BOULDER, Colo. -- Colorado coach Tad Boyle made an innocent comment after a sluggish performance at the start the season: Play like that again and Xavier would beat the Buffaloes by 20.His players received the message. They made sure it didnt go down like that.Derrick White scored 23 points and had a crucial block with 13 seconds remaining to help Colorado hold off No. 13 Xavier 68-66 on Wednesday night.Its not like I said they were going to, I said they could, Boyle said when reminded of his comment. If were not ready to play, this team will come in and take your heart.I have a lot of respect for Xavier. Thats why this is a big win for our program, for our league. We talked a lot in film sessions, in practice, in meetings about players having to make plays.White certainly did that. This was just the sort of game Boyle envisioned when White transferred in from Colorado-Colorado Springs (he sat out last season). He made big jumper after big jumper down the stretch and had the key block.Thats the Derrick White Ive been talking about, our fans have been expecting to see, Boyle said. You can have all the plays in the world, all the defensive concepts in the world, but if you dont have the players who can make plays down the stretch, youre not going to win games like this.Xavier Johnson added for 18 points for the Buffaloes (7-2), who posted consecutive wins over ranked teams for the first time since 2013. They knocked off a ranked Texas team at the Legends Classic in New York last month.Colorado was 1-5 against ranked teams last season.Trevon Bluiett scored a career-high 27 points for Xavier (7-2), which has lost two straight.Were not going to pack our tent and quit playing, but weve gotten a reality check the last couple of times, Xavier coach Chris Mack said. Were willing to go on the road and play in games like this. You get penalized too, so our team has got to grow up from these types of experiences because theyre not fun.Spurred on by the shooting of White and Johnson, the Buffaloes went on a 15-0 run midway through the second half. They kept Xavier scoreless for more than 6 minutes during the pivotal stretch.It was a frenzied ending, though, with Xavier getting several good looks. White swatted one of those away -- his only block of the game.It was all about stops, White said. Thats the most important part.BIG PICTUREXavier: The Musketeers had a nine-point lead early in the second half, but struggled from the field. They shot 37.7 percent for the game. ... Xavier outrebounded Colorado 41-36.Colorado: The Buffaloes have won three of their last four over ranked teams. ... Johnsons 3-pointer with 9:19 remaining was the 100th of his career. ... George King finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds.POLL IMPLICATIONSXavier fell out of the Top 10 this week after a loss to No. 4 Baylor and figures to take another dip.LINEUP SWITCHMack juggled around his starting lineup, going with RaShid Gaston, who finished with 14 points and 11 rebounds.I just tried to deliver, Gaston said.NO PLACE LIKE HOMEThe Buffaloes are 93-16 at Coors Events Center under Boyle. They lost last week at home to Colorado State.We wanted to get this one back from the Colorado State loss. So, yeah, this made it up, Wesley Gordon said.SALAAM TRIBUTEThe basketball team held a moment of silence for 1994 Heisman Trophy winner Rashaan Salaam, who was found dead Monday night in a park in Boulder. The park is less than 2 miles from Folsom Field, where the tailback etched his name into the schools record book from 1992-94. 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Victor Moses converted a 20th-minute penalty after an Ethiopian handball, and Victor Obinna made certain of Nigerias place in Brazil with his powerful free kick in the 82nd at UJ Esuene Stadium. Nick Williams Jersey .Gather a group of friends, or find a league to join online, draft your team, set your lineup and compete in a number of different formats. Riley Ridley Jersey . -- Stanfords Kevin Danser knelt on one knee and hardly moved on the sideline as Michigan State celebrated its Rose Bowl victory and his Cardinal teammates made their way to the locker room.Hampden Park officials have moved to allay fears about the state of the pitch ahead of this weekends Scottish Cup semi-finals.The playing surface at Scotlands national stadium has been relaid since last Sundays Petrofac Training Cup final but Peter Dallas, managing director of Hampden Park Ltd, believes it will cope with Saturdays match between Hibernian and Dundee United and the Celtic and Rangers showdown on Sunday.Dallas told Sky Sports News HQ on Thursday: The pitch is looking excellent. We are very pleased with the installation. The installation was completed on Tuesday night at 8pm. The process started on Sunday immediately after the Petrofac Cup final. We are very pleased with the surface, its been cut this morning and its looking good. We are looking forward to an excellent weekend of football. Its been well documented that there were certain areas where the grass was not developing as well as we expected. We had professional analysis taken on the pitch and therefore we had a decision to make.The overriding factors were that the pitch may have developed over the next few weeks or so, however there was a chance that thee pitch may go backwards and might regress.dddddddddddd. There have been numerous problems with the pitch at Hampden in the past A big decision was made that we should relay the turf - that was a tall order for the installation company. Weve worked very closely with our supply chain and Im delighted to say that all parties came round the table and you can see the magnificent results over 48 hours work.The cost is cost neutral to Hampden Park Ltd. All parties have come together we have a good amicable relationship and we have installed the pitch at no cost to Hampden Park Ltd.We expect that this pitch will play well over the next few weeks and for time to come.Also See:Souness: Celtic big favouritesForrester to miss outWarburton: Derby just the startStubbs: Promotion priority ' ' '