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Colorado
Mar. 5, 2011
 
Huskers bubble burst's at Colorado.
 
Boulder, Colo. — Lance Jeter and Toney McCray had 10 points apiece, but Colorado used a hot start and pulled away down the stretch for a 67-57 victory over Nebraska Saturday night.

Jeter had 10 points, seven assists and six rebounds, while McCray had 10 points and seven boards before fouling out, but Nebraska (19-11, 7-9 Big 12) committed 15 turnovers which led to 18 points for Colorado.

Marcus Relphorde paced four Buffaloes (19-12, 8-8 Big 12) with 19 points, including a trio of 3-pointers. Three of Colorado's seniors, Relphorde, Cory Higgins (12) and Levi Knutson (13) combined for 34 points in the victory.

The Huskers will play Oklahoma State Wednesday morning in the Big 12 Tournament opener, scheduled for 11:30 a.m. With the win, along with wins by Texas and Kansas today, climbed Colorado into the fifth seed where they will take on Iowa State.

Colorado got off to electric start, hitting their first six shots from the floor to jump out to a 14-3 lead in the first four minutes of the game and force the Huskers to make a timeouts. The Buffaloes eventually pushed the margin to 19-7 after Ralphorde's second 3-pointer of the game before a Jeter layup and a McCray 3-pointer trimmed the deficit to seven points.

Trailing 29-18, the Huskers started to claw their way back, as a Jeter 3-pointer and a layup from Brandon Ubel, who finished with nine points and four rebounds, pulled Nebraska within six points, at 29-23. Nebraska, which shot 39 percent in the half, eventually trimmed the lead to 33-28 after a Jorge Brian Diaz put-back with 28 seconds left and trailed by five at the break.

Nebraska got off to a quick start in the second half, as baskets by Jeter and Caleb Walker pulled Nebraska within 33-32 and Nebraska had a chance to tie or take the lead, but missed two free throws on the next possession. Trailing 36-34 after a McCray jumper, CU got a putback from Roberson and a fast break dunk by Burks to take a 40-34 lead. Nebraska went back inside, as Almeida tapped in an offensive rebound and then added a slam on the next possession to trim the lead to 40-38.

Nebraska was within 44-43 before the Buffaloes ran off six straight points to push the margin back to seven points. Relphorde started the run with a putback and his two free throws made it 50-43 before Diaz ended the run with a tip in. The Huskers pulled to within 52-48 after a Brandon Richardson 3-pointer from the top of the key, but a Knutson 3-pointer and a Roberson tip in pushed the lead back to nine points, at 57-48.

Nebraska trailed 57-50 before Higgins beat the shot clock with a short jumper in the lane before hitting a pair of free throws with 1:31 left to make it an 11-point lead.

Nebraska trimmed the deficit to seven points on two occasions, the last being at 64-57 after a McCray basket, but the Buffaloes, who hit 12-of-14 from the line in the second half, kept the Huskers at bay from the free throw line.

Nebraska returns to action on Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. when they take on Oklahoma State. The game will be carried on the Big 12 Network and also on the Husker Sports Network.

Source: University of Nebraska Athletic Dept.