SAN DIEGO – Bill Walton would have had another famous quote after watching Saturday’s Bill Walton Classic at Pechanga Arena.
There were 44 combined fouls. While Colorado (1-1) shot 20% in the first half and couldn’t make a free throw, San Diego State (2-0) committed 20 turnovers. Despite all the hullabaloo, CU’s Barrington Hargress (33 points) and SDSU’s Latrell Davis (18 points) and Chance Gladden (20 points) showed that the little guys can play ball.
Having Walton on the call would have made the eventual 77-66 loss a little easier for Colorado fans to digest.
Yet on a day where Walton’s legacy was celebrated, and the old Pac-12 met the new, the Buffs disappointed. They trailed 35-17 after the opening 20 minutes, and never caught back up.
Offensively, it was a one-man show. Hargress scored more than he ever has in a CU uniform, and more points than any Buff since KJ Simpson on New Year’s Eve in 2023. He made over half of CU’s field goals (Hargress: 11, others: 10), five of its six 3s that did not come in garbage time and was 6-of-6 on foul shots while his teammates were just 9-of-19 (47.3%).
Hargress and the Buffs tried to spread the love early. But with few inside looks against a tough Aztecs defense, they shot a bunch of 3-pointers. Sophomores Jalin Holland, Ian Inman and Josiah Sanders were 0-for-12 from the 3-point line until the game’s final two minutes. And with little inside presence, they couldn’t drive the ball. Freshman Alex Dickeson couldn’t provide a spark off the bench.
The defense had added to the issue.
The physical Buffs forced 20 turnovers, but they quickly got into foul trouble. Colorado’s only post player, Justin Neely, picked up two fouls before the second media break, which forced more 3-point attempts on offense. Hargress also picked up two fouls, which brought in Dickeson, who struggled and was whistled twice. Then, Holland earned his second foul, all before halftime.
With CU unable to “impose its will,” as it had against Abilene Christian, SDSU capitalized.
Gladden continuously drew fouls against CU’s backcourt and scored half of his 20 points from the line. The Buffs started helping more inside to compensate, and helped San Diego State make 8-of-15 attempts from deep. Any foul hurt, so the Aztecs saw easier looks at the rim, shooting 53.8% after halftime.
When the whistle benefitted the Buffs more in the second half, especially with Neely back in the game and playing in the post, Hargress and the offense got things going. They shot 55.6% in the second half and outscored SDSU, 49-42. San Diego State big man Bear Cherry played minimally due to foul trouble.
Still, the first-half woes were too much to overcome.
Starters
CU: Barrington Hagress, Jalin Holland, Josiah Sanders, Justin Neely, Noah Feddersen
SDSU: Latrell Davis, Chance Gladden, Elzie Harrington, Tae Simmons, Bear Cherry
Head-to-head
CU: 21-57 FG (9-25 3PT, 15-25 FT), 27 rebounds (8 offensive), 8 assists (13 turnovers), 12 steals, 2 blocks, 23 fouls
SDSU: 23-47 FG (8-15 3PT, 23-31 FT), 48 rebounds (7 offensive), 11 assists (20 turnovers), 5 blocks, 7 steals, 21 fouls
Top Performers
CU: Barrington Hargress was Colorado’s only offensive option. He hit 11 of 20 shots and scored 33 points. Plus, he did it without any gravity from other players and mostly off the dribble; CU only had eight assists. Justin Neely helped the offense in the second half, shooting nine free throws.
SDSU: For most of the first half, Chance Gladden was outscoring CU. He had 15 points at the half, and the Buffs had 17. The young guard attacked the rim and put them into foul trouble, if not converting a lay-in. But Latrell Davis’s 15 second-half points put the game out of reach. Head coach Brian Dutcher got Davis going with a set play midway in the second half, then he hit two clutch off-the-dribble 3-pointers right when CU gained momentum. Guard Isaiah Sy finished with eight points (two 3s) and six rebounds, and also played great defense.
