The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Colorado
Men's Basketball tops Colorado, 102-78
01.06.2007 | Men's Basketball
BOULDER, Colo. (AP) -- Texas freshman Kevin Durant likely could've gone straight from high school to the NBA, if the league hadn't imposed a minimum age limit.
For now, Durant is happy he went to college this year. Longhorns fans are too.
Durant scored a career-high 37 points to go with 16 rebounds as Texas won its ninth straight Big 12 Conference opener in a 102-78 victory Saturday over Colorado.
"I'm glad I came to college because I got so much better, my defensive effort. I got post moves from here," Durant said. "College is fun and I love it."
Durant was 5-for-7 on 3-pointers as he outgunned Colorado's Richard Roby. Damion James, D.J. Augustin and A.J. Abrams had 15 points each for Texas (11-3, 1-0 Big 12).
"I had a couple of real wide open 3s," Durant said. "It was just an opportunity that I had to take."
Roby led Colorado (4-7, 0-1) with 30 points, three points short of his career high. Xavier Silas added 17 points for the Buffaloes, who lost their 10th consecutive conference opener.
Colorado hasn't won a conference opener since beating Nebraska 79-73 on Jan. 4, 1997.
Roby buried a 3-pointer three minutes into the second half, but 30 seconds later Durant matched it with one of his own, putting Texas up 61-53. Durant connected on another 3-pointer with 15:38 left to begin a 19-7 run that also included two 3-pointers each by Abrams and Augustin that stretched the Longhorns' lead to 80-62.
A 3-pointer by J.D. Lewis and dunk by Durant extended the Texas lead, 88-66 with 7:56 remaining. Roby went scoreless over the last six minutes of the game and Colorado never got closer than 17 points in the final 5:50 of the game.
Roby and Durant nearly matched shot for shot in the first half. Durant, who had 21 points and three 3-pointers by halftime, had a scoop shot layup and free throw to put Texas up 50-43 with 2:23 before the break.
Colorado got four free throws from Roby in the last 1:34 as the Buffaloes closed the gap to 51-48 at intermission. Roby was 3-for-5 on 3-pointers and had 22 points in the first period.
