PC Falls to Colorado, Friars Now Have Two Out-of-Conference Losses

PC Falls to Colorado, Friars Now Have Two Out-of-Conference Losses

University of Colorado men's basketball's freshmen combined for 45 points as the Buffaloes outlasted Providence College 97-88 Friday night at the CU Events Center.

Colorado coach Tad Boyle's Buffs improve to 3-0 while Providence falls to 2-2 on the season.

Colorado led for all but two minutes and 11 seconds, but couldn't break the game open. The Buffs used the free-throw line to ice the game, with 15 of the final 18 points coming at the charity stripe, and it was an efficient effort as they made 15 of 16 attempts over the final four minutes.

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The loss is bad news for the Friars, that has now dropped two out-of-conference games.

And, while the Friars this year have revamped to a go-go style offense, PC opponents are feasting on the style of play. Colorado shot .515% from the field.

Colorado freshman forward Alon Michaeli led the way for the Buffs with a team-high 20 points, shooting 5-of-5 from the line, while guard Barrington Hargress put up his first double-double at Colorado and the second of his career with 15 points and 11 assists. Elijah Malone chipped in 17 points and seven rebounds, and freshman guard Isaiah Johnson finished with 15 points, scoring 13 in the second half.

"Look, his 11 assists, the one turnover we see his assist-to-turnover ratio in practice," said Boyle on Hargress' performance. "I thought Barrington really played within himself. Here's a guy who averaged 20 points a game and had the burden of scoring the ball the last two years on his team at (UC) Riverside, and that burden has been lifted off him. He's obviously capable of shooting the ball. We saw that tonight. His mid-range game is pretty elite."

Jason Edwards led the way for the Friars with 24 points and six assists. Oswin Erhunmwunse made his presence felt on the defensive end with seven blocks and five rebounds.

 

Game Story

FIRST HALF:

• Colorado started the game's scoring action with a three-pointer. Corey Floyd Jr. sank a pair of free throws as the Buffaloes took an early 5-2 lead (17:13).  

• As the two teams traded buckets, Jason Edwards sank a three before the under-16 media timeout as the Friars trailed 9-4 (16:14).  

• Stefan Vaaks halted a Colorado scoring run with a three-pointer that cut the lead to 15-11 (13:16).  

• As the Friars regained offensive momentum, Ryan Mela (Natick, Mass.) scored back-to-back buckets in the paint (8:45). Colorado led 21-17.  

• Vaaks sank his second three of the game out of the under-eight media timeout to cut the Colorado lead to three at 25-22 (7:14).  

• Jamier Jones sank a three-pointer to stop a 6-0 Colorado scoring run. Jason Edwards followed on the ensuing possession with a free-throw line floater. Colorado led 37-33 (1:59).  

• Oswin Erhunmwunse slammed an emphatic dunk that cut the Colorado lead to one leading into the final minute of the first half. The Friars trailed 39-38 after 20 minutes.  

• Providence shot 13-30 (43.3%) from the field, 4-14 (28.6%) from three, and 8-10 (80.0%) from the free-throw line.   

• Colorado shot 16-36 (44.4%) from the field, 1-8 (12.5%) from three, and 6-9 (66.7%) from the free-throw line.    

• Edwards led all scorers in the first half with 12 points.  

• Barrington Hargress registered 11 points in the first half. 

• Vaaks added nine points in 20 minutes of action. 

• Erhunmwunse recorded four blocks in the first half.  

• Colorado held the edge on the boards, out-rebounding Providence 24-16.  

• Colorado held an advantage in second-chance points by a margin of 10-0.  

 

SECOND HALF:

• Mela opened the second half with a driving layup and gave the Friars their first lead of the game at 40-39 (18:47).  

• Colorado responded with six quick points to regain a 45-40 lead (17:46). 

• As the two teams traded baskets, Edwards sank a three-pointer. Colorado responded with four quick points and took a 55-49 lead (15:13). 

• Erhunmwunse slammed an emphatic dunk on a lob from Mela out of a timeout. Erhunmwunse followed on the ensuing possession with a tip-in as Colorado led 57-53 (14:06). 

• Edwards converted an and-one opportunity to cut into the Colorado lead (12:35).  

• Jaylin Sellers made four straight free throws for the Friars to bring Providence within three at 67-73 (8:23).  

• Sellers converted an and one opportunity, but Colorado responded with an and-one of their own to extend the lead to 77-71 (5:14). 

• Mela finished a layup but missed the ensuing free throw as the Friars trailed 84-78 (2:31). 

• Colorado held onto a 97-88 lead at the end of regulation.  

 

DATA:

• Five players finished in double figures for the Friars: Edwards (24),  Sellers (15), Floyd (13), Vaaks (11) and Mela (10).  

• Erhunmwunse registered a career high seven blocks. It marked the first time since Jan. 17, 2015, that a Friar recorded six or more blocks in a game.  

• Alon Michaeli led Colorado with 20 points.  

• Sellers made 10 of 11 free throws in the game.  

• Providence shot 29-65 (45.7%) from the field, 6-25 (24.0%) from three, and 24-31 (77.4%) from the free-throw line.   

• Colorado shot 34-66 (51.5%) from the field, 6-17 (35.3%) from three, and 23-27 (85.2%) from the free-throw line.     

• The game marked the Friars' first matchup with Colorado.  

• The Friars have posted a 26-42 mark all-time versus teams from the Big 12. 

 

NEXT:

The Friars will host the University of New Hampshire on Tuesday, Nov. 18. 

Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at the Amica Mutual Pavilion. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.