LAS VEGAS (AP) — KJ Simpson scored 18 factors and tied his profession excessive with 10 rebounds, Eddie Lampkin added 17 factors and 12 boards and No. 3 seed Colorado beat Utah 72-58 Thursday evening within the quarterfinals of the Pac-12 Event.
Colorado (23-9), which has gained seven in a row since shedding 4 of 5 to shut January and open February, performs second-seeded Washington State within the semifinals on Friday. The Buffaloes and the No. 22 Cougars break up the common season sequence with every workforce successful on its house court docket.
Simpson hit 4 of 6 from 3-point vary and had six assists and Tristan da Silva scored 14 factors for the Buffaloes.
Cody Williams, who hadn’t performed since injuring his ankle in a win over Utah on Feb. 24, returned from a four-game absence and completed with six factors on 3-of-9 taking pictures and three rebounds in 24 minutes. The 6-foot-8 freshman — a projected lottery choose within the 2024 NBA draft and the youthful brother of Jalen Williams of the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder — has missed 13 video games as a result of a number of accidents this season.
Branden Carlson and Hunter Erickson scored 13 factors apiece and Cole Bajema added 10 for No. 6 seed Utah (19-14).
Carlson made two free throws and adopted with a basket within the paint to chop the deficit to 5 factors with 9 minutes to play. Simpson sandwiched a pair of 3-pointers round a layup by Utah’s Deivon Smith to spark a 16-5 run that gave the Buffaloes a 68-52 lead when J’Vonne Hadley transformed a three-point play to cap the spurt with 3:48 to play.
The Utes shot 33% (21 of 64) from the sphere, 27% (8 of 30) from 3-point vary and 57% (8 of 14) from the free-throw line.
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