BOULDER — Colorado took the best punch the USC Trojans could muster Thursday night, then punched back.
Tad Boyle‘s Buffaloes overcame a 14-point first half deficit, then withstood a furious USC rally down the stretch to collect a 70-66 win over the Trojans before 10,027 at the CU Events Center.
The No. 18/17 Buffaloes improved to 21-6 overall and 10-4 in Pac-12 play while the Trojans dropped to 19-8, 8-6. The win, coupled with Oregon’s loss to Arizona State on Thursday, also gave CU sole possession of first place in the Pac-12 standings.
After falling behind early, 20-6, Colorado came back and led by as much as 12 in the second half before the Trojans cut the margin down to one, 67-66, with 1:30 to play.