Buffaloes Stampede Past Mountaineers in Big 12 Second Round

In a pivotal Big 12 Conference Tournament second-round game, the Colorado Buffaloes emerged victorious over the West Virginia Mountaineers with a final score of 67-60. This win improves the Buffaloes' season record, showcasing their resilience and strategic gameplay. The Mountaineers, despite a valiant effort, fell short in this closely contested matchup.

Buffaloes' Key Performances

The Colorado Buffaloes demonstrated a well-rounded team effort with notable performances from several players. Elijah Malone led the scoring for the Buffaloes with 14 points, capitalizing on his impressive field goal percentage of 70 percent and dominating inside with four rebounds and one block. RJ Smith also made significant contributions with 13 points, bolstering the team's offense with his accuracy from beyond the arc at a 60 percent three-point shooting rate and adding five rebounds along with two blocks to his stat line.

Andrej Jakimovski's defensive prowess was on full display as he tallied three steals while contributing six rebounds and 11 points to help secure the victory for Colorado. Julian Hammond facilitated the offense effectively by dishing out five assists alongside eight points, showcasing his role as a key playmaker for the team.

Mountaineers' Effort Falls Short

The West Virginia Mountaineers fought hard throughout the game but were unable to overcome Colorado's momentum. Their efforts were led by their ability to generate turnovers and fast break opportunities. Despite outstealing Colorado with eight steals and posting more assists (12), they struggled to convert these opportunities into enough points to take control of the game.

West Virginia's bench contributed only 12 points compared to Colorado's impressive bench output of 38 points, highlighting depth as a critical factor in this contest. The Mountaineers also faced challenges in shooting efficiency across all fronts – field goals (41 percent), three-point attempts (32 percent), and free throws (67 percent) – which ultimately hindered their ability to keep pace with Colorado’s offensive execution.

Looking ahead, fans can anticipate an exciting matchup as the Colorado Buffaloes are set to face off against Houston Cougars at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City on March 13th at 3:00 PM EDT. This upcoming game promises another thrilling encounter as part of Conference Tournaments action that will be broadcasted live on ESPN2 for fans eager to follow their team’s progress through this competitive tournament phase.

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