MADISON, Wis.—On the heels of a miserable shooting performance in Colorado’s season opener last Friday, Xavier Silas took it upon himself to get some extra work in before the Buffaloes’ game against Florida A&M Thursday.
“I had to get in the gym Sunday,” Silas said, acknowledging his 3-of-12 effort in Colorado’s Nov. 9 loss to New Mexico. “I couldn’t have that feeling coming into this game.”
The additional reps paid off – Silas scored a career-high 24 points to lead five players in double figures as Colorado earned an 83-59 victory over the Rattlers in the opening game of the America’s Youth Classic tournament.
The sophomore guard was 8-of-11 from the floor, and scored 18 points in the first half as the Buffaloes (1-1) opened up a huge lead early and were never seriously threatened.
Silas knocked down three of his five 3-point attempts, and also dished out five assists.
“I was really pleased with the way he performed throughout the game in all areas,” Colorado coach Jeff Bzdelik said. “To shoot 8-for-11 from the floor meant that he was moving, taking good shots. There were a lot of great things that he did in a positive way for this basketball team.”
Silas’ jumper with 10 minutes, 28 seconds left in the first half gave Colorado a 25-7 lead. The Rattlers (1-1), the defending Mid-Eastern Atlantic Conference tournament champions, could get no closer than 8 points the rest of the way.
Jermyl Jackson-Wilson scored 11 points and Cory Higgins, Richard Roby and Levi Knutson each added 10 for the Buffaloes, who were picked by the Big 12 coaches to finish in last place in the league.
Colorado benefited from 14 Florida A&M turnovers in the first half. The Rattlers took better care of the ball after the break, but the damage was done.
“That was a key to the ballgame early. We turned the ball over too much in the first half,” Rattlers coach Eugene Harris said. “You can’t win at basketball while turning the ball over 14, 15 times in the first half.”
When it wasn’t coughing the ball up, Florida A&M managed to keep it respectful late in the first half. The Rattlers made nine of 11 shots in a 20-10 spurt that cut Colorado’s lead to 35-27.
Rattlers forward Akini Akini scored 10 of his team-leading 21 points during the run.
Silas sank a 3-pointer just before the half, and the Buffaloes used an 8-0 run early in the second period to stretch their advantage to 50-33. The lead stayed in double digits from there.
The Rattlers outrebounded the Buffaloes, who don’t have a player taller than 6-foot-6 in their starting lineup, 33-26.
It was the first-ever meeting between the two schools, who are both breaking in new coaches. Bzdelik took over at Colorado in April, while Eugene Harris was named the Rattlers’ coach in September and just completed his staff this week.
