AMES, Iowa – The Colorado Buffaloes faced a tough challenge on Thursday, falling to the 8th-ranked Iowa State Cyclones, 97-67. This loss marks Colorado’s sixth straight defeat, leaving them at 12-9 overall and 2-6 in Big 12 play. In contrast, Iowa State improved to 19-2, maintaining their perfect home record at 12-0.
From the start, Colorado struggled. Iowa State surged ahead with a staggering 30-1 run, establishing a 30-4 lead within just eight minutes. By halftime, the Cyclones led 52-29, and they continued to widen their gap in the second half, reaching a peak lead of 37 points.
Isaiah Johnson was the standout for Colorado, scoring 24 points, with 15 of those in the first half. Barrington Hargress added another 11 points. Despite their efforts, the team was heavily outmatched. Iowa State shot an impressive 61% from the field, including 10-of-21 from beyond the arc. In contrast, Colorado struggled with a mere 29% success rate from three-point territory.
The Buffaloes also lost the rebound battle, 33-22, marking their first time this season not leading on the boards. They were outscored in the paint, 46-28, and the bench delivered only 17 points compared to Iowa State’s 40.
After the game, Colorado coach Tad Boyle expressed the importance of understanding what it takes to compete against a top team. “I knew what we were getting into, I’m not sure our players did,” he said. “Our players learned what a top 10 team looks like tonight.”
Historically, games like this can provide valuable lessons. For instance, teams facing higher-ranked opponents often learn crucial strategies that they can apply in future games. These experiences can shape a team’s resilience as they grow throughout the season.
Looking ahead, Colorado will regroup and return to the CU Events Center to face TCU on Sunday. It’s an opportunity for the Buffaloes to find their footing and apply what they’ve learned from this challenging matchup.
In sports, every loss can teach a lesson. For Colorado, this experience against Iowa State might just spark the motivation they need to turn their season around.
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