Stanford Stuns Colorado with Second-Half Surge, Okorie Drops 32 in Hall of Fame Series
PHOENIX - Colorado entered Saturday night riding high, with a 10-1 record, a seven-game win streak over Stanford, and a chance to head into the holidays with momentum. But instead of a clean finish to the nonconference stretch, the Buffaloes were left with a bitter taste - and plenty to think about during their holiday break.
In a neutral-site clash at the Naismith Hall of Fame Series, Stanford flipped the script on recent history, handing Colorado a 77-68 loss behind a dominant second-half performance and a breakout game from freshman guard Ebuka Okorie.
Let’s be clear: this wasn’t just a stumble - it was Colorado’s sloppiest performance of the season. The Buffs coughed up a season-high 18 turnovers and were outmuscled on the glass for the first time all year, losing the rebounding battle 35-28.
That combination proved costly, especially when Stanford turned those mistakes into a 23-6 advantage in points off turnovers. In a game that was close for a half, that swing was the difference.
Colorado actually held a seven-point lead late in the first half, sparked by a 9-2 run. But just as quickly, Stanford answered with a 9-2 burst of its own to even things up. A slick transition bucket from Barrington Hargress to Felix Kossaras gave CU a 35-33 edge at the break, but that would be the last time the Buffs held the lead.
The second half belonged to Stanford. The Cardinal hit CU with back-to-back haymakers - a 9-0 run followed by a 10-0 surge - and the Buffs never recovered. While Colorado’s offense sputtered, shooting just 42.9% in the second half and going 2-for-11 from deep, Stanford found its rhythm and leaned on its star freshman to carry the load.
And oh, did Okorie deliver.
After missing the previous two games with injury, Okorie wasn’t even expected to return until after Christmas. But not only did he suit up - he started, and then he torched Colorado for a game-high 32 points.
He hit a pair of early threes to set the tone and lived at the free throw line, going an eye-popping 18-for-21. That’s the most points any player has scored against Colorado this season, and it came at the worst possible time for the Buffs.
Okorie’s performance was the headline, but Stanford’s supporting cast played its role. The Cardinal didn’t shoot the lights out (41.2% from the field), but they made their possessions count and capitalized on nearly every Colorado mistake.
For the Buffs, there were few bright spots offensively - but point guard Barrington Hargress was one of them. The freshman continued his steady play, finishing 6-for-8 from the field with 16 points and six assists. He was efficient, composed, and did his best to keep Colorado in it, but he didn’t get enough help.
CU struggled from deep, hitting just 4 of 17 three-point attempts. That cold shooting, combined with the turnover issues and a rare rebounding deficit, spelled trouble against a Stanford team that came in hungry and left with a statement win.
Now at 10-2, Colorado heads into a brief holiday break with some soul-searching to do. They'll reconvene on Christmas Day to prep for their nonconference finale against Northern Colorado on Dec.
- It’s a chance to regroup and recalibrate before conference play begins - but there’s no doubt this loss will linger.
Box Score Highlights:
- Stanford (10-2): Okorie led all scorers with 32 points (6-13 FG, 18-21 FT). Gealer added 13, and the Cardinal hit 7-of-21 from beyond the arc.
- Colorado (10-2): Hargress paced the Buffs with 16 points and 6 assists. Rancik added 14 points and 8 rebounds.
CU shot 47.3% overall but just 23.5% from three.
This one will sting for Colorado - not just because of the loss, but because of how it happened. Turnovers, rebounding, cold shooting - all areas that have been strengths this season - broke down at once.
The good news? There’s time to fix it.
But the Buffs will need to tighten things up quickly, because the road ahead only gets tougher from here.