GAME NOTES: In the midst of a three-game homestand, the Colorado Buffaloes try to string together their third straight win tonight as they confront the SMU Mustangs in non-conference action at the Coors Events Center. Last Saturday, the Buffs completely dominated Grambling State at home in a 93-47 victory, a week after the team disposed of in-state rival Colorado State in Fort Collins, 73-70. As for the Mustangs, the first of two straight Conference USA foes for Colorado, they were thrown a softball on Sunday which failed to work in their favor as they fell to Stephen F. Austin at home, 61-58. The setback snapped a two-game win streak for the team and was just another in a laundry list of weak opponents that actually got the better of SMU, the other being SC Upstate. Colorado has won three of the previous four meetings between these two schools, but none of those have taken place since the 1979-80 campaign when SMU dragged out an 86-65 victory at home.

By shooting just 22.7 percent from the field in the first half, the Mustangs put themselves in a hole that they were unable to climb out from against SFA. Derrick Roberts tallied a team-best 12 points on 3-of-9 shooting from the field, while Jon Killen and Papa Dia contributed 11 and 10 points, respectively, with the latter clearing eight rebounds before fouling out. One of only two players to have started every game thus far, Killen has made his way to the top of the scoring list for the Mustangs with his 11.2 ppg, is first with both 46 assists and 21 steals and is among the top rebounders on the unit with 4.3 rpg, but even all of that doesn't cover up the fact that he's shooting just 57.9 percent at the free-throw line. Bamba Fall's work off the bench has been met with 10.9 ppg and 5.9 rpg, but a total of just seven assists in almost 300 minutes of playing time for a team scoring 66.7 ppg and giving up 67.9 ppg.

It wasn't so much that the Colorado offense was so dominant against the Tigers, it was more a case of Grambling State shooting itself in the foot time and time again last weekend. The Buffs had five players score in double figures in the victory, beginning with Richard Roby who tallied 25 points in 26 minutes. Cory Higgins added 15 points and six assists, Marcus Hall 12 points, while Xavier Silas and Dwight Thorne both dropped in 10 points and cleared five rebounds as well. A reliable constant in Colorado basketball, Roby leads the team in both scoring and rebounding with averages of 15.9 points and 6.3 rebounds per game entering action tonight. Hall and Silas chip in 13.3 and 10.1 ppg, respectively. However, it seems to be the defense which is making a name for itself in Boulder this season, limiting opponents to just 59.2 ppg.

Playing at home has yet to be of great advantage to the Buffaloes this season, or even the great equalizer for that matter. However, with a slumping offense that can easily be shut down, SMU doesn't have the firepower to battle through the Buffs tonight.