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Writer's pictureOliver Hayes

Buffs survive an ugly affair against Boise State, advance to round of 64

DAYTON, Ohio – It wasn’t pretty, but a win is a win, especially in March.


The Colorado men’s basketball team (25-10, 13-7 Pac-12) proved that with a 60-53 win over the Boise State Broncos (22-11, 13-5 Mountain West) in rock fight fashion. The victory in the First Four matchup sends the Buffs to Indianapolis to face off against the No. 7 Florida Gators (24-11, 11-7 SEC) in the round of 64.


The seven-point edge in the first-ever First Four of the No. 10 seeds also marked the Buffs’ 25th win, the most in a season in program history.


Featuring seven lead changes, lopsided statistical battles, and the difference of 60 pounds between Eddie Lampkin Jr. and the largest Boise State player, the Buffs were able to pull out the defensive battle. From the opening tip, the indication of the type of game that unfolded on Wednesday night was evident.


Tristan da Silva scored seven of the Buffs' first nine points, presenting as the only consistent scoring option across the 40 minutes of basketball. The senior who hadn’t experienced March Madness since his freshman season finished with a game-high 20 points, only missing four of his 11 shots and nailing three of the game’s six triples.


Across the first half, da Silva stepped up big for the Buffs with neither team taking a lead larger than six. While both teams failed to find great separation on the scoreboard, Colorado controlled the game from the 10-minute mark until they took a 24-18 lead with just under three minutes to go. The lead came from a 15-5 run across the seven minutes, most notably featuring Lampkin’s overpowering of Boise State’s Cam Martin.


Lampkin, who only scored four points in the first half (all in that stretch), knocked over the Bronco big man, dunking the ball over Martin’s flat body. After Lampkin’s dominant play, he handed the ball to Martin, who fired the ball back at CU’s center. While both received a technical for their actions, Lampkin’s resulted in his second foul and his behind on the bench.


Eddie Lampkin Jr. celebrates with the Colorado bench. (Photo by @CUBuffsMBB/X)

Boise State went on a small 6-2 run to finish the half with Lampkin on the pine, pulling back within two. Despite the slim deficit for the Broncos, their lowest-scoring half of the season featured a scoreless half from Tyson Degenhart, their leading scorer on the season at 17 points per game.


Coming out of the break with a 26-24 lead, the Broncos tied up the game with Degenhart finally seeing the ball go through the cylinder. Unfortunately for the first team All-MWC selection, the basket was just one of three made on 10 attempts.


Colorado proceeded to go on a 9-2 run following the bucket, resulting in the largest lead of the game (7) until their final basket. With Lampkin back in the game, the Buffs fed the biggest player on the court.


Despite Boise State having few answers for Lampkin across the first 10 minutes of the second half, the consistent production of second-chance points and the double-teaming of Lampkin helped BSU to a 49-45 lead with just under five minutes to decide who would face the Gators come Friday. The slow turning of the tides featured a plethora of different Broncos, though Chibuzo Agbo’s 11 second half points led the way. The senior guard finished with a team-high 17 points (8-of-14 FG, 1-of-6 3PT).


With the Buffs’ season on the line and only four and a half minutes to save it, da Silva lined up his last triple of the contest to begin an 11-0 run for the Buffs. 


Across the run, the Buffs saw four points from their star point guard as he hit two free throws and a tough floater to take back the lead, 52-49 with two minutes and 43 seconds to play. The teardrop marked the only basket for the next two minutes.


As both teams traded empty possessions, Simpson got a layup swatted out of bounds while the shot clock entered its waning seconds and 36.3 seconds left on the clock. Originally set to 2.9 seconds, Boise State head coach Leon Rice asked the referees to review the shot clock, marking one of five official reviews in the final minute. 


Rice’s request proved to be a mistake with the refs adding 0.6 seconds to the shot clock. While his team played great defense, forcing a J’Vonne Hadley airball, Lampkin found position down low against O'mar Stanley, snagging the errant shot and putting the Buffs up five as the shot clock expired. 


Up 54-49 with under a half-minute to play, Simpson forced a Boise State turnover to secure the deal. As Simpson saw four free throws via intentional fouls, he reached 19 points to accompany his game-high 11 rebounds for his third double-double of the year.


Despite Boise State’s 19 offensive rebounds, resulting in 19 second-chance points, the Buffs survived a Broncos team that found it disrespectful to see themselves in the First Four. Colorado held BSU to 23-of-67 (34%) shooting from the field, 2-of-18 (11%) from deep, and just 5-of-6 (83%) from the line. 


While the Buffs’ offense wasn’t present for most of the night and hasn’t been since dismantling Utah in the quarterfinals of the Pac-12 Tournament, they look to fix their issues with the No. 7 Florida Gators now on the horizon.


Cover photo by @CUBuffsMBB/X

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