (Luke O'Brien draws the foul)
7:37		TV timeout
7:37	+1	Luke O'Brien makes regular free throw 1 of 2	56-59
7:37		Luke O'Brien misses regular free throw 2 of 2
7:37		Kymany Houinsou defensive rebound
7:20		Isaiah Watts misses three point jump shot
7:18		Eddie Lampkin Jr. defensive rebound
6:55		KJ Simpson misses three point jump shot
6:53		Isaac Jones defensive rebound
6:42		Andrej Jakimovski misses two point layup
6:41		Buffaloes defensive rebound
6:25		Eddie Lampkin Jr. misses two point layup
6:23		J'Vonne Hadley offensive rebound
6:17	+2	KJ Simpson makes two point layup	56-61
5:57		Andrej Jakimovski misses three point jump shot
5:55		Eddie Lampkin Jr. defensive rebound
5:33	+2	Eddie Lampkin Jr. makes two point layup (KJ Simpson assists)	56-63
5:33		Oscar Cluff shooting foul (Eddie Lampkin Jr. draws the foul)
5:33		Cougars 30 second timeout
5:33	+1	Eddie Lampkin Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 1	56-64
5:16	+2	Myles Rice makes two point layup	58-64
4:49		Eddie Lampkin Jr. offensive foul
4:49		Eddie Lampkin Jr. turnover (offensive foul)
4:35		Joe Hurlburt shooting foul (Andrej Jakimovski draws the foul)
4:35	+1	Andrej Jakimovski makes regular free throw 1 of 2	59-64
4:35		Andrej Jakimovski misses regular free throw 2 of 2
4:35		Luke O'Brien defensive rebound
4:16		KJ Simpson misses two point layup
4:14		Isaac Jones defensive rebound
4:05	+3	Andrej Jakimovski makes three point jump shot (Oscar Cluff assists)	62-64
3:43		Kymany Houinsou personal foul
3:43		TV timeout
3:43	+1	KJ Simpson makes regular free throw 1 of 2	62-65
3:43		KJ Simpson misses regular free throw 2 of 2
3:43		Isaac Jones defensive rebound
3:22		Joe Hurlburt shooting foul (Myles Rice draws the foul)
3:22	+1	Myles Rice makes regular free throw 1 of 2	63-65
3:22	+1	Myles Rice makes regular free throw 2 of 2	64-65
2:56		J'Vonne Hadley misses two point layup
2:54		Oscar Cluff defensive rebound
2:28		Myles Rice turnover (bad pass)
2:02	+2	KJ Simpson makes two point layup	64-67
1:44		Cougars 30 second timeout
1:38		J'Vonne Hadley blocks Kymany Houinsou's two point layup
1:36		Julian Hammond III defensive rebound
1:18		Kymany Houinsou personal foul (KJ Simpson draws the foul)
1:18	+1	KJ Simpson makes regular free throw 1 of 2	64-68
1:18	+1	KJ Simpson makes regular free throw 2 of 2	64-69
1:07		Myles Rice turnover (bad pass) (Julian Hammond III steals)
0:49	+3	J'Vonne Hadley makes three point jump shot	64-72
0:39		Andrej Jakimovski turnover (bad pass)
0:39		Myles Rice personal foul (KJ Simpson draws the foul)
0:39		KJ Simpson technical foul
0:39		KJ Simpson turnover (offensive foul)
0:39		Isaiah Watts technical foul
0:39	+1	KJ Simpson makes regular free throw 1 of 2	64-73
0:39	+1	KJ Simpson makes regular free throw 2 of 2	64-74
0:33		Andrej Jakimovski misses three point jump shot
0:31		Luke O'Brien defensive rebound
0:04		Buffaloes turnover (shot clock violation)
0:01	+3	Oscar Cluff makes three point jump shot (Kymany Houinsou assists)	67-74
0:00		End of period

+ 3

Oscar Cluff makes three point jump shot (Kymany Houinsou assists)