Love scores 19, Larsson has 18 as No. 8 Arizona beats Colorado 99-79 for fifth straight win
BOULDER, Colo. (AP) Caleb Love scored 19 points, Pelle Larson had 18 and No. 8 Arizona pulled away in the second half to hand Colorado its first home loss of the season, 99-79 on Saturday night.
Oumar Ballo added 16 points and 13 rebounds, recording a double-double in his fourth straight game. Kylan Boswell scored 15 for Arizona (19-5, 10-3 Pac 12) in its fifth straight win. The Wildcats also ended a five-game losing streak at Colorado with their first win at the CU Events Center since 2015. “We came out here with a lot of energy, not to make any excuses about us playing three overtimes and, just kind of punched them in the mouth. And that’s what we did,” Love said.
Tristan da Silva and KJ Simpson had 20 points apiece to lead the Buffaloes (16-8, 7-6), who had entered with a 13-0 home record, the best stretch to start a season in the program’s history.
Leading by seven points at halftime, Arizona opened the second half with consecutive 3-pointers by Love and Keshad Johnson, starting an 18-5 run over a five-minute span that carried the Wildcats to a 65-45 lead. Colorado managed to cut it to 77-63 on a pair of free throws by J’Vonne Hadley with 7:48 to go but Love answered with a second-chance 3-pointer after an offensive rebound by Ballo, pushing Arizona’s lead back up to 17 points. “Earlier in the year we were struggling making that first push of the second half for whatever reason,” Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd said. “We couldn't quite pinpoint it. But today we made that first run run in the second half. We had a couple 3s right off the bat and then played some good defense. I think we won that segment by nine points, which is what championship teams do.”
Colorado trailed by double digits the rest of the way. “Sometimes, it’s necessary where you’ve just got to tip your cap to the other team,” Colorado coach Tad Boyle said. “I thought Arizona played great tonight. They deserved to win. They were the more aggressive team. They made shots and they were physical and we didn’t play well enough to win.” Arizona also forced Colorado to commit 16 turnovers, including 10 off steals and scored 23 points off the miscues. The Wildcats added 23 more points off second-chance shots. “I feel like we gave them too many buckets off turnovers, off second-chance points, especially on the glass,” da Silva said. “When you’re giving away possessions on offense and then on defense, if you don’t rebound, obviously their possession is not going to be over until you get that board.”
Ballo’s putback dunk had given Arizona an 11-point advantage late in the first half but Colorado got layups from Luke O’Brien and Simpson in the final minute of the period to pull the Buffaloes to 47-40 at the break.
BIG PICTURE
Arizona: The Wildcats came through with a dominating performance in Colorado’s thin air despite their draining triple-overtime victory at Utah on Thursday night. Their shooting from 3-point range helped make the difference, going 10 for 22 from beyond the arc. Love led the way, converting 4 of 6 3s. Arizona also scored 23 points off turnovers in putting themselves in solid position for a strong finish as they gear up for the postseason.
Colorado: The Buffaloes had been especially sharp at home until running into the hot perimeter shooting of the Wildcats, who completed a two-game season sweep of Colorado. The Buffaloes simply could not keep up with Arizona’s 3-point shooting, going 5 for 17 from beyond the arc including 1 for 6 in the second half.
UP NEXT
Arizona: Returns home to host intrastate rival Arizona State next Saturday night.
Colorado: Plays at UCLA on Thursday night.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
20:00 | Oumar Ballo vs. Tristan da Silva (J'Vonne Hadley gains possession) | |||
19:48 | +2 | KJ Simpson makes two point jump shot | 0-2 | |
19:14 | +2 | Kylan Boswell makes two point jump shot | 2-2 | |
18:58 | Cody Williams misses two point jump shot | |||
18:56 | J'Vonne Hadley offensive rebound | |||
18:48 | KJ Simpson misses two point layup | |||
18:46 | Keshad Johnson defensive rebound | |||
18:43 | Jump ball. (Wildcats gains possession) | |||
18:24 | Kylan Boswell misses three point jump shot | |||
18:22 | Tristan da Silva defensive rebound | |||
17:59 | +2 | KJ Simpson makes two point layup | 2-4 | |
17:48 | Oumar Ballo misses two point hook shot | |||
