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  • Colorado MBB Ends Six‑Game Losing Skid, As Buffs Roll Past TCU With A New Lineup, 87-61

Colorado MBB Ends Six‑Game Losing Skid, As Buffs Roll Past TCU With A New Lineup, 87-61

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Basketball

(BCSNN | UPI) — Colorado snapped a six‑game losing streak with a revamped starting lineup and an 87-61 win over TCU on Sunday afternoon at the CU Events Center. The Buffaloes (13-9, 3-6 Big 12) started four true freshmen, three making their first career starts, and outplayed the Horned Frogs (13-9, 3-6) on both ends.

Head coach Tad Boyle said the performance reflected the team’s potential. “We hadn’t seen that Colorado Buffalo team in November, December or January, but we finally saw it on February 1,” Boyle said. “I was really, really proud of the response… it just shows how good this team can be.”

Colorado’s freshmen — Jalin Holland, Fawaz “Tacko” Ifaola, Josiah Sanders, Ian Inman and Alon Michaeli — combined for 43 points. Five Buffs scored in double figures, led by Sebastian Rancik with 17. Isaiah Johnson added 16, Bangot Dak had 14, Sanders posted a career‑high 12, and Barrington Hargress scored 10.

TCU’s Xavier Edmonds had 13 points and 12 rebounds before exiting in the second half after a flagrant‑two foul. The Horned Frogs struggled offensively, shooting 33.3 percent from the field and 21.7 percent from three.

Colorado led 38-25 at halftime after holding TCU to three makes in its final 19 first‑half attempts, including a seven‑minute scoring drought. The Buffs extended the margin to 20 with 13 minutes left and pushed it as high as 28. TCU never got closer than 23 in the final 10 minutes.

Sanders credited the defensive effort to collective energy. “It wasn’t one guy, it was all five… and then energy from the bench as well,” he said. “We have to hold ourselves to that standard.”

Offensively, Colorado tied its season high with 24 assists on 35 made baskets. Sanders set a career high with six assists, and four starters recorded at least four. “We got back to playing good basketball,” Rancik said.

Colorado opened the game with 10 points from its first‑time starters, including five from Holland. The Buffs made their first four threes and forced six straight misses to build a 30-21 lead. Dak’s putback before halftime gave Colorado its first halftime lead since Jan. 7.

Johnson and Hargress sparked the second half with eight quick points, and Johnson later connected with Dak on an alley‑oop to extend the lead to 17. After Edmonds’ ejection, Colorado continued to score from throughout the rotation, with Johnson’s third three pushing the lead to 28.

Up Next
Colorado travels to Baylor on Wednesday at 6 p.m. MT on Peacock.