Buffs Struggle in Second Half, Fall to Stanford 77-68

The Colorado Buffaloes faced a challenging defeat against the Stanford Cardinal, resulting in a final score of 77-68 on March 2, 2024, during the Naismith Hall of Fame series. Head coach Tad Boyle expressed his disappointment, noting that the team’s mental collapse in the second half marked a significant concern for the season.

In the first half, the Buffaloes held a narrow lead, finishing the period ahead by two points. They also maintained a slight rebounding advantage, with a tally of 17-13. However, the second half saw a dramatic shift as Stanford outscored Colorado 44-33, dominating the boards with a 22-11 rebounding margin. The Buffaloes struggled with turnovers, committing 11 of their season-high 18 during this critical period.

“It’s the first time all year that we haven’t responded,” Boyle commented after the game. He highlighted the team’s previous ability to bounce back during challenging moments in earlier matches against San Francisco, Colorado State, and Washington. Boyle added, “If we play like this, it’s going to be a tough road for us,” indicating the need for improvement as the team prepares for upcoming league play.

Stanford’s standout freshman, Ebuka Okorie, who had missed the previous two games due to injury, made a significant impact. In just his tenth collegiate game, Okorie scored 32 points, marking his first 30-point game, and secured his first career double-double with 11 rebounds. His performance included an impressive 18-for-21 showing at the free-throw line, representing both the highest scoring and rebounding totals by a Colorado opponent this season.

“His poise, his ability to get to the free throw line — he shot 21 free throws — that’s definitely a skill that’s becoming a growing thing in the NBA,” remarked Barrington Hargress, a guard for Colorado.

Although the Buffaloes shot a solid 47.3 percent from the field, it was ultimately their worst offensive performance of the season, primarily due to the high number of turnovers. In addition, Colorado posted season-lows in points and three-point shooting percentage at 23.5 percent, while tying for the second-lowest mark in offensive rebounds with just seven.

Notably, the Buffaloes went without a blocked shot for the first time this season. Forward Bangot Dak struggled, recording a career-high five turnovers. After a period of improved performance with only one turnover in five games, Dak has now committed eight turnovers over the last two contests.

The Buffaloes will need to regroup quickly as they look to address these issues and prepare for the challenges ahead in their upcoming games.