LAHAINA, Hawaii — The mid-term exam isn’t complete.
But in the first phase of the Colorado men’s basketball team testing itself against college basketball’s elite competition, the Buffaloes struggled. And the test is about to get much more difficult.
The Buffaloes opened play in the Maui Invitational on Monday and were handed a harsh reality check by Michigan State, which got to the rim at will and out-toughed CU inside while handing the Buffs their first loss of the season, 72-56.
CU will have to regroup in a hurry, as it will continue play in the tournament on Tuesday against second-ranked, two-time defending champion UConn, which was upset in overtime by Memphis in Monday’s opening game.
CU made its first three shots but that would account for just about all the first-half highlights offensively for the Buffs, who missed their final 10 3-point attempts of the half. The game was tied 21-21 before Michigan State closed the opening half on a 17-4 run, opening up a 38-25 lead at the break.
The Buffs briefly made noise to start the second half, with a pair of 3-pointers from Julian Hammond III, pulling them within 40-33. But it was a spark the Buffs couldn’t sustain, and the Spartans gradually padded their lead the rest of the way.
The big question surrounding CU after opening the year 4-0 at home against mid-major foes was whether the new-look Buffs could hold their own physically against bigger, more athletic power conference foes. Against the Spartans, the answer was a resounding no.
After outrebounding each of its first four opponents by double-digits, CU was dominated on the glass, with Michigan State posting a 42-29 rebounding advantage. And although the Spartans’ early-season struggles from long-range continued — Michigan State missed its first 14 3-pointers and finished 2-for-21 — MSU had enough easy looks inside to finish 28-for-40 on 2-pointers.
CU (4-1) knocked down its first two 3-pointers but went 2-for-17 the rest of the way. Elijah Malone was a bright spot for the Buffs, going 7-for-10 with 14 points and a team-high five rebounds. Hammond led the Buffs with 15 points.