There is something about this matchup that brings out the best in Utah.
And also often brings out the worst in the Colorado Buffaloes.
On Thursday night the Pac-12 Conference rivals met once again at the Coors Events Center, and the Buffs had every reason to believe their six-game losing streak against the Utes could finally come to an end. Not only did the Utes bright a four-game road losing streak into the contest, which included a loss against an Oregon State team that had been winless in league play, but the Utes also suffered the sort of abrupt and unexpected suspension that has marked CU’s season with the announcement Thursday evening that freshman Devon Daniels would be unavailable.
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None of it mattered, as the Utes continued their winning ways against CU with an 86-81 victory. It was Utah’s seventh consecutive win against the Buffs and its third straight at the Coors Events Center. The result also snapped a four-game home win streak for the Buffs.
Utah led by seven points at halftime but CU opened the second half with a 7-2 burst to battle within three points. The Utes, though, scored the next five points to pad their lead. The Buffs once again pulled within four points on a pair of Wesley Gordon free throws with 11 minutes, 16 seconds remaining, but Utah answered six straight points and eventually reestablished a 10-point lead with 4:37 left.
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