Buffaloes Begin Three-Game Road Swing Tuesday

ABOUT THE BUFFALOES: Colorado is 15-9 overall and 7-7 in the Pac-12 Conference, picking up its second-straight win in come-from-behind fashion, 81-76 at home against Utah on Feb. 12.
 
Colorado has bounced back from double-digit first half deficits in two of its last three wins. The Buffaloes were down 15 in the first half at Oregon before winning 82-78 on Jan. 25. Colorado trailed Utah by 11 on three occasions, with the latest coming at the 15:50 mark of the second half (49-38).
 
Colorado has won 38 of 55 (38-18) dating back to the beginning of the 2020-21 season.
 
The Buffaloes have fared well in tight contests. Fourteen of Colorado's  games have been within six points - or two possessions - with four minutes or less remaining in the game. The Buffaloes are 10-4 in those contests.
 
Colorado is averaging 69.5 points per game while shooting 44.0 percent from the field. The Buffaloes broke out of recent offensive slump against Oregon State scoring a Pac-12 season-high 86 points while setting overall season-bests for field goal shooting (32-56, .571), field goals made, 3-pointers made (14), 3-point percentage (.560) and assists (19). Colorado's 86-point performance had come on the heels of scoring just 94 in the previous two games, which included season-lows in points (43) and shooting percentage (.286) at Washington State.
 
Colorado continued that surge against Utah. The Buffaloes shot 51 percent from the field (25-49) against the Utes and are shooting 54 percent over the last two (57-105).
 
Colorado's 14 3-pointers against OSU  tied for its seventh most in any game and tied for its second most against a conference opponent. The Buffaloes tied a school record with 11 3-pointers in the first half. It's the fifth time the Buffaloes have achieved that number, with the last time in last year's Georgetown game. Colorado's .560 clip (14-25) was its best since hitting .640 (16-25) vs. Georgetown.
 
Colorado leads the Pac-12 in 3-point accuracy overall (.353) and also in conference only games (.378). The Buffaloes have made 21 of their last 41 from 3-point range (.512).
 
Defensively, the Buffaloes have allowed 66.8 points per game. Colorado has held its opponents under 70 points in 10 of its last 16 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 fourth in rebound margin (+5.2).
 
Colorado is 7-0 this year in one of the program's "gold standards" of holding opponents to 40 percent of less from the field and least a plus-8 rebound advantage. Colorado improved to 79-5 in those games after holding Oregon State to 38.3 percent shooting and winning the battle of the boards by 17 (40-23).
 
Sophomore forward Jabari Walker leads the Buffaloes at 14.1 points and 9.0 rebounds per game. Walker had his third-straight double-double with 22 points and a career-high tying 13 rebounds against Utah. Walker was 9 for 9 at the free throw line, tying a team season-best and also tying for the best effort without a miss in the Pac-12 this season.
 
Walker leads the Pac-12 in overall rebounding, defensive boards (6.9 drpg) and double-doubles (12) while ranking eighth in scoring, 13th in free throw shooting (.756) and 15th in field goal percentage (.463). In Pac-12 games, Walker is averaging 15.1 points and a league-best 10.1 rebounds an outing while shooting 50 percent from the field.
 
The defensive end is where Walker's rebounding numbers really stick out. During Pac-12 play, Walker's 8.2 defensive rebounds per game lead the conference by nearly two and one-half per game. USC's Drew Peterson is second at 5.8 drpg. Walker has recorded double figures in defensive rebounds alone, four times, including a season-high 12 at Arizona State.
 
On the national leaderboard, Walker is 14th in double-doubles, 20th in defensive rebounds (6.9 drpg) and 29th in overall rebounding.
 
Senior forward Evan Battey is averaging 11.5 points and 4.5 rebounds while shooting a team-best 50.5 percent from the field. Battey had 16 points and five rebounds against Utah. He is scheduled to make his 100th career start on Tuesday against Oregon State.
 
On the Pac-12 charts, Battey is ninth in overall shooting. During conference games he is shooting 49 percent from 3-point range (18 for 37), second among all Pac-12 players.
 
Sophomore guard Keeshawn Barthelemy leads Colorado free throw shooting (.816) and 3-point field goals made and attempted (31 of 93) while ranking second on the team in assists (59) and third scoring at 11.3 points per game. His averaging 15.3 points while shooting 51 percent over the last three games (16-31). 
 
Barthelemy is third in the Pac-12 in free throw shooting during conference games at 85.4 percent hitting 41 of 48. 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 - and best in a conference game.
 
Sophomore Tristan da Silva is averaging 9.2 points and 3.6 rebounds while shooting 45 percent. He is third on the team in assists with 42. Da Silva scored 14 points against Utah, scoring in double figures for the 12th time this season and sixth in the last seven games he's played in.
 
Da Silva is Colorado's second-leading scorer during Pac-12 play at 10.8 points per game. He leads the Pac-12 in 3-point percentage during conference games (.500) and 12th in overall shooting (.494).
 
Nique Clifford is averaging 6.5 points, leads the Buffaloes in blocked shots (18) and is second in rebounding at 4.6 per game. Clifford, who has started the last eight contests, had 10 points, hitting all four field goal attempts against Utah. He had a career-high 15 points against Oregon State hitting 6 of 9 from the field. Clifford ranks 13th in the Pac-12 in blocked shots during conference games (0.9 bpg).
 
K.J. Simpson is averaging 6.6 points and 2.5 rebounds per game and leads the team in assists (65). He logged his first career start at Washington State, matching his career and team-season best with five assists.
 
Simpson is shooting 84.6 percent from the free throw line during Pac-12 play. He had a team season-best streak of 17 consecutive made come to an end against Oregon.
 
ABOUT THE BEAVERS: Oregon State is 3-19 overall and in last place in the Pac-12 at 1-11. The Beavers have lost their last nine including a 76-65 setback against Stanford on Feb. 12. Oregon State is averaging 67.4 points per game while shooting 44 percent from the floor. The Beavers rank last in the Pac-12 in scoring defense (75.0 ppg) and field goal defense (.465).
 
Jarod Lucas leads Oregon State at 13.7 points per game and has a team-best 53 3-point field goals. He tops the Pac-12 in free throw shooting (.875) and ranks sixth in 3-point percentage (.405). Warith Alatishe averages 10.1 points and leads the Beavers in rebounding at 5.8 per contest. Dashawn Davis averages 9.2 points and leads the Pac-12 in assists at 5.4 per game.
 
SERIES RECORDS: This will be the 30th meeting between Colorado and Oregon State with the Buffaloes holding a 19-10 advantage. Colorado won four of the last five meetings including an 86-63 decision in Boulder on Feb. 5. Oregon State has won six of 11 all-time meetings in Corvallis, but the Buffaloes have won the last two.