Buffs Wrap Up Road Trip Sunday At Washington State

ABOUT THE BUFFALOES: Colorado is 13-7 overall and 5-5 in the Pac-12 Conference after splitting its first two games of a three-game  road swing through the Pacific Northwest. The Buffaloes defeated Oregon, 82-78, on Jan. 25, in a thrilling come from behind victory, but stumbled at Washington, 60-58, on Jan. 27.

Colorado's win at Oregon avoided what would have been the program's first three-game losing skid since the end of 2019-20. Five of its seven losses - and four in the Pac-12 - have come to ranked opponents.

The Buffaloes have won 10 of their last 16 and 36 of 52 (36-16) dating back to the beginning of the 2020-21 season. During that span, the Buffaloes have suffered back-to-back losses just three times - twice this year and once last season.

The Buffaloes have fared well in tight contests. Thirteen of Colorado's  games have been within six points - or two possessions - with four minutes or less remaining in the game. The Buffaloes are 9-4 in those contests.

Colorado is averaging 70.3 points per game while shooting 44.0 percent from the field. After struggling from 3-point range early in the season, Colorado has made 39 of 94 over the last five games (.415). Colorado shot a season-best 53.3 percent from the 3-point line (8-15) at Oregon and best in a road game since hitting 54.2 percent at UCLA (13-24) on Feb. 6, 2019.

The Buffaloes had a season-high 10 3-point field goals at Arizona State and most in a true road game since hitting 12 at Arizona on Dec. 28, 2020. The Buffaloes hadn't made more than five in any of the previous five games away from Boulder. Colorado is 26 of 64 from 3-point range over its last three road games (.406) after starting the season 18 of 83 (.217) away from Boulder.

Defensively, the Buffaloes have allowed 66.4 points per game. Colorado has held its opponents under 70 points in eight of its last 12 games, including a Pac-12 season-low 57 to Arizona State on Jan. 15. The Buffaloes are the second-best rebounding defense team (32.1 rpg) in the Pac-12 and rank fifth in rebound margin (+5.4).

Sophomore forward Jabari Walker leads the Buffaloes at 14.0 points and 8.6 rebounds per game. Walker recorded his Pac-12 leading ninth double-double of the season with a career-high tying 24 points and 11 rebounds at Oregon. It was his fourth career 20-point game; three of the four have resulted in double-doubles. He was 9 of 11 from the field against the Ducks, tying his career-best for field goals made.

In Pac-12 games, Walker is averaging 15.3 points and a league-best 9.8 rebounds an outing while shooting 50.5 percent from the field.

Walker leads the Pac-12 in overall defensive rebounds (6.7 drpg) while ranking third in overall rebounds, eighth in scoring and 13th in free throw percentage (.752).

Senior forward Evan Battey is averaging 12.0 points and 4.6 rebounds while shooting a team-best 52.4 percent from the field. Battey had nine points and five rebounds against Washington.

Sophomore guard Keeshawn Barthelemy leads Colorado in assists (53), free throw shooting (.833) and 3-point field goals made and attempted (23 of 71) while ranking third on the team in scoring at 11.0 points per game. He had 19 points, four assists and two steals at Oregon and hit a personal and team-season best 9 of 9 from the free throw line.

Barthelemy is second in the Pac-12 in free throw shooting during conference games at 89.5 percent hitting 34 of 38. He had a season-best string of 16 consecutive made end at Arizona State and followed that up with 15 in a row which ended at Washington. During this last run, he had a team and career-best 9 for 9 performance at Oregon. The 9 for 9 from the line matches the top performance among all Pac-12 players this season.

Senior guard Elijah Parquet is averaging 6.9 points and 2.4 rebounds while shooting 44 percent overall. Parquet returned to the lineup against Oregon after missing the previous two games with an injury. He had nine points, tied a career-best five rebounds and registered a team season-high three blocks at Washington.

Sophomore Tristan da Silva is averaging 9.2 points and 3.4 rebounds while shooting 43 percent. He is third on the team in assists with 30. Da Silva had 15 points, hitting 5 of 6 from the field at Oregon for his fourth-straight double-figure scoring game and sixth in his last seven. He was 2 of 3 from 3-point range against Oregon and has now made 11 of his last 23 from downtown (.478).

Nique Clifford is averaging 5.9 points, leads the Buffaloes in blocked shots (17) and is second in rebounding at 4.9 per game. Clifford made his first career start against USC finishing with five points, seven rebounds and tying a career-high two blocked shots.

Clifford ranks eighth in the Pac-12 in blocked shots during conference games (1.2 bpg). He had a string of seven consecutive games with at least one blocked shot end at Oregon.

K.J. Simpson is averaging 6.9 points and 2.3 rebounds per game and is second on the team in assists (50).  Simpson had eight points and tied a career-high with five assists against Oregon. He had career-highs with 17 points and three steals at Arizona. Simpson is shooting 89 percent from the free throw line during Pac-12 play and has a current streak of 15 consecutive made.

ABOUT THE COUGARS: Washington State is 11-7 overall and 4-3 in the Pac-12. The Cougars have won their last two and three of their last four. Washington State averages 74.0 points per game while shooting 42.2 percent from the field. The Cougars lead the Pac-12 in 3-pointers with 8.7 made per game. WSU leads the Pac-12, and ranks 25th in the nation, in offensive rebounds at 12.9 per game. Defensively, Washington State allows 63.3 points per game while opponents are shooting 39.9 percent overall.

Michael Flowers leads Washington State at 12.7 points and 3.0 assists per game. He has a team-best 45 3-point field goals and shoots 36 percent from long range. Noah Williams is second on the team in scoring at 11.7 points per game. Mouhamed Gueye tops the Cougars in rebounding at 5.4 per game while pitching in 7.1 points a contest. Efe Abogidi averages 7.3 points while leading Washington State in field goal shooting (.623) and blocked shots (27).

SERIES RECORDS: This will be the 24th meeting between Colorado and Washington State with the Buffaloes holding a 17-6 series edge and have won the last three and eight of the last 11. The series is tied 4-4 in Pullman. Colorado won last season's meeting at Beasley Coliseum, 70-59, on Jan. 23, 2021.