WACO, Texas — In an attempt to reignite the competitive energy that had briefly enlivened the Colorado Buffaloes’ basketball team, head coach Tad Boyle opted for the same starting five in their matchup against Baylor. Despite the strategy, the Buffaloes struggled to find their rhythm, leading to a disappointing outcome.
Similar to last week’s game against Iowa State, where Colorado faced a formidable opponent ranked seventh in the nation, the Buffaloes experienced another tough defeat. This time, however, the matchup was against Baylor, a team Colorado believed it could challenge. Ultimately, the game ended in a lopsided 86-67 victory for the Bears at Foster Pavilion, marking Colorado’s seventh loss in eight games.
Right from the start, CU freshman Isaiah Johnson made the first basket of the night, giving the Buffaloes their only lead of the game. Shortly after, Colorado found itself in a 16-6 deficit, which widened after Baylor went on a 16-4 scoring run, resulting in a staggering 45-21 halftime lead for the Bears. The Buffaloes struggled with turnovers, committing nine of their ten in the first half, which contributed significantly to their struggles on both ends of the court.
Baylor demonstrated impressive shooting, going 7-for-15 from beyond the arc in the first half and finishing the game with a .528 overall field goal percentage. This marks the ninth time this season, and the fourth time in the last six games, that an opposing team has shot over 50% against the Buffaloes.
Johnson, who has been a top performer for Colorado throughout the season, had a particularly challenging night, finishing with just ten points on 3-for-13 shooting. In stark contrast, Baylor’s standout rookie Tounde Yessoufou shined with 27 points. Colorado native Obi Agbim also contributed significantly for the Bears, scoring 19 points and racking up six assists.
Looking ahead, Colorado (13-10, 3-7 Big 12) is preparing to return home to face Arizona State on Saturday. With a renewed focus and determination, the Buffaloes will aim to turn their season around and find the much-needed spark they’ve been missing.