Koch’s Career Night Not Enough For Elon Men’s Basketball At #21 Colorado

BOULDER, Colo. – Sebastian Koch scored a career-high 27 points on nine threes, but the Elon University men’s basketball team dropped an 80-63 decision at 21st-ranked Colorado on Friday, Dec. 13, inside the Coors Event Center.

Elon falls to 5-5 with the setback, while CU improves to 10-1.

“We did not play with enough aggression in the first half tonight,” said Elon head coach Matt Matheny. “I thought our players regrouped at halftime and came out aggressive. We were much more reliant on the three-point shot to fight our way back, but we just didn’t have enough tonight.”

The Phoenix knocked down 13-of-32 (41 percent) from long distance. The 13 triples are the most Colorado has given up in a game this season.

Elon cut a 19-point Colorado lead down to seven with 13:14 remaining, going on a 15-3 run that was sparked by a combined five triples from Koch and Tanner Samson to make it a 52-45 game.

But Colorado answered with a 12-2 run of its own to take a 15-point lead and hold it down the stretch, as the Buffs managed to get to the free throw line 46 times, knocking down 26. Elon went 6-of-15 at the charity stripe.

Tanner Samson ended the night with 12 points on 4-of-10 shooting from the field. Colorado put four players in double figured, led by Spencer Dinwiddie’s 17 points.

Colorado ended the game with a 54-27 advantage on the boards, as Xavier Johnson and Josh Scott grabbed 15 and 13 rebounds, respectively.

Elon led for the first half of the opening frame, until Colorado took its first lead of with 10:12 remaining in the first half after Xavier Johnson knocked down a three from the wing to give the Buffs a 17-16 edge.

CU closed the first session on a 27-10 run from that point forward, taking a 41-26 lead into the locker room at intermission.

Elon won the turnover battle, 12-5, in the first half, and ended the game with a 16-10 advantage in turnovers.

Koch’s 27 points are the most in a game by an Elon player since Jack Isenbarger scored 34 against The Citadel on Feb. 4, 2012.

The Phoenix returns to action on Dec. 17 at Georgetown. The game will be broadcasted live on the CBS Sports Network.