17:46 | Eddie Lampkin Jr. defensive rebound | |||
17:40 | Caleb Love personal foul | |||
17:21 | +2 | Eddie Lampkin Jr. makes two point hook shot (KJ Simpson assists) | 2-6 | |
17:17 | Kylan Boswell turnover (Tristan da Silva steals) | |||
17:09 | +2 | Tristan da Silva makes two point dunk | 2-8 | |
17:03 | Oumar Ballo misses two point layup | |||
17:01 | Wildcats offensive rebound | |||
17:01 | Eddie Lampkin Jr. shooting foul (Oumar Ballo draws the foul) | |||
17:01 | Oumar Ballo misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
17:01 | +1 | Oumar Ballo makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 3-8 | |
16:38 | Eddie Lampkin Jr. turnover (bad pass) (Pelle Larsson steals) | |||
16:30 | +3 | Pelle Larsson makes three point jump shot (Kylan Boswell assists) | 6-8 | |
16:22 | Kylan Boswell personal foul | |||
16:17 | Tristan da Silva misses two point hook shot | |||
16:15 | Oumar Ballo defensive rebound | |||
16:04 | +2 | Pelle Larsson makes two point layup | 8-8 | |
15:39 | Tristan da Silva misses two point layup | |||
15:37 | Keshad Johnson defensive rebound | |||
15:26 | Caleb Love misses two point jump shot | |||
15:24 | Keshad Johnson offensive rebound | |||
15:19 | +3 | Kylan Boswell makes three point jump shot (Keshad Johnson assists) | 11-8 | |
15:03 | Cody Williams turnover (double dribble) | |||
15:04 | TV timeout | |||
14:44 | +2 | Motiejus Krivas makes two point layup | 13-8 | |
14:26 | KJ Simpson misses three point jump shot | |||
14:24 | Caleb Love defensive rebound | |||
14:13 | Keshad Johnson misses two point jump shot | |||
14:11 | J'Vonne Hadley defensive rebound | |||
14:01 | +2 | Tristan da Silva makes two point hook shot | 13-10 | |
13:49 | +2 | Motiejus Krivas makes two point hook shot | 15-10 | |
13:33 | J'Vonne Hadley misses three point jump shot | |||
13:31 | Pelle Larsson defensive rebound | |||
13:16 | +2 | Pelle Larsson makes two point jump shot | 17-10 | |
13:16 | J'Vonne Hadley shooting foul (Pelle Larsson draws the foul) | |||
13:16 | +1 | Pelle Larsson makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 18-10 | |
12:50 | Luke O'Brien misses two point jump shot | |||
12:48 | Julian Hammond III offensive rebound | |||
12:43 | +2 | J'Vonne Hadley makes two point layup (KJ Simpson assists) | 18-12 | |
12:27 | Caleb Love turnover (bad pass) (Luke O'Brien steals) | |||
12:17 | Julian Hammond III turnover (bad pass) (Pelle Larsson steals) | |||
12:08 | Motiejus Krivas turnover (lost ball) (Julian Hammond III steals) | |||
11:40 | Julian Hammond III turnover (bad pass) (Caleb Love steals) | |||
11:28 | Caleb Love misses two point jump shot | |||
11:26 | KJ Simpson defensive rebound | |||
11:21 | +3 | Julian Hammond III makes three point jump shot (KJ Simpson assists) | 18-15 | |
11:00 | KJ Lewis turnover (bad pass) (KJ Simpson steals) | |||
10:57 | KJ Lewis personal foul | |||
10:57 | TV timeout | |||
10:35 | +2 | KJ Simpson makes two point jump shot (Eddie Lampkin Jr. assists) | 18-17 | |
10:16 | Luke O'Brien blocks KJ Lewis's two point layup | |||
10:14 | Oumar Ballo offensive rebound | |||
10:14 | +2 | Oumar Ballo makes two point layup | 20-17 | |
10:14 | Eddie Lampkin Jr. shooting foul (Oumar Ballo draws the foul) | |||
10:14 | +1 | Oumar Ballo makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 21-17 | |
10:00 | Keshad Johnson personal foul | |||
9:57 | KJ Lewis shooting foul (Cody Williams draws the foul) | |||
9:57 | Cody Williams misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
9:57 | Cody Williams misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
9:57 | Keshad Johnson defensive rebound | |||
9:35 | +2 | Jaden Bradley makes two point jump shot | 23-17 | |
9:19 | Oumar Ballo blocks Julian Hammond III's two point layup | |||
9:18 | Buffaloes offensive rebound | |||
9:14 | KJ Lewis shooting foul (Tristan da Silva draws the foul) | |||
9:14 | +1 | Tristan da Silva makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 23-18 | |
9:14 | +1 | Tristan da Silva makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 23-19 | |
8:56 | J'Vonne Hadley blocks Kylan Boswell's two point layup | |||
8:54 | Julian Hammond III defensive rebound | |||
8:53 | Jaden Bradley personal foul (Julian Hammond III draws the foul) | |||
8:53 | +1 | Julian Hammond III makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 23-20 | |
8:53 | +1 | Julian Hammond III makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 23-21 | |
