EUGENE, Ore. — It wasn’t enough to help Colorado pull out a victory, but the Buffaloes may have received a promising sign moving forward from the play of Nique Clifford.
The junior from Colorado Springs broke out of a prolonged slump in dramatic fashion on Thursday night, scoring a career-high 17 points during CU’s 75-69 loss at Oregon.
“It felt good. I just want to be out there and contribute and help my team win,” Clifford said. “Unfortunately we weren’t able to get the win tonight, so it didn’t really matter too much. We just have to get back to the drawing board and get ready for Saturday (at Oregon State).”
Clifford’s 17 points matched his scoring production from the previous five games combined. A 40% shooter from 3-point range last year, Clifford watched his long-range mark dip to .209 (9-for-43) before going 3-for-5 from the arc on Thursday. He had hit two 3-pointers in a game just once this season, during a November rout of Texas A&M, and the three made 3-pointers marked a career-high.
“I hope he can build on that. That’s what we need,” CU head coach Tad Boyle said. “The consistency, that’s what I’m talking about. Nique was terrific tonight. Is he going to be terrific on Saturday? I’m not saying he has to be 7-for-11, but we need some level of consistency to say, ‘OK, this is what we’re going to get from you each and every night.’ Some nights might be better than others, we understand that, but we can’t have the atrocious nights. We all have to be better.”
Duck hunter
If Tristan da Silva played more frequently against Oregon, he might make a run at All-American honors.
CU’s junior forward enjoyed another big game against the Ducks, going 8-for-14 overall with a game-high 23 points. Da Silva also was perfect from the 3-point line (3-for-3) and the free throw line (4-for-4). Da Silva scored a career-high 30 points in a home win against the Ducks three weeks ago, and in his past five games against Oregon he has averaged 16.8 points while shooting 60% (30-for-50).
“We kind of made it hard on ourselves to get over the hump,” da Silva said.
Notable
Former Buffs greats Chauncey Billups, now the head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers, and Jabari Walker, who plays for Billups, were in attendance…Colorado guard Javon Ruffin missed his third consecutive game due to a knee injury…CU crushed Oregon on the boards, 46-28, three weeks ago in Boulder but was outrebounded by the Ducks 38-34 during Thursday’s loss…The Buffs fell to 1-5 this season in true road games…Oregon leading scorer Will Richardson went 2-for-8 with eight points. In two games against the Buffs this year, Richardson has shot .176 (3-for-17)…Oregon finished with eight blocked shots, its third-highest total of the season and its top mark in Pac-12 play…CU’s 11 turnovers was its lowest total in seven games, going back to a nine turnover game in a loss at Cal on Dec. 31.
