In a hard-fought battle, the Colorado Buffaloes emerged victorious over the Washington State Cougars with a final score of 58-52 in the Pac-12 semifinals on Friday night. The win propels the Buffs to the championship game where they will face the Oregon Ducks on Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena.

It was an intense defensive showdown that left both teams battered and bruised. The Buffs showcased their resilience, delivering a late knockout blow to secure their spot in the title game. This will be Colorado's third Pac-12 championship game appearance in 13 years in the league, while Oregon returns to the championship game for the first time since their tournament victory in 2019.

Head coach Tad Boyle expressed his admiration for the game, stating, "This was a hell of a college basketball game. It wasn't the prettiest game by any means. It was a little bit ugly at times. But you had two teams out there just battling and getting after it."

Despite not playing at their offensive best, the Buffs demonstrated their defensive prowess, holding Washington State to a shooting percentage of .423 and forcing 19 turnovers. Colorado's .431 shooting percentage in this victory was their second-lowest mark this season, with their .200 3-point percentage being the lowest in a win.

CU point guard KJ Simpson acknowledged the tough nature of the game, saying, "It was just going to be a dogfight and it was going to be nothing easy. I think both teams experienced a lot of tough possessions. Shots weren't falling that usually fall. But we as a team understood that we had to guard defensively, no matter if our offense was clicking as much as it has been for much of the season."

The Buffs held a slim 27-23 lead at halftime and managed to build a nine-point advantage in the second half. However, Washington State staged a comeback, scoring seven consecutive points to set up a thrilling finish. The game remained tightly contested until Luke O'Brien converted a floater in the lane off a pass from J'Vonne Hadley, giving Colorado a 55-52 lead with 1:24 remaining.

Colorado's defense stepped up in the final minutes, preventing the Cougars from scoring and ultimately securing the four-point victory. Eddie Lampkin Jr. sealed the win with a free throw in the closing seconds.

With the triumph, the Buffs extended their winning streak to eight games, the longest since their 11-game streak in the 2015-2016 season. This victory also bolsters Colorado's chances of making it to the NCAA Tournament, as they arrived in Las Vegas with their hopes teetering precariously.

The Buffaloes (24-9) will now turn their attention to the championship game against Oregon, looking to claim the Pac-12 title. Both teams will bring their best in what promises to be an intense showdown for conference supremacy.