Bangot Dak had team-high totals of 15 points and 11 rebounds as Colorado escaped after blowing a 17-halftime lead, defeating Washington 81-68 Friday afternoon in the championship game of the Acrisure Holiday Classic in Palm Desert, Calif.
Isaiah Johnson scored 13 points, Alon Michaeli had 12 and Sebastian Rancik and Felix Kossaras tallied 11 apiece for the Buffaloes (7-0).
Quimari Peterson scored 18 points, making four 3-pointers, for the Huskies (5-2) and Desmond Claude added 14.
Colorado began the game with a 7-0 run, holding the Huskies without a point in the opening 2:59, and never trailed against their former Pacific-12 Conference rivals.
Michaeli and Dak each scored nine points in the first half as the Buffaloes built a 47-30 lead, taking advantage of Washington being without starting forwards Hannes Steinbach and Bryson Tucker because of ankle injuries.
The Huskies started the second half with a 7-0 run of their own to stay within striking distance.
A 3-pointer by Washington’s JJ Mandaquit made it 51-44 and a dunk by Jasir Rencher with 13:40 left pulled the Huskies within five. Peterson’s 3-pointer from the top of the key made it 51-49.
After Johnson made one of two free throws, Rencher sank a 3-pointer to tie it at 52-all with 11:41 remaining.
A pair of 3-pointers by Kossaras and a tip-in dunk by Dak helped the Buffs restore a seven-point lead with 8:20 to go. The Huskies never got closer than four points the rest of the way as Colorado pulled away.
The Buffaloes shot 46.3% from the field (25 of 54), including 8 of 18 from 3-point range. They limited Washington to 33.3% shooting (23 of 69).
Huskies starters Zoom Diallo, Wesley Yates III and Franck Kepnang, who combined for 59 points in an 83-66 semifinal victory against Nevada, managed just 19 points Friday on 5-for-23 shooting.
–Field Level Media
