Colorado University Athletics
Tuesday, March 10
Kansas City, Mo.
7:30 p.m.
Colorado
vs
Oklahoma State
Josiah Sanders
Photo by: Tony Harman
Buffs Set To Battle Oklahoma State At Big 12 Championship
March 09, 2026 | Men's Basketball
Game 32 - Oklahoma State, Tuesday, March 10, 2026
T-Mobile Center, Kansas City, Mo.
Tip: 7:31 p.m. MT
Watch: ESPN+ (Jon Sciambi, Fran Fraschilla, Angel Gray)Â https://buffs.me/4s1kPfq
Radio: KOA 850 AM & 94.1 FM (Mark Johnson, Scott Wilke)
Listen Online: Sirius XM 138 or 198, SXM App 952Â https://sxm.app.link/SXM952
Live Statistics: http://statb.us/v/colo/653414
Â
T-Mobile Center, Kansas City, Mo.
Tip: 7:31 p.m. MT
Watch: ESPN+ (Jon Sciambi, Fran Fraschilla, Angel Gray)Â https://buffs.me/4s1kPfq
Radio: KOA 850 AM & 94.1 FM (Mark Johnson, Scott Wilke)
Listen Online: Sirius XM 138 or 198, SXM App 952Â https://sxm.app.link/SXM952
Live Statistics: http://statb.us/v/colo/653414
Â
THE BUFFALOES: Colorado is 17-14 overall and is the No. 11 seed in the Big 12 Championship set to play No. 14 Oklahoma State in a first round game. The winner of that contest will advance to play No. 6 TCU on Wednesday, March 11, at 7:30 p.m. Colorado finished tied for 11th in the final regular season league standings at 7-11 with Arizona State, but gained the 11th seed due to the Buffaloes season sweep of the Sun Devils.
The Buffaloes have won three of their last five, and five of 10 after closing out the regular season with a competitive battle with No. 2 and Big 12 regular season champion Arizona, an 89-79 decision in the Wildcats favor on March 7 that snapped CU's four-game home winning streak. Colorado ended the regular season away from home on a positive note, rolling past Utah, 92-78, on March 3, halting a seven-game road losing streak.
With the win at Utah, Colorado is guaranteed to finish above .500 for the 14th time in 16 seasons under head coach Tad Boyle. The Buffaloes improved five spots from their Big 12 finish a year ago, more than doubling their conference win total.
SCORING BALANCE: Colorado has had at least four players score in double figures in 20 of 31 games. The Buffaloes have had six games with at least five scoring in double digits, most recently in the win over Kansas State. Colorado is 15-5 this season when at least four players score in double figures (6-0 with five in double figures).
Colorado had only four games with four players scoring in double figures in 35 contests last year (3-1 record) and none with five.Â
The Buffaloes have had six different players lead the team in scoring this season and five have had 20-point games. Colorado is averaging 26.6 points per game from its bench, ranking second in the Big 12, accounting for 33 percent of the team's scoring.Â
Isaiah Johnson is Colorado's leading scorer at 17.0 points per game, which is third in the Big 12 and 15th in the nation in scoring by a freshman (based on qualifying individuals).Â
Johnson averaged 25.0 points in Colorado's two games last week. He recorded his team-best ninth 20-point game of the season with a team season-high 28 against Arizona, hitting 7 of 14 from the field and 10 of 11 from the free throw line. Against Utah, Johnson had 22 points, hitting 6 of 10 from the field and a perfect 8 of 8 from the line.
With his performance against Arizona, he set Colorado's freshman season scoring record passing Alec Burks who had 512 in 2009-10. Johnson set the record with 15 points in the first half, passing Burks on a pair of free throws with six seconds remaining before halftime. His 28-point effort is the ninth-best single-game total by a freshman in team history. His 526 season points are 23rd overall on CU's single-season list; nine away from the top 20.
Johnson leads the Buffaloes in free throws made (158) and attempted (192), 3-pointers made (54) and steals (32) while ranking second in assists (92) and 3-point percentage (.388).