8:44 | Cody Williams blocks Caleb Love's two point layup | |||
8:42 | Assane Diop defensive rebound | |||
8:35 | Julian Hammond III misses three point jump shot | |||
8:33 | Keshad Johnson defensive rebound | |||
8:23 | Assane Diop shooting foul (Oumar Ballo draws the foul) | |||
8:23 | +1 | Oumar Ballo makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 24-21 | |
8:23 | +1 | Oumar Ballo makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 25-21 | |
8:09 | Cody Williams misses two point jump shot | |||
8:07 | Oumar Ballo defensive rebound | |||
7:50 | +3 | Caleb Love makes three point jump shot (Kylan Boswell assists) | 28-21 | |
7:25 | Keshad Johnson personal foul (Julian Hammond III draws the foul) | |||
7:25 | TV timeout | |||
7:25 | Julian Hammond III misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | |||
7:25 | Oumar Ballo defensive rebound | |||
7:09 | Oumar Ballo misses two point dunk | |||
7:07 | J'Vonne Hadley defensive rebound | |||
6:59 | Assane Diop misses three point jump shot | |||
6:57 | Caleb Love defensive rebound | |||
6:52 | Cody Williams shooting foul (Caleb Love draws the foul) | |||
6:52 | +1 | Caleb Love makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 29-21 | |
6:52 | +1 | Caleb Love makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 30-21 | |
6:29 | KJ Simpson misses two point dunk | |||
6:27 | Caleb Love defensive rebound | |||
6:15 | Caleb Love misses three point jump shot | |||
6:13 | Buffaloes defensive rebound | |||
5:49 | +3 | J'Vonne Hadley makes three point jump shot (KJ Simpson assists) | 30-24 | |
5:28 | Cody Williams shooting foul (Jaden Bradley draws the foul) | |||
5:28 | +1 | Jaden Bradley makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 31-24 | |
5:28 | +1 | Jaden Bradley makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 32-24 | |
5:16 | Luke O'Brien turnover (lost ball) (Jaden Bradley steals) | |||
5:11 | +2 | Jaden Bradley makes two point layup | 34-24 | |
5:02 | Luke O'Brien misses three point jump shot | |||
5:00 | Luke O'Brien offensive rebound | |||
4:50 | KJ Simpson misses three point jump shot | |||
4:48 | Pelle Larsson defensive rebound | |||
4:41 | Kylan Boswell misses three point jump shot | |||
4:39 | J'Vonne Hadley defensive rebound | |||
4:34 | +2 | Cody Williams makes two point dunk (Luke O'Brien assists) | 34-26 | |
4:18 | +3 | Pelle Larsson makes three point jump shot | 37-26 | |
4:00 | Pelle Larsson personal foul (Cody Williams draws the foul) | |||
4:00 | TV timeout | |||
4:00 | +1 | Cody Williams makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 37-27 | |
4:00 | +1 | Cody Williams makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 37-28 | |
3:48 | Pelle Larsson misses two point layup | |||
3:46 | Oumar Ballo offensive rebound | |||
3:42 | +3 | Caleb Love makes three point jump shot (Oumar Ballo assists) | 40-28 | |
3:20 | +2 | Tristan da Silva makes two point jump shot | 40-30 | |
3:00 | Pelle Larsson misses two point jump shot | |||
2:58 | Luke O'Brien defensive rebound | |||
2:51 | +3 | Tristan da Silva makes three point jump shot (Luke O'Brien assists) | 40-33 | |
2:39 | +2 | Caleb Love makes two point layup | 42-33 | |
2:39 | KJ Simpson shooting foul (Caleb Love draws the foul) | |||
2:39 | +1 | Caleb Love makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 43-33 | |
2:30 | +3 | Julian Hammond III makes three point jump shot (KJ Simpson assists) | 43-36 | |
1:57 | +2 | Jaden Bradley makes two point jump shot | 45-36 | |
1:37 | J'Vonne Hadley turnover (lost ball) (Kylan Boswell steals) | |||
1:27 | Kylan Boswell misses three point jump shot | |||
1:25 | Oumar Ballo offensive rebound | |||
1:23 | +2 | Oumar Ballo makes two point dunk | 47-36 | |
1:21 | Buffaloes 30 second timeout | |||
1:05 | KJ Simpson misses three point jump shot | |||
1:03 | Oumar Ballo defensive rebound | |||
1:03 | Luke O'Brien personal foul (Oumar Ballo draws the foul) | |||
1:03 | Oumar Ballo misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | |||
1:03 | J'Vonne Hadley defensive rebound | |||
0:56 | +2 | KJ Simpson makes two point layup | 47-38 | |
0:30 | Oumar Ballo turnover (lost ball) (KJ Simpson steals) | |||
0:24 | Caleb Love blocks KJ Simpson's two point layup | |||
0:22 | Luke O'Brien offensive rebound | |||
0:19 | +2 | Luke O'Brien makes two point layup | 47-40 | |
0:05 | Oumar Ballo offensive foul | |||
0:05 | Oumar Ballo turnover (offensive foul) | |||
0:00 | End of period |