BOULDER — Just when Colorado Christian was threatening to make a game of it, Cory Higgins went to the basket to regain control for the Colorado Buffaloes.
Higgins scored 15 of his 25 points in the second half, helping Colorado shut down Colorado Christian’s comeback bid for an 84-65 victory Monday night.
“We had to pick up our intensity and start being aggressive,” Higgins said. “I think our intensity dropped a little bit, just out of human nature. But we have to be able to fight that and stay aggressive at all times. We need to pick up our energy on both ends of the court.”
Colorado led by as many as 30 points in the first half but settled for a 47-27 advantage at the break.
With 8:15 left, the Division II Cougars (1-5) got within 66-56 on Rye Olson’s 3-pointer.
Higgins, though, didn’t let them get any closer. He hit a 3-pointer, and then scored the Buffaloes’ next seven points, including five from the free-throw line after drawing fouls on a series of drives to the basket, to help put the game out of reach. Alec Burks followed Higgins’ lead, adding two layups to extend Colorado’s cushion.
Burks and Levi Knutson each finished with 11 points for the Buffaloes (6-3), who improved to 5-0 at home.
Colorado Christian coach Dave Daniels said he liked the way his players finished after starting poorly.
“I think our guys just came out and played free,” Daniels said. “I don’t know if it was nerves or excitement, but we were a little tentative in the first half. We just came out and played in the second.”