Johnson is ninth in the nation for free throws made by a freshman and 21st in free throw percentage (.823).
Junior Barrington Hargress leads Colorado in assists (136), overall shooting (.531), 3-point percentage (.495) and overall field goals made (163) while ranking second in scoring (14.1 ppg), 3-pointers made (49) and steals (29).Â
Hargress leads the Big 12 and ranks 10th in the nation in assist-to-turnover ratio at 3.6. His output was even better in Big 12 games as he claimed the league stat title at 4.0. He is on pace to set Colorado single-season records in both assist-to-turnover ratio and 3-point percentage. He has 18 games with no more than one turnover. Hargress has 10 games with at least five assists.
Additionally on the Big 12 charts, Hargress ranks seventh in field goal percentage and 13th in assists. He is the best field goal shooter in the Big 12, and 13th in the country, from the guard position. He is the third-best shooter in the nation listed at 6-foot-1, or shorter.
Sophomore Sebastian Rancik is second on the team in rebounding (5.6 rpg) and free throws made (111) and attempted (129) and third in scoring (12.3 ppg), assists (57) and steals (27). Rancik leads the team and ranks third in the Big 12 in free throw percentage at 86.0 percent.Â
Rancik pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds against Oklahoma State to go along with seven points and a pair of assists. The performance gave him double figures in rebounds for the third time in a four-game span. He also had 10 rebounds at BYU while dishing out a career-best six assists with nine points and a team-high three steals.
Rancik recorded his first career double-double with 17 points and a personal-best 11 rebounds in the home win over Arizona State. Four of those rebounds came off the offensive end, which is also a career high. He is averaging 7.5 rebounds over his last six games.
Junior forward Bangot Dak leads the Buffaloes and is 16th in the Big 12 at 6.5 rebounds per game and seventh in blocks at 1.5 per outing. He is fourth on the team in scoring at 11.2 points per game while shooting 47.9 percent from the field.Â
Dak had a career-high 22 points along with 10 rebounds and four blocked shots to lead the Buffaloes at Utah. He made 6 of 9 from the field and 9 of 10 from the free throw line, with both charity stripe numbers personal bests. The double-double was his team-leading fifth of the season, and first since the home win over Utah on Jan. 7.
Over the last six games Dak is averaging 14.5 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.2 blocked shots per game while shooting 54 percent from the field (31 of 58).Â
Colorado has been receiving support from its freshman class all season, and certainly down the stretch. Since making his first start of the season on Feb. 1 vs. TCU, Jalin Holland is averaging 7.0 points, 3.2 rebounds, is tied for the team lead with 10 steals and second in blocked shots with eight over that 10-game span. He matched his season-best with 12 points against No. 2 Arizona. Overall, he is fourth on the team in steals and tied for third in blocks.
Ian Inman has seen his output increase significantly during the Big 12 schedule, scoring 62 of his season's 70 points in conference games. He had 17 points on 5 of 7 from 3-point range and five rebounds – all career highs – in the win over Kansas State.
Josiah Sanders averaged 7.0 points and 4.0 assists while shooting 7 of 8 from the field in his two games last week. Sanders had six points, three assists and a pair of rebounds against Arizona. He had eight points on a perfect 4 of 4 from the field and a game-high five assists against Utah. Sanders is Colorado's second-leading offensive rebounder on the season with 34.
CU IN THE NET: A snapshot of Colorado's NET rankings in 2025-26 (through games of March 8).
The Buffaloes have won three of their last five, and five of 10 after closing out the regular season with a competitive battle with No. 2 and Big 12 regular season champion Arizona, an 89-79 decision in the Wildcats favor on March 7 that snapped CU's four-game home winning streak. Colorado ended the regular season away from home on a positive note, rolling past Utah, 92-78, on March 3, halting a seven-game road losing streak.
With the win at Utah, Colorado is guaranteed to finish above .500 for the 14th time in 16 seasons under head coach Tad Boyle. The Buffaloes improved five spots from their Big 12 finish a year ago, more than doubling their conference win total.
