Buffaloes Stay Perfect with Gritty Comeback Win Over Cal Baptist
BOULDER - It wasn’t always pretty, and it definitely wasn’t easy, but Colorado found a way to stay unbeaten. The Buffaloes used a game-changing 16-0 second-half run to overcome a slow start and fend off a relentless Cal Baptist squad, pulling out a 78-70 win Monday night at the CU Events Center.
This one had the feel of a trap game early - two undefeated teams squaring off in the only Division I matchup of the day between unbeatens, and it was Cal Baptist who came out swinging. But when the dust settled, Colorado moved to 8-0 for the first time since the 1949-50 season. That’s 76 years between starts like this - and it didn’t come easy.
Early Offensive Struggles
The Buffs came into the night averaging over 90 points per game, but for the first 12 minutes, they looked nothing like that high-octane offense. After Elijah Malone opened the scoring with a layup just 19 seconds in, Colorado went ice cold. Over the next 4:41, they managed just a single free throw while Cal Baptist ripped off a 10-1 run - and that was just the beginning.
The Lancers extended their lead to 23-9 midway through the first half, taking full advantage of Colorado’s early offensive drought. The Buffs were stuck at nine points through 12 minutes, well off their usual pace.
Then came the spark.
Hargress Ignites the Comeback
Barrington Hargress injected some much-needed life into the Colorado offense. He knocked down two free throws and a mid-range jumper to help steady the ship, and his layup kicked off a 7-0 run that included key buckets from Cody Johnson. Suddenly, the Buffs were back within striking distance.
Sebastian Rancik’s first three-pointer of the night cut the deficit to eight, and Colorado kept chipping away. Over the final five minutes of the half, the Buffs strung together three separate 5-0 mini-runs, including threes from Alon Michaeli and Josiah Sanders.
Johnson capped it off with a slick layup to tie the game at 32-all. Cal Baptist answered just before the break, taking a 34-32 lead into halftime - but the momentum had clearly shifted.
Second Half: A Game of Runs
The second half started scrappy, with both teams trading mistakes and missed opportunities. Cal Baptist managed to push the lead back to seven at 41-34, but once again, Michaeli and Rancik responded - Michaeli with a strong post move, and Rancik with his second triple of the night to pull the Buffs within two.
After a flagrant foul on Colorado gave the Lancers four quick points, the Buffs answered again. Hargress hit a tough floater, Johnson finished at the rim, and Michaeli drilled another three to tie it at 48-48.
Then came the turning point.
The 16-0 Avalanche
With the game tied and tension building, Hargress gave Colorado its first lead since the opening possession with a fearless driving layup. That bucket opened the floodgates. Rancik added two free throws, Bangot Dak came up with a huge block that led to a Hargress fast-break finish, and suddenly, the Buffs were rolling.
When Dak knocked down a three with just over five minutes left, it capped a 16-0 run that turned a one-point deficit into a 59-52 lead. More importantly, it ended a four-minute field goal drought for Colorado and a seven-minute scoring freeze for Cal Baptist. Defense fueled the run - the Buffs locked in, closed out shooters, and turned stops into transition points.
Cal Baptist Keeps Swinging
To their credit, the Lancers didn’t fold. After finally breaking their scoring drought, they rattled off seven straight points to close the gap to 64-59. Malone tipped in a miss to give Colorado a little breathing room heading into the final media timeout, but Cal Baptist wasn’t done.
Dominique Daniels Jr. hit two free throws, then knocked down a three with 2:11 left. He followed that up with a layup at 1:22, slicing the lead to just four and forcing a Colorado timeout. The Buffs were clinging to a 70-66 lead, and the pressure was on.
Closing Time
Out of the timeout, Felix Kossaras stepped up with a clutch turnaround jumper with 46 seconds to go. Then Dak came up with a steal on the other end - a fitting punctuation mark on a night where defense made the difference.
From there, it was all about free throws. Colorado went 6-for-6 from the line in the final 31 seconds to seal the win and keep their perfect record intact.
What’s Next
Now sitting at 8-0, Colorado turns its attention to a marquee in-state showdown. The Buffs will travel to Fort Collins on Saturday to face rival Colorado State, with tip-off set for 3 p.m.
MT on CBS Sports. It’s a rivalry game with serious momentum on the line - and the Buffs will be looking to keep their historic start rolling.