NCAA Tournament: Colorado Fends Off Late Rally, Shocks UNLV
For most fans, this was a no-brainer. Nobody thought a team from the Pac-12 was going to win a tournament game.
Andre Roberson, Askia Booker, and Carlon Brown didn't believe those fans, and they led Colorado to one of the tournament's biggest upsets so far.
The Buffaloes fought off a feisty UNLV team 68-64, squandering a 20-point lead but holding on for a huge victory. Colorado will now play Baylor in the third round.
For the first 30 minutes, UNLV was missing about 75 percent of their shots, and Colorado was hitting three-pointers everywhere. The Runnin' Rebels made four threes in the first half, but their sloppy play had them trailing by 11 at recess.
UNLV scored first in the second half, but Colorado answered with a 10-0 run, taking a 46-27 lead. Colorado controlled the tempo and set up guys like Austin Dufault and Carlon Brown for threes.
After UNLV answered with a bucket, Brown drained another triple, extending the lead to 20 with 15:10 left. However, the Rebels came back.
UNLV started playing stellar defense, and they were able to hold Colorado to just four points in 9:16 (at one point). Then, they started scoring.
Colorado became the team to get sloppy, and UNLV took advantage. Colorado led 57-41, but the Rebels went on a 14-0 run, building up momentum with threes, steals, and layups. Now, it was a close game.
After Roberson made one of two free throws, UNLV had four chances to tie the game or cut the deficit to one point. The Rebels missed all four, and on Colorado's next possession, Brown slammed it home to put Colorado up 5.
The Rebels missed a few more shots, and then they went into fouling mode. UNLV cut the deficit to three, but fell by 4 to Colorado, losing the chance they had of becoming a Cinderella.
And for the Pac-12? You have a team in the Round of 32!
Early in the game, Colorado crashed the boards and easily out-rebounded UNLV. This allowed Colorado to get second chances and to not allow UNLV second chances. In the end, Colorado out-rebounded UNLV 43-30.
Their third round opponent, Baylor, dominated the boards in an eight-point win over South Dakota State. If Andre Roberson comes through on the boards, which he has all season, he could create matchup problems for Baylor.
With Colorado's wild cheering section, don't be surprised if the Buffs start the game with a big run and make the Bears dig out of a big hole.
The Buffaloes are three-point shooters, too. They made 7 of 12 against UNLV (58.3 percent), and they will shoot threes against Baylor. Brown, one of four in double-figures (against UNLV) can light up the crowd with a dunk at any time.
No one thought UNLV would fall short against the Buffs, but it happened. Baylor looked sloppy against South Dakota State, so don't be surprised if Colorado upsets Baylor en route to the Sweet 16.
Andre Roberson, Askia Booker, and Carlon Brown didn't believe those fans, and they led Colorado to one of the tournament's biggest upsets so far.
The Buffaloes fought off a feisty UNLV team 68-64, squandering a 20-point lead but holding on for a huge victory. Colorado will now play Baylor in the third round.
For the first 30 minutes, UNLV was missing about 75 percent of their shots, and Colorado was hitting three-pointers everywhere. The Runnin' Rebels made four threes in the first half, but their sloppy play had them trailing by 11 at recess.
UNLV scored first in the second half, but Colorado answered with a 10-0 run, taking a 46-27 lead. Colorado controlled the tempo and set up guys like Austin Dufault and Carlon Brown for threes.
After UNLV answered with a bucket, Brown drained another triple, extending the lead to 20 with 15:10 left. However, the Rebels came back.
UNLV started playing stellar defense, and they were able to hold Colorado to just four points in 9:16 (at one point). Then, they started scoring.
Colorado became the team to get sloppy, and UNLV took advantage. Colorado led 57-41, but the Rebels went on a 14-0 run, building up momentum with threes, steals, and layups. Now, it was a close game.
After Roberson made one of two free throws, UNLV had four chances to tie the game or cut the deficit to one point. The Rebels missed all four, and on Colorado's next possession, Brown slammed it home to put Colorado up 5.
The Rebels missed a few more shots, and then they went into fouling mode. UNLV cut the deficit to three, but fell by 4 to Colorado, losing the chance they had of becoming a Cinderella.
And for the Pac-12? You have a team in the Round of 32!
Early in the game, Colorado crashed the boards and easily out-rebounded UNLV. This allowed Colorado to get second chances and to not allow UNLV second chances. In the end, Colorado out-rebounded UNLV 43-30.
Their third round opponent, Baylor, dominated the boards in an eight-point win over South Dakota State. If Andre Roberson comes through on the boards, which he has all season, he could create matchup problems for Baylor.
With Colorado's wild cheering section, don't be surprised if the Buffs start the game with a big run and make the Bears dig out of a big hole.
The Buffaloes are three-point shooters, too. They made 7 of 12 against UNLV (58.3 percent), and they will shoot threes against Baylor. Brown, one of four in double-figures (against UNLV) can light up the crowd with a dunk at any time.
No one thought UNLV would fall short against the Buffs, but it happened. Baylor looked sloppy against South Dakota State, so don't be surprised if Colorado upsets Baylor en route to the Sweet 16.
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