SCORING BALANCE: Colorado has had at least four players score in double figures in 20 of 31 games. The Buffaloes have had six games with at least five scoring in double digits, most recently in the win over Kansas State. Colorado is 15-5 this season when at least four players score in double figures (6-0 with five in double figures).
Colorado had only four games with four players scoring in double figures in 35 contests last year (3-1 record) and none with five.Â
The Buffaloes have had six different players lead the team in scoring this season and five have had 20-point games. Colorado is averaging 26.6 points per game from its bench, ranking second in the Big 12, accounting for 33 percent of the team's scoring.Â
Isaiah Johnson is Colorado's leading scorer at 17.0 points per game, which is third in the Big 12 and 15th in the nation in scoring by a freshman (based on qualifying individuals).Â
Johnson averaged 25.0 points in Colorado's two games last week. He recorded his team-best ninth 20-point game of the season with a team season-high 28 against Arizona, hitting 7 of 14 from the field and 10 of 11 from the free throw line. Against Utah, Johnson had 22 points, hitting 6 of 10 from the field and a perfect 8 of 8 from the line.
With his performance against Arizona, he set Colorado's freshman season scoring record passing Alec Burks who had 512 in 2009-10. Johnson set the record with 15 points in the first half, passing Burks on a pair of free throws with six seconds remaining before halftime. His 28-point effort is the ninth-best single-game total by a freshman in team history. His 526 season points are 23rd overall on CU's single-season list; nine away from the top 20.
Johnson leads the Buffaloes in free throws made (158) and attempted (192), 3-pointers made (54) and steals (32) while ranking second in assists (92) and 3-point percentage (.388).
Johnson is ninth in the nation for free throws made by a freshman and 21st in free throw percentage (.823).
Junior Barrington Hargress leads Colorado in assists (136), overall shooting (.531), 3-point percentage (.495) and overall field goals made (163) while ranking second in scoring (14.1 ppg), 3-pointers made (49) and steals (29).Â
Hargress leads the Big 12 and ranks 10th in the nation in assist-to-turnover ratio at 3.6. His output was even better in Big 12 games as he claimed the league stat title at 4.0. He is on pace to set Colorado single-season records in both assist-to-turnover ratio and 3-point percentage. He has 18 games with no more than one turnover. Hargress has 10 games with at least five assists.
Additionally on the Big 12 charts, Hargress ranks seventh in field goal percentage and 13th in assists. He is the best field goal shooter in the Big 12, and 13th in the country, from the guard position. He is the third-best shooter in the nation listed at 6-foot-1, or shorter.
Sophomore Sebastian Rancik is second on the team in rebounding (5.6 rpg) and free throws made (111) and attempted (129) and third in scoring (12.3 ppg), assists (57) and steals (27). Rancik leads the team and ranks third in the Big 12 in free throw percentage at 86.0 percent.Â
Rancik pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds against Oklahoma State to go along with seven points and a pair of assists. The performance gave him double figures in rebounds for the third time in a four-game span. He also had 10 rebounds at BYU while dishing out a career-best six assists with nine points and a team-high three steals.
Rancik recorded his first career double-double with 17 points and a personal-best 11 rebounds in the home win over Arizona State. Four of those rebounds came off the offensive end, which is also a career high. He is averaging 7.5 rebounds over his last six games.
Junior forward Bangot Dak leads the Buffaloes and is 16th in the Big 12 at 6.5 rebounds per game and seventh in blocks at 1.5 per outing. He is fourth on the team in scoring at 11.2 points per game while shooting 47.9 percent from the field.Â
Dak had a career-high 22 points along with 10 rebounds and four blocked shots to lead the Buffaloes at Utah. He made 6 of 9 from the field and 9 of 10 from the free throw line, with both charity stripe numbers personal bests. The double-double was his team-leading fifth of the season, and first since the home win over Utah on Jan. 7.
