MBB Escapes With 88-86 Buzzer Beater Over Northern Colorado
BOULDER ? Jermyl Jackson-Wilson grabbed an offensive rebound and scored the game-winning shot for an exciting 88-86 victory at the buzzer lifting the University of Colorado men's basketball team over Northern Colorado, Saturday night at the Coors Events Center.
The victory helps the Buffaloes improve to 3-4, while the Bears fall to 1-7.
Richard Roby and Dominique Coleman each scored game-highs of 21 points, leading three other players in double-figures, Xavier Silas (17 points), Jeremy Williams (12 points) and Kal Bay (10 points). Roby also grabbed 10 rebounds, giving him his first double-double of the year, fifth career.
The Bears had five players in double figures and were led by Sean Taibi's 16 points. Dirk Archibeque recorded his ninth double-double of his career with 14 points and 11 rebounds.
CU finally put some distance between the Bears with a pair of 10-point cushions in the second half, however the resilient Bears chipped away the deficit after CU's Marcus King-Stockton fouled out with 8:27 in the game and CU holding a 72-64 lead.
UNC surged back closing the game 77-73 by a 3-pointer from Archibeque with 3:17 left, then 13 seconds later Archibeque was called for a technical foul (after slamming his hands on the floor) after fouling Roby. Roby subsequently made his two free throws and one from the technical pushing the led to 80-73 with 3:06.
The Bears kept clawing back with four 3-pointers in the last 3:17, none bigger than Will Figures' trey with 30 seconds remaining tying the score at 86-86 setting Jackson-Wilson heroics after CU called a timeout with 24 seconds remaining. CU gained the final possession and it would take two missed jumpers before Jackson-Wilson picked up the offensive rebound and hit the game-winning shot to end the game.
Jackson-Wilson also added seven rebounds, six blocked shots, four assists and three steals.
"I think that the team with the most potential won, but I don't think that the best team won and that is what I told Coach Boyle and his team after the game," said CU head coach Ricardo Patton. "I don't think we can come away feeling good about tonight, we still made a lot of the same mistakes that we've been making. Give credit where credit is due, Coach Boyle has his team playing extremely hard and extremely fearless. If we don't grow from this experience we will continue to struggle."
UNC jumped ahead early in the first half shocking the Buffs with a 7-0 run breaking a 16-16 tie for a 23-16 advantage. The visitors increased their lead to eight points 36-29 with 3:07 remaining in the first half.
CU took their first lead 42-40 under a minute to play in the first half after trailing most of the first half (since 16-14 9:51). They closed the first half on a Silas' 3-point play and a 45-42 advantage. UNC's biggest lead of the game was eight points, 34-26 with 3:46 of the first half.
Colorado returns to the court on Monday, Dec., 4 hosting Pepperdine at the Coors Events Center beginning at 7 p.m.
Notes:
- Colorado evened the all-time series with Northern Colorado, 18-18; CU has won the last six meetings in a row
- Roby moved into 20th place on the school's all-time scoring list (1,103 points)
- Marcus King Stockton fouled out 8:27 of the second half, his first game he has fouled in 62 games as a Buff
- The last time that the Buffs had five players in double-figures was December 3, 2005 vs. Cal Poly
- CU had 12 blocked shots and out-rebounded the Bears 45-41, their first time in their last five games
- CU's 88 points are the most scored in a game since scoring 116 against Savannah State back on Jan. 3
- The Buffaloes shot an impressive 31-for-43 (.721) from the free throw line