Boulder – Destined for a bright future but still learning the game’s intricacies, Colorado sophomore guard Richard Roby gets chastised for his defense, or lack thereof, about as often as he draws a roar from the Coors Events Center crowd with another NBA-quality drive down the lane.
Which is often.
So it came as no surprise Saturday night that Roby took more pride in a first-half steal during the 93-75 victory over Cal Poly than he did in his 17 points.
“I knew we needed some (defensive) stops to put the pressure on,” Roby said. “I just tried to read their guards’ eyes and jump into their passing lane.”
Roby’s quick hands suggest he can become a top-notch defender when he puts his mind to it. He finally drew a smile from Buffaloes coach Ricardo Patton after getting the steal in the open court and then racing for a slam dunk with 9:41 left before halftime. That sparked a 12-0 run and erased a 23-19 deficit. CU (4-1) never trailed thereafter.
“Roby is working on his defense, and we have high expectations,” Patton said. “We don’t want anybody on the team to be one-dimensional.”
Leading 45-39 at the break, the Buffs shifted into a quicker gear in the second half and pulled away. Cal Poly (1-4) won only three games in the Big West Conference last season. A tougher test for CU figures to come Wednesday when reigning Mountain West Conference champion Utah travels to Boulder.
“Once we get stops and get the ball in the open court, we can play with a lot of people,” said CU point guard Marcus Hall, who recorded 11 points and five assists.
Cal Poly stayed close in the first half thanks to 3-point shooting. The Mustangs made 8-for-16 from beyond the arc in the first 20 minutes. Derek Stockalper and Coby Leavitt each finished with 17 points to match CU’s Roby and Andy Osborn for game-best honors.
Osborn, a senior from Longmont who played two years at Loyola Marymount, grabbed 10 rebounds for his second double-double as a Buff. The Buffs committed just five turnovers and dished out 19 assists.
“Colorado is a great team, (with) a good defense,” said Cal Poly coach Kevin Bromley, a 1983 Colorado State graduate.
CAL POLY-SLO (1-4)
Stephenson 3-9 1-3 8, Leavitt 7-10 2-3 17, Whiten 4-11 0-0 12, Thomas 4-9 0-1 9, Stockalper 7-9 0-0 17, Osborn 0-2 0-0 0, Henry 1-1 0-0 3, Socci 1-1 2-2 4, McGinn 2-4 0-0 5, Thurow 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 29-58 5-9 75.
COLORADO (4-1)
Osborn 6-11 1-2 17, Copeland 4-9 4-9 12, Obazuaye 6-8 1-3 13, Hall 5-9 0-0 11, Roby 7-13 1-2 17, Eddy 1-4 1-2 3, Carder 1-2 0-0 3, Senger 0-1 0-0 0, Coleman 2-7 1-1 5, Freeman 2-2 2-2 6, Williams 0-3 1-2 1, Arrington 0-1 0-0 0, King-Stockton 2-4 1-2 5, McGee 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 36-75 13-25 93.
Halftime – Colorado 45-39. 3-Point Goals – Cal Poly-SLO 12-26 (Whiten 4-9, Stockalper 3-4, Henry 1-1, McGinn 1-2, Leavitt 1-2, Stephenson 1-3, Thomas 1-4, Osborn 0-1), Colorado 8-27 (Osborn 4-9, Roby 2-4, Carder 1-2, Hall 1-4, Eddy 0-1, Williams 0-1, Copeland 0-3, Coleman 0-3). Fouled out – None. Rebounds – Cal Poly-SLO 33 (Stephenson 12), Colorado 46 (Osborn 10). Assists – Cal Poly-SLO 13 (Thomas 5), Colorado 19 (Hall 5). Total fouls – Cal Poly-SLO 19, Colorado 11. A – 1,559.
Staff writer Tom Kensler can be reached at 303-820-5456 or tkensler@denverpost.com.
