Buffs Fall to Kansas State, 72-56

BOULDER, Colo. (AP) - Richard Roby scored a team-high 27 points, the sixth time that he has scored over the 20-point barrier this season, however Kansas State's Michael Beasley countered with 26 of his game-high 29 points in the second half to lead the Wildcats to a 72-56 conference win at the Coors Events Center, Wednesday night.

"We can't shy away from pressure and we have to help each other out," said CU head coach Jeff Bzdelik. "Things aren't going to get easier against Missouri; they come harder than Kansas State.  They are going to be real revved up.  We have to stay more disciplined on offense, more disciplined on defense and just more disciplined in all aspects of the game.  We have to block people out, they are all things that we work on; we just have to do it."

Beasley was 9-for-15 shooting in the second half in addition to grabbing a game-high 13 rebounds. Bill Walker added 18 points for Kansas State (13-4, 3-0 Big 12) which won for the fourth straight time.

Cory Higgins added 10 points for Colorado (9-9, 1-3), which hurt itself by hitting only 17-of-31 free throws. CU was led on the boards by Roby, who finished with a team-high nine boards.

The Buffaloes got within 34-30 after scoring the first six points of the second half. But Beasley gave Kansas State some breathing room, 37-30, with his first field goal of the game on a two-fisted jam off a steal with 16:20 remaining.

The Wildcats led 45-33 after baskets by Walker and Beasley and 53-38 after Beasley's two free throws. Higgins' layup and a 3-pointer by Xavier Silas cut it to 53-43 with 8:08 to play, but Kansas State went up 64-47 as Beasley scored nine of his team's next 11 points.

Foul trouble limited Beasley to 10 minutes and three points in the first half, but he contributed three free throws in a 15-0 run that put Kansas State up 27-13 with 8:54 left. Roby had eight points the rest of the half as Colorado reduced the gap to 34-26 at halftime.

Another difference in the game came on the boards, where Kansas State out-rebounded the Buffs by a 41-30 margin, only the second time CU has been out-rebounded by 10 or more this season (Stanford).

Colorado continues its two-game home stand hosting Missouri on Saturday, Jan. 26 for a 2 p.m. tip.