Colorado Buffaloes vs Utah Utes Box Score on Feb 03, 2024

Gabe Madsen scored 21 points, Deivon Smith had 17 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists, and Utah beat Colorado 73-68 in Pac-12 play at Salt Lake City on Saturday.

Lawson Lovering finished with nine points and eight rebounds in his return after missing four games for the Utes (15-7, 6-5 Pac-12).

KJ Simpson scored 25 points, J'Vonne Hadley added 15 points, Eddie Lampkin contributed 11 points and 10 rebounds and Tristan da Silva finished with 10 points for the Buffaloes (15-7, 6-5).

The game was tied 31-all at halftime and Madsen hit a 3-pointer to give Utah a 36-34 lead it wouldn't relinquish. Madsen was soon fouled on a made 3-pointer and hit the free throw to complete the four-point play, Lampkin split a pair of free throws but the Utes started to stretch the lead.

Smith hit a layup and converted a three-point play and Lovering made one of two free throws to give Utah a 48-38 edge.

Hadley ended Colorado's scoring drought of 3:39 when he split a pair of free throws, Lovering hit a layup and Julian Hammond III drained a 3-pointer for the Buffaloes' first field goal in 7:45.

The Utes answered with an offensive rebound and layup from Keba Keita and a Colorado turnover led to Hunter Erickson's 3-pointer and a 55-42 lead with 8:34 left.

The Buffaloes responded with a dunk by Simpson off of a turnover and putbacks from Hammond and Lampkin to cut the deficit to 55-48. Madsen stopped the run with a three-point play to extend the advantage to 10 with 6:12 left.

The teams traded baskets before Madsen had a steal and dunk to make it 62-50 and force Colorado to call a timeout.

The Buffaloes made one last push. Hadley made two free throws, Simpson hit a layup and da Silva split a pair of free throws that pulled them within 62-55.

Simpson hit a pair of 3-pointers to pull Colorado within 66-63 with 1:04 left. Madsen and Smith each hit two free throws, Simpson made a layup but Utah closed it out.

--Field Level Media