Fortune Scores 15, Colorado Holds Off Fort Hays State 81-71
BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — Josh Fortune shook off a miserable offensive slump with a season-high 15 points and the Colorado Buffaloes returned from finals week with an 81-71 win over Division II Fort Hays State on Saturday afternoon.
Fortune, who was 0 for 13 from the field in his previous two games, went 5 for 9 from the field.
Deleon Brown added a career-high 15 points and Xavier Johnson also had 15 for the Buffaloes, who shot 43 percent from the field, including 46 percent in the first half.
Rob Davis put a scare into Colorado with 29 points for Fort Hays State, all coming in the second half. Davis came in averaging 24 points per game and went a season-best 7 for 10 from 3-point range.
The Tigers mounted a rally early in the second half, using a 17-4 run to climb within 47-39 on a layup by Hadley Gillum with 14:46 remaining. Davis had 11 points during the burst after he went 0 for 4 from the field in the first half.
Davis swished a jumper to cut the deficit to 76-67 with 2:55 remaining. But Colorado got a few timely free throws and rebounds down the stretch to improve to 8-3.
A meeting against a Division II opponent won't count against the Buffaloes' RPI as they improved to 6-1 at the Coors Events Center. The loss also won't do damage to the Tigers, who played the game as an exhibition.
George King and Wesley Gordon converted 3-point plays early against an overmatched Tigers lineup, and Johnson jumped a passing lane and finished with a one-handed dunk as Colorado jumped out to a quick 10-0 lead.
The Buffs led by as many as 21.
BIG PICTURE
Fort Hays State: In the first half, the Tigers played exactly like you might expect from a D II school going against a Power Five Conference team. They started 1 for 15 from the field but rallied to finish 26 of 65. . Davis didn't score his first points until he swished a 3-pointer with 17:25 remaining.
Colorado: The Buffaloes made quick work of the Tigers but still are working to find consistency through 11 games. They beat Texas and Xavier to nab consecutive wins over ranked teams for the first time since 2013, but have also lost to in-state rival Colorado State and BYU.
GOOD FORTUNE
Fortune hit a 3 with 6:52 in the first half to end the nasty slump, then stole a pass and turned it into a dunk 52 seconds later.
UP NEXT
Fort Hays State: After a two-week break, the Tigers will host Kansas Christian on Dec. 31.
Colorado: The Buffs are at Air Force Monday before they finish nonconference play against Eastern Washington Thursday.
By BRENT W. NEW, Associated Press
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