Buffs Hold Off Tough Cal Baptist Squad

Monday, December 1

Boulder, Colo.

7 p.m.

Colorado

8-0,0-0Big 12

California Baptist

7-1,0-0WAC

California Baptist

Colorado

Photo by: Tyler Davis

December 01, 2025 | Men's Basketball

Box Score

By: Curtis Snyder, Associate AD/Athletic Communications

BOULDER—A 16-0 Colorado run spanning more than seven minutes in the second half enabled the Buffaloes to fend off a feisty Cal Baptist squad 78-70 Monday night at the CU Events Center.

In the only Division I match-up of the day between undefeated teams, the Buffs were the ones able to improve to 8-0 on the season, hitting that mark for the first time in 76 years since the 1949-50 season. The Lancers fell to 7-1 on the season.

"They're a well coached team," CU coach Tad Boyle said. "Obviously, they're 7-0 coming in here, just like we were. We were lucky to get out of here with a win, we were not ready to play from the get go, for whatever reason. I knew how good they were, Coach (Danny) Manning did the scout, he knew how good they were, but I don't think our players, for some reason, were ready to play."

Isaiah Johnson led the way offensively for the Buffs with 17 points, regularly getting to the free throw line where he hit 9-of-11 from the stripe. Four Buffs hit double figures with Sebastian Rancik and Barrington Hargress both scoring 12 points and Alon Michaeli 11. Defensively, CU was paced by Bangot Dak, who struggled a bit offensively but had eight rebounds and a pair of blocks.

The Buffs, averaging over 90 points per game, managed to hit the 78-point mark despite scoring just nine points in the first 12 minutes of the game. CBU built a 14-point first half lead before CU cut it to just two at the half, 34-32.

"I don't know how, I'll have to watch it, but I don't know how we were down two at halftime," Boyle said. "I felt like we should've been down 20 if we play like that. I'd rather learn from wins than losses, but each game gets a little tougher, and we haven't played in a true road environment since Australia over the summer, but we're sure going to get one Sunday (at CSU)."

Even after CU's 16-0 run opened up a 12-point lead with 5 minutes to play, Cal Baptist would not got away, as they quickly cut the lead to five points less than a minute later, 64-59. The Lancers' Dominque Daniels Jr. wouldn't go out without a fight, as he hit a 3-pointer with 2:11 left and a layup with 1:22 left to make it a four point game with just over a minute left before CU was able to hit all six of its free throws in the final 31 seconds of the game to hold on for the win.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Buffs scored the first bucket of the game with an Elijah Malone layup just 19 seconds into play, but the Buffs only managed a free throw in the next 4:41 as Cal Baptist went on a 10-1 run and extended that run to 19-5 over a nine minute stretch. The Buffs were well below their average of 90 points a game, managing just nine points in the first 12 minutes of the game.

Hargress finally put a spark of energy into the CU offense, hitting two free throws and a jumper before the under-8 media timeout after CBU built its biggest lead of 14 at 23-9. Hargress layup started a 7-0 run that included four points from Johnson in that run.

Rancik broke the Buffs scoring lull from deep, hitting the first 3-pointer of the night to bring CU with eight at 28-20 and forcing CBU to call a timeout, which was the final media break of the first half.

CU had three mini 5-0 runs over the final five minutes of the half, outscore CBU 15-6 in that span. Michaeli and Josiah Sanders joined Rancik from deep and a nifty Johnson layup tied the game at 32-32 with a minute left in the half. CBU hit a bucket just before the half to take a 34-32 lead into the locker room.

The second half opened a bit sloppy for both teams, and after CBU opened up a seven point lead at 41-34, Michaeli had a nice move in the post for a bucket and then Rancik's second 3-pointer brought the Buffs back with in two at 41-39 at the first media timeout.

After a CU foul was called a flagrant, CBU put up four quick points to open up a 45-39 lead. CU again chipped away with Hargress hitting a jumper from the middle of the lane and Johnson hit a layup before Michaeli hit his second 3-pointer of the game to tie it up at 48-48.

The Buffs finally took their first lead since that 2-0 lead in the opening seconds when Hargress hit a driving layup to make it 53-52 at the midpoint of the second half. Rancik hit two free throws and then a Dak block led to another Hargress fast break layup as CU pushed its run to 11-0 to take a 59-52 advantage into the under 8 media timeout.

When Dak hit a 3-pointer with 5:12 left in the game, it extended that run to 16-0. The run was more of a defensive effort than offensive, as that Dak bucket also was the first field goal for the Buffs in over four minutes. CU held the Landers scoreless for more than seven minutes in that run.

CBU never gave up, however, and after it broke that seven-minute scoreless stretch, reeled off seven quick points to bring the game back within five at 64-59. A Malone tip-in with 3:40 gave CU a 66-59 lead at the final media timeout of the game.

After Dominique Daniels hit two free throws, CU had a mini 4-0 run to build the lead back to nine at 70-61. Daniels wouldn't go away, however, and he hit a 3-pointer with 2:11 left and another layup at 1:22 to bring the Landers within four at 70-66.

Felix Kossaras hit a tough turnaround jumper with 46 seconds left and Dak got a steal on the other end of the floor to ice the game. CBU was forced to foul and the Buffs hit 6-of-6 from the line in the last 31 seconds to hold on to a 78-70 win.

UP NEXT
The Buffs now head to Fort Collins Saturday to take on in-state rival Colorado State, in a game televised by CBS Sports at 3 p.m. MT.

NOTES

The Buffs improve to 8-0 for the first time since the 1949-50 season, 76 years.
The Buffs had four players in double figures, something they have accomplished in all eight games this season, including four times with five players.
CU is now 3-0 when trailing at the half this season.
Colorado improved to 144-41 under Tad Boyle in non-conference games, including a 97-24 mark since the beginning of the 2014-15 season.
CU is now 110-8 under Tad Boyle in home non-conference games.
CU has won seven straight at the CU Events Center and 20 of their last 27. In the Tad Boyle era, CU is 210-47 at home and CU is now 523-198 all-time at the CUEC.
Isaiah Johnson scored 17 points for the Buffs, matching his second-highest output early in his career. He now has four games with at least 17 points in the first eight of his career. He also had three assists, his highest total to date, and was 9-of-11 from the free throw line, his third game with at least 10 free throw attempts early in his career.
Alon Michaeli scored 11 points off the bench for the Buffs, hitting 2-of-5 from deep, and added seven rebounds, an assist and a block. He has scored in double figures in six of seven games to open his career, and his seven rebounds is a season/career high, as well. He has now hit two 3-pointers in two straight games.
Josiah Sanders scored 7 points and had 5 rebounds with an assist and steal in a solid all-around game. His seven points is the second-highest total of the season/his career and the five rebounds is a new best.
Sebastain Rancik scored 12 points and had five rebounds for the Buffs, hitting double figures for the sixth time in eight games. He has also had 5-plus rebounds in each of the last six games. He hit a pair of 3-pointers, as well, and did that for the fourth time this season.
Bangot Dak has five points, eight rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block, the first time this season he's registered a stat in all five categories. He now has multiple blocks in five games this season and 8-plus rebounds in four games.
Felix Kossaras had six points, a mark he has reached in all eight games this season.
Barrington Hargress scored 12 points and has two rebounds, two assists and two steals. He hit double figures for the sixth time in eight games this season and multiple steals for the third time.