BOULDER — With Nuggets star and Colorado legend Chauncey Billups sitting courtside amid a packed house Saturday, the Buffaloes came up short in their bid to do something even Billups couldn’t pull off — defeat ranked teams in back-to-back games.
Kansas State pulled away down the stretch and ruined what might have been a raucous Coors Events Center party with an 87-81 victory.
The 13th-ranked Wildcats (15-2, 2-1 Big 12) led just 63-59 with seven minutes remaining but seized control by pounding the ball inside. Missed free throws also hurt Colorado in crunch time.
Colorado (10-7, 1-2) got a game-high 30 points from junior guard Cory Higgins but lost at home for the first time this season after nine victories. The Buffs weren’t as crisp with the ball and didn’t shoot as well as they had Tuesday night in a 78-71 home victory over No. 22 Baylor.
Kansas State took a 73-63 lead on a basket inside by 6-7 Jamar Samuels with 4:06 remaining. Junior forward Marcus Relphorde sparked a late Buffs flurry, pulling as close as four points on four occasions. But Kansas State never lost its poise.
The Wildcats got 18 points from junior guard Jacob Pullen. Relphorde added 18 for Colorado.
CU freshman guard Alec Burks, who picked the Buffs over Kansas State while being recruited, scored 10 points in the first half and remained the nation’s only true freshman to score in double figures in every game. Burks finished with 14 points.
Colorado plays twice on the road this week: Wednesday at Oklahoma State and Saturday at Texas A&M.
Tom Kensler: 303-954-1280 or tkensler@denverpost.com
