MBB Defeats Central Florida, 96-87, Breaks Two-Game Skid
BOULDER – Kal Bay scored a career-high 21 points and Marcus King-Stockton scored 11 of his career-high 18 points in the second half leading the University of Colorado Buffaloes men's basketball team to a 96-87 victory over the Central Florida Golden Knights, Wednesday night in the first game of doubleheader at the Coors Events Conference Center.
Tonight was the first CU men's basketball in 25 days since last playing December 9 against Colorado State. Two games were cancelled due to inclement weather on December 23 (UC Davis) and December 30 (TCU).
CU wraps up the non-conference season with a 4-6 record, while the Golden Knights fall to 10-3 in the first meeting between the two schools.
Richard Roby added 14 points, 12 of those in the second half before fouling out with 1:12 in the second half.
A total of six CU players netted double figures, a first since Dec. 3, 2005 against UC Irvine.
Adding into the mix were Jermyl Jackson-Wilson (13 points), Dominique Coleman (12 pts.) and Jeremy Williams (10 pts.).
Bay added six assists, three steals and season-best five 3-pointers.
"Great team effort," said CU head coach Ricardo Patton. "I thought particularly when the game was tied 70-70, it was an opportunity to realize that the game wasn't over. We challenged the guys to step up and continue to play with almost eight minutes remaining in the game, so there was plenty of time left."
With the score tied at 70 and 7:54 remaining, the Buffaloes made 13-of-15 free throws the rest of the game and King-Stockton added nine points helping CU break a two-game losing streak and their first win since Dec. 2 (over Northern Colorado).
The men were the opening act in a scheduled doubleheader with the CU women's team. The men started at 5:30 p.m. with the CU women following and defeating Missouri, 71-59 to open their Big 12 Conference season opener.
UCF residing from Conference-USA was led by Josh Peppers and Jermaine Taylor with 22 points each. The Golden Knights average over 50 percent from the field, were held to 44.4 percent shooting (28-of-63).
The Buffaloes return to the court this Saturday, January 6 to play host to the Texas Longhorns (10-3) in the Big 12 Conference opener for both schools. Tip time is 2:01 at the Coors Events Center and will be broadcast on Altitude Sports & Entertainment.
Game Notes
- both teams combined for 55 free throws made breaking the Coors Events Center of 53 made twice
- CU shot a season-best .529 from the field (27-of-51), a school-best since .577 against Savannah State in 2005-06
- Coach Patton teams are 2-2 against Conference USA; last played a school from their since 2002-03
- Bay scored 12 first half points on 4-of-7 3-pointers
- Roby held to two points (free throws) in the first half; scored his first basket 17:36 second half (3-point play)
- CU is 4-2 this season when leading at halftime
- CU scored over 90 points for the first time since scoring 116 versus Savannah State (Jan. 3, 2006)
- CU's 36 made free throws the most since making 36 back on Feb. 22, 1997 (Missouri)
- Coach Patton teams are 20-3 since 1996-97 when scoring over 90 points