BOULDER — The Colorado Buffaloes hot streak hit a cold spot.
And Washington took advantage in defeating CU 72-62 in a Pac-12 game Saturday at the Coors Events Center.
Buffs forward Tyler Bey’s layup 11 minutes in gave CU an 18-9 lead — but it wouldn’t last. Washington finished the half on a 27-9 run during a span in which the Buffs missed a combined 12 shots from the floor. The Huskies went ahead 36-27 at the break.
“We need to focus on remaining poised no matter how far up we go or how far down,” CU forward Dallas Walton said. “That’s one of those lapses we had that we couldn’t quite recover from.”
CU kept within striking distance in the second half, and when point guard McKinley Wright turned a steal into a three-point play, the Buffs cut the deficit to 63-56 with 3:39 remaining. But CU proved unable to make key stops down the stretch and was outrebounded by a 50-34 margin, including the Huskies grabbing 16 on the offensive end leading to 20 second-chance points.
Meanwhile, the Buffs missed 42 shots and only two players, Bey (with seven) and Wright, recorded at least one offensive rebound.
“An extremely disappointing loss given what this team has done over the last two-and-a-half weeks or so, a golden opportunity let slip by,” CU coach Tad Boyle said. “Washington separated themselves from Colorado today. When you get outrebounded by 16 in your own building, something is wrong. We got out-toughed, we got punked and we got manhandled.
“You name the adjective you want to name. All those fit today.”
Bey led the Buffs (12-8, 4-4) with 14 points and 11 rebounds. Forward and Walton each added 13, and Wright and guard 10. Guard Jaylen Nowell led Washington (14-6, 4-3), which snapped a two-game skid, with 19 points.
CU now embarks on a treacherous two-game road trip: 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Arizona and 6 p.m. Saturday at Arizona State. CU upset both teams in Boulder earlier this month, and Buffs coach Tad Boyle provided the Wildcats with some bulletin-board material for the rematch. Boyle was asked if the FBI’s probe into shady college hoops practices at Arizona and other programs provided extra satisfaction in that victory against the Wildcats.
“Absolutely there is, and itap ironic we’re playing Arizona today,” Boyle said. “I’ve got great respect for (coach) Sean Miller and the kind of coach he is. They recruit very, very well. USC has recruited very, very well. The two most talented teams in our league from top to bottom are USC and Arizona.
“I’ve got great respect for Sean … I’ve got great respect for (USC coach) Andy Enfield. But to answer your question: (Heck) yes.”
Round-two figures to be must-watch TV.