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Boulder, Colo. — There's something about Kansas University's basketball games at Colorado.

For the second straight year the Jayhawks and Buffaloes endured a physical battle in an emotional game that KU eventually won. This year Kansas pulled away in its Big 12 opener for a 97-85 victory on Saturday night in Coors Events Center.

Colorado coach Ricardo Patton gives an official an earful in the first half. Patton's Buffs fell to Kansas, 97-85, on Saturday in Boulder, Colo.

"It's our first conference game, a lot of intensity and both teams want to win, all the players want to win," KU junior forward Drew Gooden said of the intensifying rivalry. "There was just a lot of physical play out there. I think it started last year here, the first game. I don't know if it's going to end or if it'll keep going. We play them one more time, so we'll see."

Gooden, who continued his sizz with game highs of 27 points and 14 boards, continually banged around with the Buffaloes' Harrison brothers freshman center David and senior swingman D.J.

Gooden also was confronted by both players at different times throughout the game.

"Bottom line: You don't have to ask me any more questions about that," Gooden said of the exchanges. "Like I said, it was two teams trying to win. Everybody talks out there. I don't remember what we said out there, but it was two teams trying to win."

David Harrison, who only played 18 minutes after picking up his fourth foul early in the second half, whiffed with an elbow intended for Gooden after grabbing a defensive rebound. D.J. Harrison and Gooden also were nose-to-nose more than once.

The Kansas post player remained calm, cool and collected, though.

"I need to play against a lot tougher players to let that bother me," Gooden said of the CU siblings. "I guess he (D.J.) was trying to get me off my game. I know it's a basketball game. You can't really fight out there. It's nothing big. It's, like, a waste of time."

Gooden wasted no time taking over once David Harrison was banished to the bench with the Jayhawks clinging to a 51-48 advantage and 19:36 remaining. After the fourth foul on the 7-foot center, Gooden scored back-to-back baskets to spark a 10-2 burst to give KU an 11-point edge.

Gooden, who's averaging 23.8 points and 15.8 rebounds his past five games, even answered a three pointer from CU's James "Mookie" Wright with a trey of his own to give Kansas a 40-36 edge with 5:05 to play in the first half.

The KU big man of whom CU coach Ricardo Patton said, "Gooden showed why he's going to be a future NBA lottery pick" has hit two of his three three-point attempts the last two games.

"I can shoot the three-ball," Gooden said with a smile. "That's part of my game. We have a lot better three-point shooters on the team, but I was open so I took it."

Gooden also excited the estimated 3,000 KU fans on hand with a couple highlight-reel moves. He had a rim-rattling dunk off a feed from Aaron Miles in transition following a steal by senior guard Jeff Boschee during the first half, an allyoop dunk off a pass from junior forward Nick Collison in the second half and a vicious shot block in the closing seconds.

All of which pleased the KU fans and former players Raef LaFrentz, Mark Randall and T.J. Pugh. And when KU's fans are happy especially on the road that makes Gooden happy.

"I like that a lot because when we got on a little run, we had the crowd to keep us going," Gooden said. "It's not like when we go on a big run it's quiet and you hear an echo in the gym. We've got dedicated fans. We've got fans out here and we've got fans all across the United States. That's why we all chose to go to KU because of the basketball tradition and the fans."

KU plays host to Nebraska at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

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