COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Colorado shot 62 percent from the field, a figure bolstered by a 77 percent effort in the second half, but still did not match up well in an 86-69 loss Saturday to Texas A&M in the Big 12 opener for both teams.
It was another dismal start to conference play for the Buffs, who lost their 11th straight Big 12 opener. Colorado (8-7, 0-1) has won just once in a league opener since the inception of the Big 12.
“What we need to do is learn from this game,” Colorado coach Jeff Bzdelik said. “Whether we had won or lost, we need to grow from this game.”
Despite the victory, Texas A&M coach Mark Turgeon was not happy with the defensive effort.
“I don’t get on guys very often. I don’t get on them especially after a 17-point win, but they know I was disappointed in their defense today,” Turgeon said.
Dominique Kirk scored 15 points and freshman DeAndre Jordan added 14 as the 11th-ranked Aggies got their eighth straight win by at least 15 points.
“We’ve still got to get better, especially on the defensive end,” Kirk said. “Allowing 60-something percent shooting, that’s not our style.”
“They are really hard to guard,” Turgeon added, “but I was disappointed with our defensive focus in the second half.”
The only time the Aggies (15-1, 1-0) trailed in this one was when Cory Higgins’ 3-pointer made it 3-0 in the opening minute. They led by 15 points at halftime and built their lead to 61-42 after a layup by Bryan Davis about eight minutes into the second half.
A dunk by Marcus King-Stockton capped a 12-6 run for Colorado and cut A&M’s lead to 67-54. Kirk answered the run with a jump shot and a 3-pointer to put the game out of reach.
Higgins had 15 points for the Buffaloes, and Xavier Silas and Richard Roby added 14 apiece.
COLORADO (8-7)
Hall 6-10 0-0 12, Higgins 6-10 1-2 15, Silas 6-12 1-2 14, Roby 5-7 3-4 14, King-Stockton 3-3 0-0 6, Thorne II 0-1 0-0 0, Patterson 0-0 0-0 0, Knutson 0-1 0-0 0, Jackson-Wilson 3-3 2-2 8. Totals 29-47 7-10 69.
TEXAS A&M (15-1)
Jordan 6-10 2-2 14, Sloan 5-11 0-1 13, Kirk 5-7 3-3 15, Carter 3-6 2-2 11, Jones 4-5 2-2 10, Davis 5-6 3-4 13, Roland 2-3 0-0 4, Elonu 0-0 0-0 0, Walkup 2-3 0-0 6. Totals 32-51 12-14 86.
Halftime — Texas A&M 42-27. 3-point goals —Colorado 4-12 (Higgins 2-4, Roby 1-2, Silas 1-3, Thorne II 0-1, Hall 0-2), Texas A&M 10-18 (Sloan 3-5, Carter 3-6, Kirk 2-3, Walkup 2-3, Roland 0-1). Fouled out —None. Rebounds — Colorado 16 (Higgins 5), Texas A&M 24 (Jordan 9). Assists — Colorado 18 (Hall 6), Texas A&M 22 (Jones 6). Total fouls — Colorado 16, Texas A&M 15. A — 12,634.
