Buffs’ Second-Half Push Falls Short in Morgantown as West Virginia Stays Perfect at Home
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - The Colorado Buffaloes have made a bit of a habit this season of digging themselves into holes and then clawing their way back out. But on Saturday in Morgantown, the rally ran out of steam before it could turn the tide.
Colorado fell 72-61 to West Virginia at the always-hostile WVU Coliseum, marking the Buffs’ third straight loss and another missed opportunity to build momentum in Big 12 play. Despite trimming a 12-point first-half deficit and briefly grabbing the lead in the second half, CU couldn’t sustain the surge, falling victim to a late Mountaineers run that put the game out of reach.
The loss drops Colorado to 12-6 overall and 2-3 in conference play, while West Virginia improves to 12-6 and 3-2 in the Big 12. More importantly for the Mountaineers, they remain undefeated at home this season, extending their winning streak in Morgantown to 15 games - a streak that’s beginning to feel like one of the toughest home-court advantages in the conference.
A Familiar Script - With a Different Ending
The Buffs trailed 36-29 at halftime after a sluggish opening 20 minutes, but as they’ve done before, they came out of the locker room with renewed energy. Felix Kossaras gave Colorado its first and only lead of the game, 43-42, with a fast-break layup just over six minutes into the second half.
That moment felt like a potential turning point - a chance to flip the game’s momentum in CU’s favor. But West Virginia didn’t blink. The Mountaineers immediately answered with an 8-0 run, reclaiming control and never giving it back.
Even after Barrington Hargress knocked down a clutch three-pointer to pull Colorado within one, West Virginia’s response was swift and decisive. The Buffs simply couldn’t match the Mountaineers’ physicality and execution down the stretch.
Rebounding Battle Tells the Story
If there was one stat that defined this game, it was on the glass. West Virginia came in ranked 11th in the Big 12 in rebounding margin, but you wouldn’t have known it from the way they dominated the boards. The Mountaineers outrebounded Colorado 38-22, including a 17-8 edge in second-chance points - a critical factor in a game where every possession mattered.
That rebounding disparity was especially costly for a Colorado team that struggled to find consistency on offense. The Buffs shot just 39.3% from the field (22-for-56) and couldn’t generate enough extra opportunities to make up for it.
Hargress Leads, But Help Is Limited
Hargress was the bright spot for Colorado, finishing with a team-high 15 points on 4-of-10 shooting, including 3-of-5 from deep and a perfect 4-for-4 at the line. He provided a spark when the Buffs needed it most, but the supporting cast couldn’t quite rise to the occasion.
Ruben Rancik added 10 points, while Cody Dak chipped in 11, but neither found a consistent rhythm offensively. Kossaras and Itai Michaeli combined for 14 points off the bench, but the Buffs’ overall offensive flow never quite clicked - especially in the final stretch when they needed it most.
West Virginia’s Balanced Attack
On the other side, West Virginia got a well-rounded performance from its rotation. Langston Eaglestaff led all scorers with 22 points on an efficient 9-of-14 shooting night, while Josiah Huff added 14 and Zeke Lorient posted 12 points and 4 rebounds. The Mountaineers shot 52% from the field and got contributions from nearly every player in the rotation - a formula that’s worked well for them at home all season.
They didn’t just win with shot-making; they won with toughness. Whether it was crashing the boards, getting to the free-throw line (22 attempts to Colorado’s 14), or simply making the right plays in crunch time, West Virginia looked like the more composed and connected team when it mattered most.
What’s Next for Colorado?
For the Buffs, this is now three straight losses in Big 12 play - and while none of them have been blowouts, the margin for error is shrinking fast in a conference as deep and competitive as this one. The effort is there, and the second-half surges are encouraging, but the inability to string together 40 consistent minutes continues to haunt this group.
If Colorado wants to stay in the thick of the Big 12 race, they'll need to find answers - particularly on the defensive glass and in half-court execution. The potential is there.
But potential doesn’t win road games in this league. Execution does.
And on Saturday in Morgantown, West Virginia executed just a little better - and that was enough.