Simpson scores career-high 34 as Colorado fends off Washington State 74-67
AP
Dec 31, 2023
BOULDER, Colo. (AP) KJ Simpson scored a career-high 34 points, sinking 13 of 14 in a Colorado Buffaloes parade to the foul line and the Buffaloes held off Washington State Cougars 74-67 on Sunday.
Simpson, who has scored at least 20 points in five straight games, made 10 of 18 shots from the floor with one 3-pointer for the Buffaloes (11-2, 2-0 Pac-12 Conference).
Andrej Jakimovski sank a 3-pointer and Myles Rice added two free throws to pull the Cougars (9-4, 0-2) within 65-64 with 3:24 remaining. Simpson answered with a layup and four free throws sandwiched around a 3-pointer from J'Vonne Hadley to keep the Cougars at bay. Hadley, who had one 3-pointer on the season, was 2 for 2 against Washington State and scored 12. Eddie Lampkin Jr. added 10 points and six rebounds for the Buffaloes.
Simpson had 14 points to guide Colorado to a 39-29 lead at halftime. Jakimovski hit all three of his 3-pointers and scored 13 to keep the Cougars within striking distance. The Buffaloes built most of their lead by going 7 for 7 at the foul line, while the Cougars did not attempt a free throw. Colorado was 15 of 19 at the foul line in the second half, while WSU finished 6 of 8.
Jakimovski scored 19 points on 7-for-14 shooting with four 3-pointers for Washington State. Isaac Jones had 16 points on 7-for-7 shooting with eight rebounds. Oscar Cluff pitched in with 16 points and six rebounds off the bench, scoring 14 in the second half.
Colorado leads the series 19-7, including 13-0 at home.
Washington State returns home to host Oregon State on Thursday. Colorado travels to play No. 4 Arizona on Thursday.
--- Get poll alerts and updates on AP Top 25 basketball throughout the season. Sign up here --- AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball
Copyright 2025 STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.
1st Half
WSU
Cougars
29
COLO
Buffaloes
39
Time
Team
Play
Score
20:00
Rueben Chinyelu vs. Eddie Lampkin Jr. (Myles Rice gains possession)
19:43
+2
Rueben Chinyelu makes two point hook shot
2-0
19:21
Eddie Lampkin Jr. turnover (traveling)
18:50
Kymany Houinsou misses three point jump shot
18:49
Cougars offensive rebound
18:49
Cougars turnover (shot clock violation)
18:38
KJ Simpson misses two point jump shot
18:36
Isaac Jones defensive rebound
18:21
Kymany Houinsou misses three point jump shot
18:19
Buffaloes defensive rebound
18:08
+2
KJ Simpson makes two point layup (Eddie Lampkin Jr. assists)
2-2
17:48
Andrej Jakimovski misses two point jump shot
17:46
J'Vonne Hadley defensive rebound
17:29
+2
Julian Hammond III makes two point jump shot
2-4
17:11
J'Vonne Hadley personal foul
16:53
Myles Rice misses three point jump shot
16:51
Luke O'Brien defensive rebound
16:36
Julian Hammond III misses two point layup
16:34
Buffaloes offensive rebound
16:22
KJ Simpson misses three point jump shot
16:20
Kymany Houinsou defensive rebound
15:54
Myles Rice misses two point jump shot
15:52
Julian Hammond III defensive rebound
15:43
+2
J'Vonne Hadley makes two point hook shot
2-6
15:21
Kymany Houinsou misses two point layup
15:19
Julian Hammond III defensive rebound
15:14
Julian Hammond III turnover (bad pass)
15:14
TV timeout
14:50
Oscar Cluff turnover (traveling)
14:38
+2
KJ Simpson makes two point layup
2-8
14:38
Kymany Houinsou shooting foul (KJ Simpson draws the foul)
14:38
+1
KJ Simpson makes regular free throw 1 of 1
2-9
14:27
+2
Jaylen Wells makes two point layup (Kymany Houinsou assists)
