Buffs Fall Short in OT

BOULDER, Colo. — Senior Dwight Thorne II and sophomore Cory Higgins each scored 21 points, however CU's rally fell short in overtime as the visiting Montana State Bobcats escaped with an 85-82 overtime win in Boulder.

 "Give Montana State credit," said CU head coach Jeff Bzdelik. "I think we were soft on defense, and soft rebounding the ball. And that was what we talked about all week when game planning. I think that the team learned a lesson about the intensity level that needs to be exhibited all the time on defense and on the boards."

Colorado drops to 1-1 on the young season and the Bobcats improved to 1-1.

Levi Knutson added 12 points and Austin Dufault tallied 11 points for the Buffs. Higgins also had a game-high five assists, four steals and grabbed a team-high seven rebounds.

 Jermyl Jackson-Wilson and Nate Tomlinson each added five rebounds for CU.

 Marquis Navarre's runner in the lane with 52.7 seconds remaining in the extra period broke a tie at 80, sending the Bobcats to their sixth straight win over the Buffaloes.

 MSU has won the last six meetings in the series dating back to 1924. CU won the first meeting in 1924, however the Bobcats won three times in the 1930's, once in Boulder (1994) and the most recent, 1998 played in Billings.

 The Buffaloes trailed by as many as 15 points in the second half, before rallying to tie it late in regulation on a Knutson drive with 15 seconds remaining.  In the extra session, Thorne opened up the scoring for CU with a three-pointer, however MSU's Bobby Howard (24 points) hit a three-pointer - their 11th of the game, to tie it at 78.

 After the teams traded points, making it 80-80, Montana State finally pushed ahead on a pair of free throws by Danny Piepoli (19 points) giving MSU the lead they would not relinquish.

 Colorado will host Harvard on Saturday, November 22 at 2 p.m. at the Coors Events Center.  CU will continue the homestand, hosting Lafayette College (Pa.) on Tuesday, November 25 at 7 p.m.