UCF Shoots the Lights Out, Hands Colorado Fifth Straight Loss
The Colorado Buffaloes just can’t seem to stop the bleeding.
On Saturday afternoon, the Buffs dropped their fifth straight game, this time falling 95-86 to a red-hot UCF team that couldn’t miss. Despite a promising start, Colorado couldn’t hold off the Knights’ offensive surge, and the loss drops CU to 12-8 overall and 2-5 in Big 12 play.
Let’s break this one down.
Hot Start, Cold Finish
Colorado came out with energy, building a 31-23 lead with just under 8:30 to go in the first half. The ball was moving, shots were falling, and it looked like the Buffs might finally get back in the win column.
But then UCF flipped the switch.
The Knights closed the half on a 26-16 run, seizing a 49-47 lead at the break. And they did it with some of the most efficient shooting Colorado has seen all season. UCF hit 60.7% of their shots in the first half - the third-highest percentage allowed by CU in any half this year.
UCF’s Offensive Clinic
The Knights didn’t cool off after halftime - they got even hotter. UCF finished the game shooting a blistering 61.1% from the field, the highest mark any team has posted against Colorado this season.
They were deadly from deep too, knocking down 15-of-24 from beyond the arc. That’s 62.5% from three, and it wasn’t just one guy doing the damage.
Riley Kugel led the perimeter barrage with six triples on eight attempts, finishing with a game-high 22 points. P.J.
Pacheco was a perfect 3-for-3 from deep, and CJ Johnson and Jaylin Cambridge chipped in two threes apiece.
This wasn’t just a hot shooting night - it was a full-on offensive masterclass.
Colorado’s Trio Shines, But It’s Not Enough
Despite the loss, Colorado did get big-time performances from three of its key contributors. Barrington Hargress, Sebastian Rancik, and Isaiah Johnson each poured in 20 points. Hargress was a perfect 3-for-3 from deep and 5-for-6 at the line, while Rancik and Johnson combined to go 14-for-25 from the field.
But outside of that trio, the Buffs struggled to find consistent scoring. No other CU player reached double figures, and the team was outrebounded 32-23 - a stat that loomed large as UCF capitalized on second-chance opportunities and controlled the glass.
Fulks, Kugel Lead the Charge
For UCF, it was a balanced attack, but Darius Johnson and Riley Kugel stood out. Johnson orchestrated the offense with poise, dishing out six assists, while Kugel’s 22 points came on an ultra-efficient 7-of-12 shooting night. Shemarri Fulks added 19 points and eight assists, playing a key role in keeping the Knights’ offense humming.
The Knights also got 10 points from CJ Johnson and 11 from Cambridge off the bench - a reminder of just how deep and dangerous this UCF squad can be when they're clicking.
What’s Next for Colorado?
For the Buffs, this loss stings - not just because it’s their fifth straight, but because it came on a day when their top scorers showed up. The defense simply couldn’t get stops, and when you allow a team to shoot over 60% from the field and over 60% from three, it’s tough to beat anybody, let alone a team as athletic and confident as UCF.
Colorado’s path forward won’t get any easier in the Big 12 grind, but if they can clean up the defensive miscues and get more support from their role players, there’s still time to turn things around.
For now, though, the Buffs are searching for answers - and a win.