BOULDER, CO – After missing time, both Gabe Madsen and Rollie Worster returned to the court for Utah, but the Runnin’ Utes were unable to get the win in Boulder.

Utah got within six of Colorado with 21 seconds remaining but ended up falling short 69-60 after a couple of Buffalo trips to the line.

The Utes struggled to get much going offensively going 21 of 63 from the field and nine of 30 from the three. Worster led the team in scoring upon his return with 15 points, but it wasn’t enough to lift the Runnin’ Utes out of a three-game slump to finish the regular season.

Utah will now look to the Pac-12 Tournament as the seventh seed after their loss in Colorado. They will be facing 10 seed Stanford.

Final from Boulder. Utes fall to Buffs 69-60

— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) March 5, 2023

Utah, Colorado First Half

Branden Carlson got Utah’s first points of the night, followed by a three from Ben Carlson to give Utah a 5-2 lead over Colorado to start. Before the first timeout, the Buffaloes sank a two putting the game within one point, 5-4 with 15:49 on the clock.

Stef finds @ben_carlson20 to make it 2 assists on 2 baskets to kick us off!

📲 https://t.co/sKQ5JcFXqv #GoUtes pic.twitter.com/FoSDzAcjLC

— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) March 4, 2023

Rollie Worster made his comeback known hitting a two to regain the lead for the Utes, 7-6. Colorado didn’t hesitate to answer back and build a lead before Utah head coach Craig Smith called a timeout, 17-7. Woster ended the Ute’s drought getting them within three of the Buffaloes before the media timeout at the 7:48 mark, 15-12.

Worster ends the scoring drought and follows with a put-back on the next possession!

📲 https://t.co/sKQ5JcFXqv #GoUtes pic.twitter.com/DNcmPp5klq

— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) March 4, 2023

Colorado pulled away again out of the break, 23-14 with the Utes struggling to get much to land. Worster breaks the scoring drought with a floater and BC followed up with his own narrowing the lead, 23-18, with under four minutes left to play.

.@Keba_Keita_13 with the clean up on aisle 2‼️

📲 https://t.co/sKQ5JcFXqv #GoUtes pic.twitter.com/5pB0eMuSE4

— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) March 4, 2023

BC came up big defensively with a swat, but the Utes turned the ball back over for easy Colorado points, 27-19. Colorado continued to be dominant through the last two minutes of the game building a solid 33-21 lead over Utah before the buzzer.

Tough first half for the #Utes who trail Colorado 33-21 at the half.

Utah is currently 8-29 from the field with five turnovers.#GoUtes

— Michelle Bodkin (@BodkinKSLsports) March 4, 2023

Utes, Buffaloes Second Half

Colorado wasted no time hitting a three out of the half extending their lead, 36-21. BC knocked a two down before the Buffaloes answered right back with another three, 39-23. BC followed up that performance with a dunk, 39-25. By the first break of the final half, Colorado had 41-27 lead with 15:22 on the clock.

Back-to-back baskets for BC after this jam!

📲 https://t.co/sKQ5JcFXqv #GoUtes pic.twitter.com/3ZZIpDamEO

— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) March 4, 2023

Gabe Madsen sank two threes in his return for the Utes with under 15 to play moving Utah, 41-33. Out of a brief break, Madsen hit another three after Colorado hit one before, 44-36. Bostyn Holt got on the board along with Marco Anthony moving the Utes closer, 50-4o with 10:33 left to play.

👀👀 @GabeMadsen53 coming alive as he hits back-to-back and forces a CU timeout!

📲 https://t.co/sKQ5JcFXqv #GoUtes pic.twitter.com/UpqWWJJQB3

— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) March 4, 2023

Lasar Stefanovic lets a three fly, but the Buffs were able to answer back on the next possession, 54-43. With under six minutes left to play, Worster got a trip to the line going two for two, 56-47. Stefanovic comes through with a three off the in-bound to get the Utes within eight again before Colorado answered back, 61-50.

Worster finds @_Lazar_Stef on the fastbreak for his first bucket of the afternoon!

📲 https://t.co/sKQ5JcFpAX #GoUtes pic.twitter.com/68Bzx1jEdM

— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) March 4, 2023

BC puts down a dunk with under two left to play getting the Utes within nine, 61-52.

Michelle Bodkin is the Utah Utes Insider for KSLsports.com and host of both the Crimson Corner Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and The Saturday Show (Saturday from 10 a.m.–12 p.m.) on The KSL Sports Zone. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram: @BodkinKSLsports

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