MBB Defeats SMU, 63-52
BOULDER, Colo. (AP) - Senior guard Marcus Hall scored a game-high 16 points leading three other players in double figures propelling the University of Colorado to a 63-52 home victory over SMU on Friday night.
Senior Richard Roby and sophomore Xavier Silas each added 15 points, in addition to 10 points by Levi Knutson helping CU (8-5) to its third straight victory. All of Roby's 15 points came in the first half.
"We are getting more consistent," said CU head coach Jeff Bzdelik. "We had four players in double-digits, which means that we had good shot distribution. I like that we are sharing the basketball. Our assist to turnover ratio is getting better."
The Buffaloes shot 46 percent from the field against a team that had held their last two opponents below 30 percent shooting.
The Buffaloes played without guard Dwight Thorne who is out with a deep bone bruise in his right knee.
Alex Malone and Bamba Fall had 11 points for SMU (6-7), while Papa Dia added 10 for the Mustangs.
It was the first meeting between the schools in 28 years. They last played on Dec. 8, 1979 in Dallas with the Buffs holding a 4-1 advantage in the series.
Colorado scored the first six points of the second half, including four from Cory Higgins, to extend its lead to 42-28. SMU missed its first four shots and two free throws by Dia before Malone's rebound basket with 14:20 left made it 42-30. A second put back basket by Malone and his 3-pointer got the Mustangs within 45-37.
Silas scored on a layup with 1:44 to go to make it 58-47, but Fall had a three-point play and two free throws to get the Mustangs within 58-52 with 1:08 remaining. Silas and Hall sealed the game by each hitting two free throws.
Roby had 15 points at halftime on 5-for-7 shooting and three 3-pointers as the Buffaloes turned a 19-17 deficit into a 36-28 lead at the break. Colorado shot 52 percent in the first half.
SMU hurt itself with eight turnovers, three in the last four minutes that led to three layups. The Mustangs were 3-for-10 shooting from beyond the arc in the opening period.
Colorado will host Tulsa on Monday, Jan. 7 at 7p.m. to close out the non-conference season.