Colorado Clips Golden Eagles – University of Colorado Athletics

MILWAUKEE, Wis. Colorado left its mark on the Al McGuire Center on Wednesday. The Buffaloes led from start to finish and held Marquette to a season-low in scoring in a 71-48 win to end non-conference play.

Colorado (10-3, 0-1 Pac-12) led the way Quay Miller and his 17 points and seven rebounds. The Buffs’ starting five accounted for 65 of the team’s 71 points. Aaronette Vonleh produced 16 points and six boards. Jaylyn Sherrod returned to the lineup with 15 points and eight assists Frida Forman scored 13 points.

The Buffs opened the game shooting 72.7% in the first quarter and saw little drop the rest of the day. Colorado shot 59.6% from the field (31-52).

“I was very pleased with how we played today,” the head coach JR Payne explained. “I think this is the best basketball we’ve played in a while. I thought we executed the Game Plan offensively and defensively. We were able to do different things with different lineups. I feel bad that we thinned the bench as much as we did but that playing group played well. I think felt like we had to stick with it.

“I’m excited to go into the break with a great win. I think Marquette is a really good basketball team. They’re going to win a lot of games this year and it’s good to know we can beat a good team like that on the road.”

Marquette (9-3) was led by Jordan King with 10 points and seven rebounds.

How did it happen

Vonleh and Formann got the Buffs off to a 5-0 start and set the tone early. Colorado shot 5-6 from the floor to start the day and got five early points from Formann in the team’s 12-0 run. CU’s defense held Marquette to 0-9 shooting and didn’t allow the Golden Eagles to get on the scoreboard until 3:19 into the quarter. Colorado outscored Marquette 13-7 in the period, with all 13 boards coming on the defensive end of the floor. Formann finished the quarter with his second 3, giving the Buffs a 19-4 lead.

“The start was so important,” Payne added. “We talked the last several days about wanting to be as disruptive as possible on defense and really dictate what happens on the floor. We must have said the words ‘box out’ 150 times in the last three days because these guys are so good on the glass. I thought we were phenomenal in a protective glass.”

Formann kept the hot hand early in the second quarter, draining a 3-pointer to start the Buffs’ 7-0 start. CU’s defense remained tough throughout the quarter, holding MU to 4-15 shooting and just nine points. Colorado’s lead grew to 23 before halftime, and the Buffs took a 35-13 advantage into the locker room.

The Buffs shot 69.2% in the third quarter and outscored Marquette 21-14. CU saw its lead grow to a game-high 29 points with back-to-back baskets Tameiya Sadler. Miller scored the final five points of the quarter to close the frame with a commanding 56-27 advantage.

The Golden Eagles fought until the final whistle and outscored CU 21-15 in the final quarter. Vonleh had six points in the fourth and 14 of CU’s final 15 points came inside the box.

Turning point

CU’s 12-0 run to open the afternoon was really the deciding factor. Marquette got inside the 10 twice in the first after the run, but each time was answered with a CU basket. The Buffs’ lead never dipped below double digits after reaching 10-0.

Next

The team will be on vacation before the start of Pac-12 play. Colorado resumes practice next Wednesday and then heads to Washington State (Dec. 29) and Washington (Jan. 1).

Notes

Marquette’s four points in the first quarter was the longest quarter of the season, as MUMU’s 13 first half points were also the fewest of the season Wednesday was the team’s ninth win by 20+ this season CU has held five of its last seven opponents under. 50 points CU’s first 47 points were the starting point. 5Sadler accounts for all six CU bench points Wednesday was the third game this season Colorado has led from start to finishMiller passed 500 career points as a Buff (515)

Quotation marks
The head coach JR Payne

From the production of the starting five

“I think it started two days ago after our last game when we got back to practice. Three different upperclassmen were talking in the circle. Jaylyn, Quay and Frida were just talking about increased effort, focus and intensity. It starts with those upperclassmen. They set the tone and everybody else buys into it, because it was pretty clear in the jump that we were going to play like that.”

Moving into Pac-12 play

“I feel great because we haven’t seen what we’re capable of. We’ve seen that we can execute on both ends of the floor against a really good team on their home court. We were able to handle our own situation. Business and do our job.”