The Colorado Buffaloes secured a hard-fought victory over the Arizona State Sun Devils, winning 78-70 in a matchup that highlighted their dominance on the boards and effective scoring in the paint. The Buffs controlled the rebounding battle, outpacing ASU 40-26, and held a decisive 42-26 advantage in points scored in the paint, which proved crucial to their success.
Sebastian Rancik led the Buffs with an outstanding performance, recording the first double-double of his career with 17 points and a career-high 11 rebounds. This effort was particularly meaningful for Rancik, as it coincided with a visit from his mother and grandfather from Slovakia. “Back home, family means everything to us… Just having them around… is a blessing,” Rancik expressed, noting how the time with his family had inspired him.
Barrington Hargress also made significant contributions, matching his season-high with 23 points while adding four assists. He was instrumental in fueling Colorado’s offensive momentum throughout the game. Rancik’s and Hargress’s performances helped Colorado earn its fourth win in the Big 12 Conference, marking an improvement over last year’s disappointing campaign.
Despite recent struggles, including a tough outing against Baylor, Rancik bounced back effectively, showing versatility in his game. Coach Tad Boyle praised the team’s rebounding efforts and their ability to string together important stops as the game progressed, highlighting the determination they’ve shown in this season’s conference play.
Arizona State’s Maurice Odum had a stellar game for the Sun Devils, scoring 25 points and hitting four 3-pointers, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Colorado’s balanced attack. The Buffaloes managed to maintain their lead despite a back-and-forth second half, showcasing resilience against a challenging opponent.
With a pivotal game against No. 13 Texas Tech next on the schedule, the Buffaloes will look to build on this momentum and continue their positive trajectory as the season unfolds.