Lavi blog

No. 22 Texas A&M rallies for 73-70 OT win over CU

BOULDER, Colo. – Nathan Walkup scored 18 points and B.J. Holmes added 13, including a 3-pointer with 1.9 seconds remaining to send the game into overtime, as No. 22 Texas A&M rallied for a 73-70 victory over Colorado on Wednesday night.

The Aggies (18-5, 5-4 Big 12) snapped a three-game skid.

The biggest shot of the night belonged to Holmes, who stepped back and connected on a long 3-pointer after the Aggies called timeout to set up a play.

Once in overtime, Texas A&M took control early, scoring the first six points. The Buffaloes (15-10, 4-6) worked their way back into the game, trailing 73-70 with 8 seconds remaining.

But Levi Knutson's shot at the buzzer came up short as the Buffs lost their eighth straight to Texas A&M.

Alec Burks led Colorado in scoring with 24 points and Cory Higgins added 19.

Texas A&M outrebounded Colorado by a 40-29 margin, with David Loubeau grabbing nine.

Clinging to a 58-57 lead, Burks missed a jumper with 32 seconds left in regulation and Loubeau grabbed the rebound.

The Aggies called timeout to diagram a play for leading scorer Khris Middleton, who drove down the lane, spun and tossed up a shot that bounced off the rim.

Burks grabbed the rebound with 10.6 seconds remaining and was immediately fouled. He made both free throws, extending the lead to 60-57.

After another quick timeout by Texas A&M, Walkup delivered a pass to Holmes, who launched his 3-pointer.

With 5:28 left in regulation, the Buffs reclaimed the lead on a trip down the floor that resulted in seven points, turning a one-point deficit into a 54-48 advantage.

Burks was fouled by Middleton on his way to the basket and then given an elbow from Kourtney Roberson as well, resulting in a technical foul on Roberson. Burks converted two free throws and Cory Higgins nailed a pair on the technical.

After getting the ball on the side, Higgins drained a 3-pointer.

It was Texas A&M's second technical foul of the night.

Earlier in the second half, Aggies coach Mark Turgeon, incensed over a no call, was assessed a technical.

Higgins hit two free throws and Austin Dufault connected on a jumper in the lane to increase the lead to seven. The Buffs appeared to be taking control of this back-and-forth contest.

But Turgeon's outburst lit a fire under the Aggies, who stormed back with a 10-2 run to take a 48-47 lead on Walkup's runner.

With a soft shot 3 minutes into the second half, Burks became the 27th player in team history to reach 1,000 points. The talented sophomore needed 55 games to achieve the milestone, the same number as former Buffaloes great Chauncey Billups, who finished with 1,020 points during his two seasons in Boulder.

Colorado guard Nate Tomlinson didn't play after spraining his ankle against Missouri on Saturday. His minutes predominantly went to Knutson, who finished with five points.

This was the first meeting between close friends Tad Boyle and Turgeon, who forged a bond while playing for the Kansas Jayhawks in the 1980s.

The tandem spent more than a decade coaching together, beginning as assistants at Oregon. Boyle then followed Turgeon to Jacksonville State and later Wichita State.

The buddies split up the partnership after Boyle received his first head coaching gig at Northern Colorado, where he resurrected the Bears' program before bolting for the Buffs.

Turgeon hasn't been looking forward to coaching against his friend, saying, "Hopefully we don't have to do it in the future."

They may not for a while, especially since Colorado will move to the newly formed Pac-12 next season.