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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Cougars take on Buffaloes with Lacy

Top scorer was missing in 1-point overtime loss

One extra point. It’s all that the Washington State men’s basketball team would’ve needed leading scorer DaVonte Lacy to add when they lost to Colorado on Jan. 8 at the Spokane Arena.

But, sitting on the bench with a rib injury suffered the previous week at Arizona State, Lacy was forced to idly watch as the Cougars fell in overtime, 71-70, to the Buffaloes, who were ranked No. 15 at the time.

“It was super tough,” Lacy acknowledged on Monday. “But at the same time I was really proud because everybody counted us out and having that one-point game – it hurt and we’re not into moral victories or whatever – but it showed them that they can play, with or without me.”

Today the Cougars will have Lacy back, and it is Colorado’s turn to play without a key starter. Spencer Dinwiddie is out for the season after tearing his ACL against Washington four days after the Buffaloes’ win over the Cougars. The junior guard was averaging 14.7 points per game.

Without Dinwiddie the Buffaloes have lost three of their last five games, narrowly beating Utah in overtime on Saturday. The Cougars (9-12, 2-7 Pac-12) are hoping that their win over Washington last week will propel them to a better record in the second half of Pac-12 play, and a win today would go a long way toward making that a reality.

“This is real good, the rest of the schedule is looking real nice and we’re feeling confident about it,” forward D.J. Shelton said. “I think we’re going to come in there on Wednesday with a chip on our shoulder and looking to play hard from the jump.”