Over the last six games Dak is averaging 14.5 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.2 blocked shots per game while shooting 54 percent from the field (31 of 58).Â
Colorado has been receiving support from its freshman class all season, and certainly down the stretch. Since making his first start of the season on Feb. 1 vs. TCU, Jalin Holland is averaging 7.0 points, 3.2 rebounds, is tied for the team lead with 10 steals and second in blocked shots with eight over that 10-game span. He matched his season-best with 12 points against No. 2 Arizona. Overall, he is fourth on the team in steals and tied for third in blocks.
Ian Inman has seen his output increase significantly during the Big 12 schedule, scoring 62 of his season's 70 points in conference games. He had 17 points on 5 of 7 from 3-point range and five rebounds – all career highs – in the win over Kansas State.
Josiah Sanders averaged 7.0 points and 4.0 assists while shooting 7 of 8 from the field in his two games last week. Sanders had six points, three assists and a pair of rebounds against Arizona. He had eight points on a perfect 4 of 4 from the field and a game-high five assists against Utah. Sanders is Colorado's second-leading offensive rebounder on the season with 34.
CU IN THE NET: A snapshot of Colorado's NET rankings in 2025-26 (through games of March 8).
Current: 71 | Highest: 39 (Dec. 2) | Lowest: 86 (Jan. 29)
Avg. Opponent Net Rank: 21 | Opponent Avg. Net: 95
Quad 1: 1-10 | Quad 2: 4-3 | Quad 3: 8-1 | Quad 4: 4-0
BIG 12 POSTSEASON FACTS: Colorado is 11-16 all-time in the Big 12 Championship. The Buffaloes made the quarterfinals of the 2025 Big 12 Championship as the No. 16 seed with wins over No. 9 TCU and No. 8 West Virginia. Colorado was the first team to advance to the quarterfinals of any conference championship after finishing 16th-or-lower in the regular season since Tennessee in the 1931 Southern Conference Tournament.
It was the seventh time in the Tad Boyle era the Buffaloes have won at least two conference tournament games. It's just the eighth time in program history, the outlier coming at the 1990 Big Eight Tournament where the Buffaloes made the championship game as the No. 8 seed. Colorado has won at least one game in 14 of its last 15 conference tournaments. Colorado had a very successful run in 13 Pac-12 Tournament appearances going 19-12 with three championship game appearances and winning it all in 2012.
Colorado is 34-48 all-time in conference postseason tournaments. The Buffaloes were 4-20 in the Big Eight Tournament between 1977-96.
Head coach Tad Boyle owns two-thirds of Colorado's all-time conference tournament wins. He is 23-14 in conference tournament action, which includes 4-2 mark in two Big 12 Championships.
ABOUTÂ THE COWBOYS: Oklahoma State finished the regular season 18-13 overall 6-12 in the Big 12 and heads to the Big 12 Championship as the No. 14 seed. The Cowboys are averaging 83.9 points per game, shooting 45.9 percent from the field. Their scoring overall is third in the Big 12 and 25th in the country. Oklahoma State uses the free throw line to boost its scoring, making 18.4 per game, second in the Big 12 and 24th nationally. Defensively, the Cowboys are allowing 82.5 points per game, and have held opponents to 45.0 percent shooting. Oklahoma State controls the defensive glass, averaging 26.5 defensive rebounds per game. That ranks third in the Big 12. The Cowboys use the entire team, averaging 28.19 bench points per game, the highest in the Big 12.
The Cowboys are led by senior guard Anthony Roy, who leads the team in scoring at 16.7 points per game. Roy uses the 3-point shot to his advantage. He makes 3.0 shots from deep per game, ranking fifth in the Big 12 and 29th in the country. He makes those at 39.5 percent, good for fifth in the conference. Oklahoma State has four other players who average double figures in points this season: senior forward Parsa Fallah (14.7) and sophomore guard Vyctorius Miller (11.2), junior guard Jaylen Curry (10.1), and junior guard Kanye Clary (10.1). The Cowboys lost Fallah to injury for the rest of the season against West Virginia on Feb. 24.