4-9
14:02
Andrej Jakimovski blocks Harrison Carrington's two point layup
14:00
Kymany Houinsou defensive rebound
13:51
+2
Andrej Jakimovski makes two point layup
6-9
13:41
+2
KJ Simpson makes two point layup (Eddie Lampkin Jr. assists)
6-11
13:16
Oscar Cluff misses two point layup
13:14
Luke O'Brien defensive rebound
13:09
+2
Luke O'Brien makes two point layup
6-13
12:45
Jump ball. Kymany Houinsou vs. Julian Hammond III (Buffaloes gains possession)
12:45
Kymany Houinsou turnover (lost ball) (Julian Hammond III steals)
12:36
+2
KJ Simpson makes two point layup (Javon Ruffin assists)
6-15
12:19
Jabe Mullins misses three point jump shot
12:17
Oscar Cluff offensive rebound
12:10
+2
Oscar Cluff makes two point layup
8-15
11:59
KJ Simpson misses two point jump shot
11:57
Oscar Cluff defensive rebound
11:51
Kymany Houinsou turnover (bad pass)
11:51
TV timeout
11:32
Javon Ruffin misses two point jump shot
11:30
Rueben Chinyelu defensive rebound
11:14
+2
Isaac Jones makes two point dunk (Jaylen Wells assists)
10-15
10:53
Rueben Chinyelu blocks J'Vonne Hadley's two point jump shot
10:51
Jabe Mullins defensive rebound
10:45
Julian Hammond III blocks Jabe Mullins's two point layup
10:45
Julian Hammond III defensive rebound
10:45
Rueben Chinyelu personal foul
10:33
+3
Julian Hammond III makes three point jump shot (J'Vonne Hadley assists)
10-18
10:16
+2
Isaac Jones makes two point hook shot
12-18
9:57
Julian Hammond III turnover (Jabe Mullins steals)
9:52
Myles Rice turnover (lost ball)
9:31
+3
J'Vonne Hadley makes three point jump shot (Javon Ruffin assists)
12-21
9:16
Jaylen Wells offensive foul
9:16
Jaylen Wells turnover (offensive foul)
9:00
+2
Eddie Lampkin Jr. makes two point layup (J'Vonne Hadley assists)
12-23
8:55
Cougars 30 second timeout
8:39
Jaylen Wells misses two point jump shot
8:37
Julian Hammond III defensive rebound
8:33
Julian Hammond III turnover (bad pass)
8:13
+2
Myles Rice makes two point jump shot
14-23
7:59
+2
Eddie Lampkin Jr. makes two point layup (KJ Simpson assists)
14-25
7:37
Rueben Chinyelu turnover (traveling)
7:36
TV timeout
7:16
KJ Simpson misses two point jump shot
7:14
Jaylen Wells defensive rebound
7:01
Oscar Cluff misses two point layup
6:59
Javon Ruffin defensive rebound
6:39
Eddie Lampkin Jr. turnover (lost ball) (Andrej Jakimovski steals)
6:27
Jaylen Wells misses two point jump shot
6:25
J'Vonne Hadley defensive rebound
6:16
Kymany Houinsou blocks Luke O'Brien's two point layup
6:14
Andrej Jakimovski defensive rebound
5:53
+2
Andrej Jakimovski makes two point layup
16-25
5:27
Javon Ruffin misses two point layup
5:26
Eddie Lampkin Jr. offensive rebound
5:26
Oscar Cluff shooting foul (Eddie Lampkin Jr. draws the foul)
5:26
+1
Eddie Lampkin Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2
16-26
5:26
+1
Eddie Lampkin Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2
16-27
5:01
Jaylen Wells misses two point jump shot
4:59
Cougars offensive rebound
4:59
KJ Simpson personal foul
4:57
+3
Andrej Jakimovski makes three point jump shot (Myles Rice assists)
19-27
4:39
Joe Hurlburt misses three point jump shot
4:37
J'Vonne Hadley offensive rebound
4:31
+2
Javon Ruffin makes two point layup (J'Vonne Hadley assists)
19-29
4:03
+3
Andrej Jakimovski makes three point jump shot (Isaac Jones assists)
22-29
3:39
KJ Simpson turnover (out of bounds)
3:39
TV timeout
3:26
Julian Hammond III personal foul
3:23
+3
Andrej Jakimovski makes three point jump shot (Myles Rice assists)
25-29
2:53
Myles Rice shooting foul (KJ Simpson draws the foul)