If you walked out of the CU Events Center this past Saturday night feeling like you’d just watched a slow-motion car crash that somehow almost turned into a miracle, you aren't alone. Honestly, the score of the colorado buffalo game—a 73-71 loss to No. 14 Texas Tech—doesn’t even begin to tell the full story of how chaotic those forty minutes actually were.
The Buffs are now 12-4.
They are 2-1 in the Big 12.
But for a minute there, it looked like they were going to be the victims of a genuine blowout on their own floor. Texas Tech came into Boulder and basically acted like they owned the place for the first thirty minutes. At one point in the second half, Colorado was down by 24 points. Twenty-four! In college basketball, that’s usually the cue for fans to beat the traffic and head over to Pearl Street for an early dinner.
But these Buffs? They don't quit.
The Comeback That Almost Was
The game was a tale of two halves, or more accurately, a tale of thirty minutes of disaster followed by ten minutes of absolute insanity. Texas Tech built a 16-point lead by halftime (43-27) and just kept pouring it on. Donovan Atwell was a problem. He hit five triples, and every time Colorado tried to string together two stops, he’d drift to the corner and bury a shot that felt like a dagger.
Then, something clicked.
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Tad Boyle’s squad started playing with a level of desperation that we haven't seen consistently this season. Isaiah Johnson, the freshman who’s been carrying a massive scoring load off the bench, started living at the free-throw line. He finished with 21 points, and get this: he went 13-of-13 from the stripe.
The defense tightened up. The crowd got loud.
Suddenly, that 24-point lead shrunk to 10. Then 5. When Sebastian Rancik—who was a gametime decision after being listed as "out" earlier in the day—nailed a three-pointer with about 42 seconds left, the lead was down to just two points.
The Events Center was vibrating.
Colorado actually had two defensive stops in the final minute to give themselves a chance. They had the ball with the clock winding down, a chance to tie or win. The final shot, a three-point attempt that would have sent Boulder into a frenzy, rimmed out at the buzzer.
Final: 73-71.
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Why the Score of the Colorado Buffalo Game Matters for the Big 12
You’ve got to look at the context of the Big 12 standings to realize why this loss hurts so much, but also why there’s a silver lining. Coming off a big road win against Arizona State (95-89) and a solid home victory over Utah (85-73), the Buffs were looking to prove they belong in the top tier of this gauntlet of a conference.
Texas Tech is legit. They are a top-15 team for a reason.
The "Red Raiders" win was built on the glass. They outrebounded Colorado 46-36. In a two-point game, those ten extra possessions are the entire margin of error. JT Toppin was a beast for Tech, grabbing 13 boards and scoring 16 points.
- Colorado's Shooting: 28.6% from three (6-for-21)
- Texas Tech's Shooting: 35.5% from three (11-for-31)
- The Free Throw Factor: CU kept it close by going 19-of-22 from the line.
Basically, Colorado out-toughed them in the paint in the second half, but you can't spot a Top 25 team a 24-point lead and expect to walk away with a "W." It just doesn't happen often in this league.
Impact of Injuries and the Rotation
We have to talk about the roster health because it's getting a bit dicey. Jalin Holland missed the game with an undisclosed issue and he's already been ruled out for the upcoming game against Cincinnati. That’s 14 minutes of production off the bench that just isn't there right now.
Elijah Malone, the 6-foot-10 senior who has started every game, is currently listed as "probable" for the next tilt. If his mobility is limited, the Buffs are going to struggle against the size that Cincinnati brings to the table.
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Barrington Hargress has been the steady hand. He put up 17 points against Tech and played 36 minutes. He’s becoming the engine of this offense, but he needs more help from the perimeter if the Buffs want to avoid these massive scoring droughts that plagued them in the first half on Saturday.
Recent Results for the Buffs
| Opponent | Result | Score | Key Performer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona State | Win | 95-89 | Odum (21 pts, 12 ast) |
| Utah | Win | 85-73 | Rancik (19 pts) |
| #14 Texas Tech | Loss | 71-73 | Isaiah Johnson (21 pts) |
What's Next for Colorado?
The road doesn't get any easier. The Buffs are heading out on a two-game road trip to face Cincinnati (Jan 14) and West Virginia (Jan 17).
Cincinnati is coming off a heartbreaker of their own, a 73-72 loss to UCF. They are going to be hungry. If Colorado plays like they did in the second half against Texas Tech, they can beat anyone in this conference. If they play like they did in the first half? It’s going to be a long flight back to Colorado.
The metrics still love this team, though. Their NET ranking is hovering in a spot that keeps them firmly in the "at-large" conversation for the NCAA Tournament. But the margin for error is razor-thin. They need to find a way to start games with the same intensity they use to finish them.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Bettors
- Watch the Injury Report: Keep a close eye on Elijah Malone’s status. If he’s out, Colorado’s interior defense takes a massive hit, which could make the "Over" a tempting play for the Cincinnati game.
- Free Throw Consistency: Colorado is proving to be one of the best free-throw shooting teams in the Big 12. In close games, this is a massive advantage that keeps them "in" games even when their field goal percentage dips.
- Freshman Watch: Isaiah Johnson is no longer just a "prospect." He is the leading scorer (15.9 ppg) and is essentially the focal point of the offense when the starters are resting.
- Home vs. Road: While the loss to Tech was at home, the Buffs' ability to score 95 points in Tempe shows they aren't afraid of hostile environments.
The score of the colorado buffalo game might show a loss, but the grit shown in that comeback suggests this team has the "DNA" to make a deep run in March if they can just stay healthy. They face Cincinnati tonight at 5 p.m. MT on Peacock.
Monitor the starting lineup about 30 minutes before tip-off. If Malone is active and Rancik is moving well, the Buffs have a great chance to steal one on the road and get back on track in the Big 12 race.