Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
INDIANAPOLIS — KJ Simpson capped a wild second half with a baseline jumper that hit the rim five times before rattling in with one second left to lead No. 10 Colorado to a dramatic 102-100 win over No. 7 Florida in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday.
Simpson finished with a team-leading 23 points while Eddie Lampkin Jr. added 21 for Colorado (26-10), which advances to play No. 2 Marquette on Sunday in the second round of the South Region.
Walter Clayton Jr. scored a game-high 33 points and hit the backboard on a desperation miss at the final buzzer as Florida (24-12) ended its season in heartbreak after erasing a 13-point deficit in the final 4:28.
The two teams combined for 112 points in the second half and combined to shoot 17-of-35 from 3-point range on the day.
The game turned controversial in the second half after officials awarded a pair of and-one calls to Colorado. Cody Williams couldn’t convert his chance with 9:41 left.
But following Lampkin’s layup with 7:44 left that also drew a bonus free throw, Florida head coach Todd Golden erupted on the sidelines and was assessed a technical.
J’Vonne Hadley sank both technical free throws and Lampkin then converted his free throw to complete the five-point swing, doubling Colorado’s lead to 10 points at 82-72.
Trailing 94-81 with 4:28 left, Florida cut the deficit to six on a 7-0 run. But Florida big man Alex Condon fouled out with 2:11 remaining. Florida drew within 97-93 with 1:16 to go before Simpson answered with a layup with 48.5 seconds left.
Florida made it a 99-96 game when Clayton drained a 3 from the left wing with 37.2 seconds remaining.
Florida’s Riley Kugel stole a pass as Colorado attempted to advance the ball, and Clayton drove to the basket and was fouled. He made one of two free throws.
Colorado overcame a 24-14 first-half deficit thanks to the work of Hadley, Lampkin, Simpson and Tristan da Silva. The four players combined for 34 of Colorado’s 45 first-half points.
A 3-pointer from Hadley brought the Buffs within 35-34. Lampkin then picked off a pass underneath the Florida basket and started a fast break that ended with his spin to the basket and a layup, giving Colorado its first lead since the opening two minutes.
There were four lead changes and two ties in the final three minutes of the half, which ended in a 45-45 deadlock.
–Mike Petraglia, Field Level Media