AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- Jeff Bzdelik weathered the
taunts and jeers, Richard Roby scored a season-high 21 points and
Colorado escaped with a 60-50 victory over Air Force on Thursday
night in the former coach's return to Clune Arena.
Marcus Hall had 18 points and Cory Higgins added seven as the
Buffaloes (5-2) snapped the Falcons' 38-game home winning streak
against nonconference foes.
Bzdelik coached two seasons at Air Force before bolting for the
Buffaloes last April.
The fans showed their displeasure over Bzdelik's decision to
leave, holding up signs that read, "Welcome home, traitor."
The Air Force cadets sat close to the Buffaloes bench and
heckled Bzdelik all game. The students donned shirts with a picture
of Bzdelik on the front and a giant red "x" through the photo.
Reserve Andrew Henke scored 18 points, hitting four 3-pointers,
for Air Force and Evan Washington finished with 11. Keith Maren
chipped in nine points and seven rebounds.
The Falcons (5-3) never led in the game in part to their
struggles at the free throw line, where they finished 7-for-17.
Levi Knutson's two 3-pointers late in the game sealed the
Buffaloes' third straight win.
Colorado went into the locker room with what the team thought
was a 26-19 lead, but Hall's shot at the buzzer was eventually
waved off after officials took a second look on the video monitor.
Bzdelik was 50-16 in his two-year stint at Air Force. He guided
the team to the NCAA tournament in 2006 and a spot in the
semifinals of the postseason NIT last season. He had a 30-1 record
at Clune Arena.