Colorado staged a comeback, shooting 61% in the second half to upset West Virginia by 67-60 in a Big 12 Tournament second-round game at T-Mobile Center. The 16th-seeded Buffaloes overcame a 13-point deficit in the first half to secure a spot in the quarterfinals against top-seeded Houston. Senior center Elijah Malone led the Buffaloes with 14 points, while R.J. Smith and Andrej Jakimovski contributed 13 and 11 points respectively. West Virginia’s Javon Small scored 23 points, but it wasn’t enough to secure a victory.
The game turned in Colorado’s favor when they went inside to Malone on three consecutive possessions, capitalizing on West Virginia’s defensive weaknesses. The Mountaineers struggled with scoring in the second half and were outscored by Colorado’s bench 38-12. Coach Darian DeVries expressed disappointment with the loss, but remains optimistic about the team’s postseason chances.
West Virginia, now 19-13, will await their postseason fate after being comfortably projected for the NCAA Tournament prior to the game. Despite the loss, DeVries emphasized the opportunity for the team to regroup and focus on improving for future games. Colorado’s strong performance in the tournament has positioned them as a team to watch as they continue their campaign.
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