THE SERIES: This will be the 112th meeting between Colorado and Oklahoma State with the Cowboys holding a 62-49 advantage in a series that dates back to 1948, 11 seasons before the Cowboys would be the team to turn the Big Seven into the Big Eight Conference. Colorado won the matchup earlier this season 83-69 on Feb. 21 in Boulder. Oklahoma State leads the series 7-6 on neutral site. The teams have met twice in conference tournament competition, both winning once. Colorado defeated Oklahoma State 82-72 in the semifinals of the 1990 Big Eight Championship, as the Buffaloes became the first No. 8 seed to reach the final in that tournament's history. The Cowboys took an 87-85 decision in the quarterfinals of the 2005 Big 12 Championship and would go on to win the tournament.
BIG 12 POSTSEASON FACTS: Colorado is 11-16 all-time in the Big 12 Championship. The Buffaloes made the quarterfinals of the 2025 Big 12 Championship as the No. 16 seed with wins over No. 9 TCU and No. 8 West Virginia. Colorado was the first team to advance to the quarterfinals of any conference championship after finishing 16th-or-lower in the regular season since Tennessee in the 1931 Southern Conference Tournament.
It was the seventh time in the Tad Boyle era the Buffaloes have won at least two conference tournament games. It's just the eighth time in program history, the outlier coming at the 1990 Big Eight Tournament where the Buffaloes made the championship game as the No. 8 seed. Colorado has won at least one game in 14 of its last 15 conference tournaments. Colorado had a very successful run in 13 Pac-12 Tournament appearances going 19-12 with three championship game appearances and winning it all in 2012.
Colorado is 34-48 all-time in conference postseason tournaments. The Buffaloes were 4-20 in the Big Eight Tournament between 1977-96.
Head coach Tad Boyle owns two-thirds of Colorado's all-time conference tournament wins. He is 23-14 in conference tournament action, which includes 4-2 mark in two Big 12 Championships.
ABOUTÂ THE COWBOYS: Oklahoma State finished the regular season 18-13 overall 6-12 in the Big 12 and heads to the Big 12 Championship as the No. 14 seed. The Cowboys are averaging 83.9 points per game, shooting 45.9 percent from the field. Their scoring overall is third in the Big 12 and 25th in the country. Oklahoma State uses the free throw line to boost its scoring, making 18.4 per game, second in the Big 12 and 24th nationally. Defensively, the Cowboys are allowing 82.5 points per game, and have held opponents to 45.0 percent shooting. Oklahoma State controls the defensive glass, averaging 26.5 defensive rebounds per game. That ranks third in the Big 12. The Cowboys use the entire team, averaging 28.19 bench points per game, the highest in the Big 12.
The Cowboys are led by senior guard Anthony Roy, who leads the team in scoring at 16.7 points per game. Roy uses the 3-point shot to his advantage. He makes 3.0 shots from deep per game, ranking fifth in the Big 12 and 29th in the country. He makes those at 39.5 percent, good for fifth in the conference. Oklahoma State has four other players who average double figures in points this season: senior forward Parsa Fallah (14.7) and sophomore guard Vyctorius Miller (11.2), junior guard Jaylen Curry (10.1), and junior guard Kanye Clary (10.1). The Cowboys lost Fallah to injury for the rest of the season against West Virginia on Feb. 24.
THE SERIES: This will be the 112th meeting between Colorado and Oklahoma State with the Cowboys holding a 62-49 advantage in a series that dates back to 1948, 11 seasons before the Cowboys would be the team to turn the Big Seven into the Big Eight Conference. Colorado won the matchup earlier this season 83-69 on Feb. 21 in Boulder. Oklahoma State leads the series 7-6 on neutral site. The teams have met twice in conference tournament competition, both winning once. Colorado defeated Oklahoma State 82-72 in the semifinals of the 1990 Big Eight Championship, as the Buffaloes became the first No. 8 seed to reach the final in that tournament's history. The Cowboys took an 87-85 decision in the quarterfinals of the 2005 Big 12 Championship and would go on to win the tournament.
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