BOULDER — With his basketball team squarely on the bubble for an NCAA Tournament bid, Texas A&M coach Mark Turgeon told a staff member that he didn’t get much sleep before the Aggies’ Wednesday night matchup against Big 12 cellar-dweller Colorado at the Coors Events Center.
Turgeon must have known something. Playing in their final home game, the Buffaloes showed some spunk. But this one ended the way many of Colorado’s games have gone this season — losing 72-66 for another heartbreaking near-miss.
Colorado (9-20, 1-14) failed to avoid its first 10-game losing streak since the 1985-86 season, when the Buffaloes dropped their final 17 games in Tom Apke’s final year as head coach. CU clinched the 12th (last) seed for next week’s Big 12 Tournament in Oklahoma City and reached 20 losses for a third straight year, a first for the program.
This building process still needs a lot of work. CU coach Jeff Bzdelik and top assistant Steve McClain are headed on a flight to Los Angeles this morning in search of talent.
“I can’t even watch (college basketball on) TV,” Bzdelik said. “I don’t want to hear about March Madness. It’s going to be March recruiting for me.”
Texas A&M (22-8, 8-7 Big 12) took its first lead with 16 minutes remaining in the game when junior guard Donald Sloan swished a 3-pointer from the top of the key to put the Aggies up 35-34. But Colorado didn’t give in and jumped back in front, 46-41.
The visitors regained the lead for good on a rare four- point play by Sloan, who was fouled by forward Casey Crawford while hitting a 3-pointer from the left corner with 3:51 remaining. Sloan converted the free throw to make it 59-56.
Colorado had open looks from beyond the 3-point arc on its next three possessions but missed.
“The biggest part is (a lack of) mental toughness,” said sophomore guard Cory Higgins, who did his part with a game-high 27 points.
Colorado also got good performances freshman point guard Nate Tomlinson (seven assists) and fellow rookie Toby Veal. Veal drew early playing time when CU’s lone “senior night” honoree, Jermyl Jackson-Wilson, got into foul trouble. The 6-foot-7 leaper responded with a career-best 10 points.
Colorado “is a year away from being good,” Turgeon said.
TEXAS A&M (22-8, 8-7 BIG 12)
Davis 3-4 3-7 9, Carter 6-11 2-3 18, Elonu 1-3 0-0 2, Roland 2-6 8-8 12, Sloan 6-12 1-2 14, Harris 0-0 0-0 0, Loubeau 0-0 0-0 0, Holmes 4-8 4-5 16, Walkup 0-2 1-2 1. Totals 22-46 19-27 72.
COLORADO (9-20, 1-14)
Jackson-Wilson 1-3 0-0 2, Dufault 1-4 0-2 2, Tomlinson 2-2 0-0 4, Higgins 10-18 5-8 27, Thorne II 1-5 0-0 2, Coney 0-0 0-0 0, Veal 5-7 0-1 10, Knutson 1-5 0-0 3, Crawford 5-11 3-4 16. Totals 26-55 8-15 66.
Halftime — Colorado 32-24. 3-point goals — Texas A&M 9-21 (Holmes 4-7, Carter 4-8, Sloan 1-3, Roland 0-1, Walkup 0-2), Colorado 6-17 (Crawford 3-8, Higgins 2-4, Knutson 1-4, Thorne II 0-1). Fouled out — Veal. Rebounds — Texas A&M 37 (Davis, Elonu 9), Colorado 27 (Higgins 6). Assists — Texas A&M 13 (Sloan 5), Colorado 17 (Tomlinson 7). Total fouls — Texas A&M 17, Colorado 22. A — 4,973.
Tom Kensler: 303-954-1280 or tkensler@denverpost.com
