WATCH: K.J. Simpson drains game-winning three with 4.8 seconds left to propel Colorado to 58-55 victory over Washington State
Colorado superstar K.J. Simspon brought the juice in the closing minutes on Sunday night against the Washington State Cougars, when his team needed him the most. First, he put Cougars’ guard T.J. Bamba on a poster with 4:30 remaining in the second half. Then, in the closing seconds of the game with the game tied at 55-apiece, Simpson calmly grinded out some clock, then he utilized a screen to create a little bit of airspace between him and T.J. Bamba. Simpson then pulled up and fired from just outside the three-point line, right at the top of the key.
The shot was pure and splashed through the net, nothing but nylon. The game-winner lifted Colorado to a heart-stopping 58-55 victory.
Check out the clutch game-winner from the Colorado star.
Bamba then drove the ball down the floor at the other end in the closing seconds but missed the shot. Simpson’s game-winning dagger was just yet another example of what an important piece he is to the Buffaloes’ roster. He stuffed the stat sheet with 16 points, five rebounds, and three assists on Sunday night. He and Tristan da Silva carried Colorado to the win. Da Silva erupted for 27 points on 11-of-13 shooting from the field. He couldn’t be stopped for the entire contest and also chipped in two rebounds and one assist in 35 minutes of work. The dynamic duo combined for 43 of the Buffaloes’ points on Sunday.
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There’s no question Colorado had no chance in this game without their two superstars delivering like they have on so many occasions during the 2022-2023 campaign. This season, Simpson has been averaging 17.4 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game.
In the 2021 recruiting cycle, the 6-foot-2, 175-pound guard was rated as the No. 6 combo guard prospect in America and the No. 84 overall prospect in the country coming out of Chaminade (West Hills, California), according to the On3 Consensus Rankings. He finished his career there as the school’s all-time leading scorer with 2,345 points.