Colorado Scoring Run Helps Doom Toreros

University of San Diego basketball Coach Hank Egan contends it’s a game of bursts and momentum, and Tuesday the Toreros couldn’t overcome a 10-0 second-half run by Colorado, losing 71-63, in front of 2,517 in the Coors Events Center.

USD (8-5) led most of the first half, holding a 33-29 lead at halftime, and built the advantage to 43-36 with 13:49 to play.

But Colorado (8-4) came back with a 10-0 run, outscoring the Toreros 35-20 the rest of the way. USD managed to get back to within three points, 66-63, with 1:21 left, but three starters fouled out in the final 65 seconds and the Buffaloes pulled away on free throws. Colorado got 28 free-throw attempts to USD’s six in the second half.

Kelvin Woods led the Toreros with 19 points and moved into 10th place on the school’s career scoring list with 1,031 points, but he was called for his fifth foul while trying to post up on offense with 1:05 left. Guard Michael Brown and center Brooks Barnhard fouled out in the final 30 seconds.

Gylan Dottin had 17 points and 10 rebounds for the Toreros, and reserve Reed Watson added 10 points and six rebounds. Guard Wayman Strickland, the Toreros’ most reliable three-point shooter, was scoreless on 0-for-4 shooting.

Freshman guard Donnie Boyce, who led Colorado with 18 points, began Colorado’s second-half run with a three-pointer, and Billy Law followed with another. Boyce then stole an inbounds pass and scored to give Colorado a 44-43 lead, and Law tipped in a missed free throw, giving Colorado 10 consecutive points.

Law and Randy Robinson each scored 11 points for Colorado. Forward James Hunter had nine points and 10 rebounds. Each team grabbed 36 rebounds.

Egan said the Toreros got out of their game in the second half. “On the road you have to stay together,” he said. “We were doing one pass and shooting. We weren’t doing what we do (in practice) and that got us in trouble. Colorado cranked it up in the second half and played much better.”

Egan didn’t make any overt reference to the 32-18 difference in team fouls, but when reporters asked about it he said, “The fact you guys are asking about tonight’s officiating says something about what went on.”

Dottin, who made eight of 13 shots and USD’s only three-pointer, said, “We had a mental breakdown in the second half defensively. But overall I thought we played pretty good. You’re always going to have it rougher on the road.”

The Toreros return to San Diego to open West Coast Conference play Saturday against Santa Clara.