BOULDER — Chauncey Billups and Nuggets assistant coach Jamahl Mosley were among more than two dozen former Colorado players introduced Saturday during halftime as part of CU basketball’s annual homecoming weekend.
Anybody got some eligibility left?
The Buffaloes could have used Billups’ clutch-shooting and Mosley’s strong rebounding in the 77-75 overtime loss to Kansas State at the Coors Events Center.
“We could have won. We should have won,” Billups said, shaking his head after sitting courtside with his family. “That was a tough one.”
Both teams began the afternoon winless in conference play, so something had to give. Five minutes longer than expected, it did. Kansas State (12-7, 1-4 Big 12) turned two key offensive rebounds into three points during the extra period, and Colorado (8-10, 0-4) missed too many opportunities down the stretch.
“This is what we’ve been working on,” CU coach Jeff Bzdelik said. “You just don’t play, you play to win. One or two less turnovers, one or two more rebounds . . .”
Colorado had a chance to send the game into a second overtime, but senior forward Jermyl Jackson-Wilson missed from the top of the key as the buzzer sounded.
The final play was not designed for Jackson-Wilson. But a traveling call against Kansas State center Darren Kent left Colorado with just 1.3 seconds while inbounding the ball from underneath the Buffaloes’ goal. Kansas State defenders wisely switched off against a Colorado screen, and CU shooters Dwight Thorne II and Cory Higgins couldn’t wriggle open on the wings.
Thorne, a junior guard, had sent the game into overtime at 67-all on a 3-pointer from the top of the key with 10.3 seconds remaining in regulation.
The loss prevented Thorne from celebrating a career-best 30 points.
“This is the kind of game that makes you cry,” he said.
The Wildcats stepped up with 54.2 percent shooting in the second half and 60 percent in OT. And they played smart by fouling Thorne before he could shoot with 2.8 seconds left in the extra period.
“We need to win badly,” Jackson-Wilson said. “Cracking that win column in the Big 12 does wonders for you. If we keep losing, it hurts.”
KANSAS STATE (12-7, 1-4 BIG 12)
Sutton 2-5 1-2 5, Kent 3-5 6-7 13, Colon 4-5 2-5 10, Pullen 7-12 1-2 17, Clemente 4-10 4-4 15, Brown 2-9 0-1 5, Awaji 0-1 0-0 0, Merriewether 0-0 0-0 0, Samuels 2-6 4-6 8, Anderson 2-3 0-1 4. Totals 26-56 18-28 77.
COLORADO (8-10, 0-4)
Jackson-Wilson 5-8 4-6 14, Dufault 4-6 1-2 9, Tomlinson 2-4 1-2 6, Higgins 3-6 6-7 12, Thorne II 8-12 9-11 30, Coney 1-3 1-2 4, Knutson 0-2 0-0 0, Crawford 0-1 0-0 0, Eckloff 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 23-42 22-30 75.Halftime — Tied 26-26. End of regulation — Tied 67. 3-point goals — KSU 7-19 (Clemente 3-6, Pullen 2-6, Kent 1-1, Brown 1-6), CU 7-14 (Thorne II 5-6, Coney 1-2, Tomlinson 1-2, Dufault 0-1, Higgins 0-1, Knutson 0-1, Crawford 0-1). Fouled out — Tomlinson. Rebounds — KSU 31 (Kent 7), CU 27 (Jackson-Wilson 6). Assists — KSU 17 (Clemente 7), CU 12 (Coney 3, Higgins 3, Thorne II 3). Total fouls — KSU 22, CU 22.
A — 6,061.
Tom Kensler: 303-954-1280 or tkensler@denverpost.com
