da Silva, Simpson’s 3 help Colorado top Washington St. 58-55

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BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — Tristan da Silva scored 27 points on 11-of-13 shooting, KJ Simpson hit a straight-away 3-pointer in the closing seconds and Colorado beat Washington State 58-55 Sunday.

Colorado (12-9, 4-6 Pac-12) snapped a three-game losing streak and improved to 12-0 all time at home against the Cougars.

Andrej Jakimovski hit a 3-pointer and, after J’Vonne Hadley scored in the lane for Colorado, TJ Bamba made back-to-back baskets to give the Cougars a 54-53 lead with 40 seconds to go. An incredulous Bamba was called for a foul near midcourt and Simpson hit two free throws before Bamba made 1 of 2 from the foul line to make it 55-all with 25 seconds left. Simpson dribbled off some clock before stepping around a screen by Luke O’Brien a hit the winning 3 with 4.8 second left.


Washington State forward Mouhamed Gueye (35) passes the ball as Colorado center Lawson Lovering defends in the first half of an NCAA basketball game Sunday, Jan. 22, 2023, in Boulder, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Bamba missed a contested 3 from the right wing off the back of the iron as time expired.

Simpson finished with 16 points, including seven in the final four minutes, 22 seconds. His go-ahead 3 was Colorado’s first made 3-pointer since da Silva hit from behind the arc to make it 3-2.

Bamba led Washington State (9-12, 4-6) 18 points, 14 in the second half. Jakimovski hit 5 of 7 from the field and finished with 12 points, seven rebounds and two steals.

The Buffaloes made 21 of 42 from the field and outscored Washington State 14-11 from the free-throw line, despite attempting eight more foul shots than the Cougars (15).

Washington State shot 39% (20 of 51) overall and made 4 of 16 (25%) from behind the arc.

UP NEXT

Washington State returns home to play Thursday against Arizona, which the Cougars beat the then-No. 5 Wildcats 74-61 on Jan. 7, snapping Arizona’s 28-game home win streak and giving WSU the first win over a top-5 team in program history

Colorado hits the road to play Oregon on Thursday

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