Cyclones Blitz Buffaloes Early, Hand Colorado Sixth Straight Loss in Big 12 Play
AMES, Iowa - For Colorado, this one was over almost as soon as it began.
The Buffaloes ran into a buzzsaw Thursday night in Ames, falling 97-67 to 8th-ranked Iowa State at Hilton Coliseum. It was a statement win for the Cyclones, who remain undefeated at home (12-0) and improve to 19-2 overall and 6-2 in Big 12 play. For Colorado, it was another tough chapter in a growing skid - their sixth straight loss, dropping them to 12-9 overall and 2-6 in the conference.
The game turned into a rout before most fans had even settled into their seats. After an early three-pointer from Colorado’s Luke O’Brien Rancik, Iowa State unleashed a 30-1 avalanche, fueled by five triples and relentless defensive pressure. Just over eight minutes into the game, the Cyclones led 30-4, and the Buffs were left reeling.
Head coach Tad Boyle burned three timeouts in the first four minutes trying to stem the tide, but nothing stuck. The Cyclones’ physicality and tempo overwhelmed Colorado from the jump - and the Buffs never truly recovered.
“We tried to prepare for it the last two days in practice in terms of the physicality and toughness we had to play with to have any success tonight,” Boyle said postgame. “Our players learned what a top 10 team in the country looks like tonight in Iowa State.”
Johnson Shines in Defeat
Despite the lopsided score, sophomore guard Isaiah Johnson gave Colorado a bright spot. He dropped a game-high 24 points, including 15 in the first half, doing everything he could to keep the Buffs within striking distance. He was aggressive getting downhill and found ways to score even as Iowa State’s defense swarmed.
Barrington Hargress added 11 points for Colorado, but the Buffs struggled to find consistent offense outside of Johnson. Only four players scored for CU in the first half, compared to seven different Cyclones - a stat that mirrored the overall depth and balance Iowa State brought to the floor.
Cyclones Dominate Every Facet
Iowa State didn’t just win - they controlled every phase of the game. They shot a blistering 61% from the field (35-of-57) and were 10-of-21 from beyond the arc. Milan Momcilovic led the way with 16 points, but this was a full team effort: six Cyclones scored in double figures, and their bench poured in 40 points compared to just 17 from Colorado.
The Buffs, meanwhile, struggled to get anything going from deep, hitting just 7-of-24 from three-point range. They were also outmuscled on the glass, losing the rebounding battle 33-22 - the first time all season they’ve been outrebounded. In the paint, Iowa State held a commanding 46-28 edge, consistently getting high-percentage looks while making life difficult for Colorado at the rim.
Second Half, Same Story
There were brief moments of life from Colorado after the break. Forward Bangot Dak threw down a pair of dunks early in the second half - one off a slick alley-oop from Rancik - and Josiah Sanders added six points and five rebounds off the bench as the Buffs tried to claw back. But every time Colorado found a spark, Iowa State had an answer.
The Cyclones methodically pushed the lead higher, eventually stretching it to 37 points as both teams emptied their benches late. For Iowa State, it was another notch on an increasingly impressive résumé. For Colorado, it was another reminder of just how brutal the Big 12 gauntlet can be.
What’s Next
The Buffs will look to regroup at home this Sunday when they host TCU at the CU Events Center. Tip-off is set for 12 p.m.
MT on TNT. With the season heading into February, Colorado is searching for answers - and a way to stop the slide before it defines their season.