Boulder, CO – The University of Colorado got nearly half of its points off the bench, including a team-high 20 from Isaiah Johnson, in holding off Portland State, 84-73, at CU Events Center.
 
In a game played in an eerily empty building, PSU gave the 10-1 Buffaloes all they wanted over 40 minutes. The game was closed to fans due to an extreme wind storm in the Boulder area, leaving only a scant number of family members in the stands.
 
Still, CU kept its home record perfect (8-0) with an efficient offense highlighted by strong bench play and late free throw shooting. The Buffaloes were 18-22 at the line in the second half, 22-26 overall (.846).
 
PSU's Jaylin Henderson didn't rest a minute, and for good reason. The senior guard scored a game-high 23 points for the Vikings. He made 10-18 from the field, his only three-point attempt and 2-2 at the line, adding six rebounds, four assists and two steals.
 
Terri Miller Jr. scored 16 points with four steals and two blocked shots for Portland State. Keyon Kensie Jr. added 11 points and a team-high eight rebounds.
 
The Vikings fell to 6-4 overall with the loss.
 
Miller led the Vikings to an early lead with a pair of three-point field goals. The Vikings were up by as many as eight points and led for the opening 13 minutes. Colorado finally took a lead at 26-23 on a three-pointer by Alon Michaeli with 6:27 left in the half.
 
The Buffaloes got to halftime up 37-35 in a very evenly played game.
 
Colorado was ahead 48-41 before a seven-point run by the Vikings. Kensie had a driving three-point play, then Miller made back-to-back shots inside and tied the game at 48 with 15 minutes left. The Vikings stayed within five points over the next 10 minutes but could never regain the lead.
 
PSU trailed just 69-66 with 6:03 left in the game. But the Buffaloes went on an 11-2 run to give them some breathing room in the closing moments. Colorado made six free throws in a row in the final two minutes to prevent a PSU comeback.
 
Colorado shot 28-58 from the field (.483), making six three-pointers. The Vikings were 27-57 (.474) with five threes. The Buffaloes made eight more at the line than PSU (14-20, .700) and out-rebounded the Vikings, 35-30.
 
Barrington Hargress scored 15 points with a game-high six assists for Colorado.
 

GAME NOTES

• This was the first meeting ever between Portland State and Colorado in basketball.
• PSU is now 2-3 on the road this season.
• Colorado, which is receiving votes in the Coaches Top 25 poll, started a front line of 7-0, 6-11, 6-10… the Buffaloes were averaging 88 points and shooting .518 from the field going into the game.
• Portland State moves on to play at Tulane on Saturday evening in the final non-conference game of the season. PSU and the Green Wave play at 6:30 p.m. CT/4:30 p.m. PT.