BOULDER, Colo. — Assane Diop contributed significantly with 15 points as Colorado achieved an impressive 79-55 victory over Bellarmine on Saturday, marking their fourth consecutive win.

The game began with Bellarmine holding a slight edge at 6-4 just three minutes in, but Colorado quickly surged, allowing only 10 points for the remainder of the first half. Diop played a crucial role, scoring seven points during a 15-0 run that helped the Buffaloes establish a commanding 29-10 lead with around five minutes left before halftime. By the end of the first half, Colorado had extended its lead to 45-16.

The first half statistics highlighted a tough performance for Bellarmine, who managed to hit only 1 of 14 attempts from beyond the arc and shot a mere 18.5% from the field overall, making just 5 of 27 shots. In contrast, Colorado flourished, shooting 52%, with Diop being particularly effective, hitting 6 of 8 shots for 13 points.

In the second half, Colorado’s shooting dipped to 42%, allowing Bellarmine to outscore them 39-34. The Lions improved significantly, hitting 61.5% of their shots after the break. Colorado maintained a dominant lead at 60-23, but Bellarmine slowly clawed back, making five 3-pointers amid their six successful shots, bringing the score to 70-41 with seven minutes left in the game.

RJ Smith added a solid 11 points for Colorado, while Julian Hammond III contributed 10 points to the team’s efforts. With this win, Colorado improved to 9-2, remaining undefeated at home with an 8-0 record.

On the other hand, Dezmond McKinney was the leading scorer for Bellarmine, netting 12 points. Looking ahead, Colorado is set to make its Big 12 debut on December 30 when they host Iowa State.