Colorado lost to West Virginia 72-61 on Saturday evening at Hope Coliseum in Morgantown, continuing its recent struggles with rebounding and slow starts. The defeat brings Colorado’s record to 12-6 overall and 2-3 in Big 12 play, while West Virginia moves to 12-6 and 3-2 in the conference.
Barrington Hargress led Colorado with 15 points and five assists. Three other Buffaloes reached double digits: Isaiah Johnson scored 12 points in his first career start, Bangot Dak had 11, and Sebastian Rancik added 10. For West Virginia, Treysen Eaglestaff led all scorers with 22 points on nine-of-14 shooting. Four Mountaineers finished with more than ten points each, and four also recorded at least six rebounds.
After trailing for most of the game, Colorado briefly took a one-point lead midway through the second half following a 12-2 run. However, West Virginia responded by outscoring the Buffaloes 30-15 over the remainder of the contest before a last-second three-pointer from Johnson set the final margin.
“We didn’t string together enough stops,” said Colorado head coach Tad Boyle about losing momentum after taking the lead. “That’s the whole key with West Virginia; you’ve got to string together stops. The best way to score on them is in transition. You can’t score on them in transition if you’re taking the ball out of the net.”
Rebounding was again an issue for Colorado as they were outrebounded by sixteen overall. In the first half alone, West Virginia grabbed offensive rebounds on half of Colorado’s twelve missed shots.
“We have to guard better,” Boyle said. “Because we hang our hat on defense and rebounding. The problem is there’s no hook there. There’s no hook to hang it on. West Virginia can hang their hat on their defense, and it showed tonight. We can’t. We can’t hang our hook on our rebounding; they can hang, that’s the bottom line.”
Despite being outmatched on rebounds, Colorado managed to stay close by scoring eleven fast-break points compared to five for West Virginia and converting turnovers into nine points off four Mountaineer giveaways.
The Buffaloes used only their second different starting lineup this season but again started slowly—allowing four offensive rebounds and seven second-chance points within five minutes of tipoff.
Hargress sparked a run late in the first half that cut a twelve-point deficit down to three before halftime ended with Colorado trailing by seven at 36-29.
Both teams struggled offensively early in the second half until Alon Michaeli hit a three-pointer after Elijah Malone fouled out, bringing Colorado within four points at 40-36.
Hargress then helped give Colorado its only lead at 43-42 with just over thirteen minutes remaining as part of another run before West Virginia answered decisively and maintained control for the rest of regulation.
Colorado will return home Tuesday night to face Kansas at CU Events Center; tipoff is scheduled for 9 p.m., with coverage airing on ESPN.
