CU Buffs men’s basketball pulls away late to top Cal – The Denver Post

Colorado certainly flirted with disaster. But at this point, the Buffaloes gladly will take a win regardless of the style points.

The CU men’s basketball team once again faced all it could handle from lowly California, yet unlike a loss earlier this season in Berkeley the Buffs were able to take control down the stretch, pulling away from the Golden Bears for a 59-46 victory in a Pac-12 Conference battle on Thursday night at the CU Events Center.

The win ended a slide of five losses in six games for the Buffs, who also won their sixth consecutive home game against the Golden Bears.

Cal led by 10 points late in the first half, but a 7-0 run by the Buffs to end the frame cut the Bears’ lead to 27-24 at the break.

The teams traded baskets early in the second half, with Tristan da Silva scoring CU’s first 12 points of the second half. CU scored the first 13 points in a row in what turned into a 26-5 run for the Buffs that gave the hosts a 54-39 lead with 5 minutes, 35 seconds remaining.

After shooting just 25% in the first half, the Buffs shot 50% after the break. Da Silva paced CU with 20 points, while KJ Simpson added 10 points and four assists. Luke O’Brien and Jalen Gabbidon added nine points apiece.