How it happened
1st half: SDSU, 35-17
- U16: CU 5, SDSU 7 - The Buffs started just 2-of-8 from the field despite Sanders getting to the rim to open the game. CU became 3-point-happy, taking five but only making one. Colorado grabbed two offensive rebounds on 3-point misses but didn’t capitalize. The Aztecs, looking to push the pace, started 2-of-4 from the field with scores from Simmons and Davis.
- U12: CU 15, SDSU 5 - The Aztecs kept hounding CU, as the Buffs missed all their field-goal attempts from the first media break to the second. SDSU allowed nothing toward the rim; CU kept taking jumpers. On the other end, San Diego State hit two 3s in inside-out fashion, starting 3-for-3 from beyond the arc. Neely got into early foul trouble, committing two.
- U8: CU 10, SDSU 20 - Both teams were in the bonus before the under-eight timeout. Dickeson and Hargress both picked up two fouls, and Cherry did for SDSU. With Cherry out, CU briefly got inside. It hit two shots and got to the line. But several turnovers and fouls have kept the Aztecs ahead.
- CU TO (5:33): CU 10, SDSU 27 - The Aztecs went on a 7-0 run, led by Gladden. He hit a jumper, got to the line and scored a layup after a steal. The guard scored 12 points in the first 15 minutes, more than Colorado’s entire team. CU was shooting just 18.2% from the field.
- U4: CU 14, SDSU 31 - Hargress came out of the timeout going at SDSU. He got to the line and scored a layup. But Simmons hit a 3-pointer, limiting what CU’s point guard did.
- HALF: CU 35, SDSU 17 - Hargress got up to 11 points in the half with another layup. Like Simmons’ 3-pointer, though, a technical foul on Hargress immediately discounted this score. He was displeased that he didn’t hear a whistle on the drive despite 23 first-half fouls being called, which brought in freshman Amir Jones. Jones got a steal and was fouled; he missed both free throws as CU made just four of its 10 first-half free-throw attempts. SDSU kept capitalizing as Gladden finished the half with 15 points. Somehow, the Aztecs committed one more turnover.
2nd half: SDSU, 77-66 (CU, 49-42)
- U16: CU 29, SDSU 39 - The Buffs outscored the Aztecs 12-4 in the opening minutes of the second half. The defense was improved, keeping SDSU to one field goal and three turnovers to open the half. Hargress caught fire, scoring eight points amid the run. Holland and Cherry picked up their third fouls.
- U12: CU 35, SDSU 45 - San Diego State responded to CU’s run, getting Davis open for a 3-pointer. Another basket gave the Aztecs more cushion. Yet, Hargress nailed a 3-pointer, and Neely drew free throws on several possessions. The Buffs didn’t make any progress on the lead, missing three free throws despite the favorable second-half whistle.
- SDSU TO (9:33): CU 41, SDSU 53 - The Aztecs went up 16 after back-to-back 3s. Sy was open on a kick-out to the corner, and Davis laced a tough snatch-back 3-pointer. Yet, Sanders and Hargess responded with two layups and Dutcher wanted to talk things over.
- U8: CU 43, SDSU 57 - Dutcher called up a play for Cherry out of the timeout, and got a layup. CU responded with Sanders’ free throws, but two turnovers following a stop led the Buffs into the under-eight timeout. Colorado’s momentum was halted.
- U4: CU 52, SDSU 66 - Dickeson hit a 3-pointer, the only deep make not by Hargress while the game was in reach. Yet, Davis hit another tough 3-pointer amid a 5-0 run, pushing the Aztecs’ lead back to 16. Hargress scored twice more as CU stayed within 12 points, but couldn’t get closer because of SDSU’s leading scorer’s heroics.
- FINAL: CU 66, SDSU 77 - Hargress hit another 3-pointer out of the final media break, but it ultimately didn’t matter. The deficit was too large, and the Aztecs responded with a 5-0 run. CU hit three 3-pointers in the waning moments after shooting just 6-of-22 (27.7%) in the first 38 minutes.
What’s next
Colorado (1-1) returns home to play San Diego (2-0) on Tuesday. The game will tip off at 7 p.m. MT on ESPN+.
Players Mentioned
