Colorado Basketball: Buffs blow out Washington State; have won five of six

The Colorado Buffaloes men’s basketball team is started to look like the team we thought they were.

Colorado got its fifth win in its last six games by routing Washington State 81-49 on Sunday night. The win improves Colorado’s record to 15-11 for the season as it chases tough odds to reach the NCAA tournament next month.

The Buffs faced Washington State back on January 21 in Pullman, losing by two points in overtime. That was arguably the worst loss of the season for Colorado. They exacted a little revenge on Sunday in Boulder and can focus on trying to get back into the race in the Pac 12 conference.

Derrick White paced Colorado with 23 points on 9 of 11 shooting from the field. He also went 3 for 4 from three-point range.

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The Buffs dominated Washington State on the boards, getting 13 more rebounds. The Cougars also committed 24 turnovers as the Buffs were credited with 12 steals. Seniors Wesley Gordon and Xavier Johnson also returned for Colorado after serving suspensions.

Colorado jumped out in front early and led by as many as 16 points in the first half. Washington State got no closer in the second half as the Buffs pulled away for the easy victory, their largest margin of victory of the season.

Up next, Colorado will travel to Corvallis to face Oregon State at Gill Coliseum on Thursday night. Though it’s a road game, Oregon State is 4-21 on the season, so it’s a game that Colorado must find a way to win, as it will be matched up against Oregon in its next game.