The Colorado Buffaloes, narrowly beat the Eastern Washington University Eagles 102-97 in overtime on Nov. 8. Sebastian Rancik led the Buffs with a career high 24 points with 41 of Colorado’s total points coming from the bench.
Although the Buffs were favored to win the matchup, it proved to be a close game to the end, with 18 lead changes and neither team leading by more than four in the first half.
Junior guard Barrington Hargress battles a double team during the game against Eastern Washington University at the CU Events Center on Nov. 8, 2025. (Peter FitzGerald/CU Independent)
Junior guard Barrington Hargress, a transfer from the University of California, Riverside, gave the Buffs some early energy, getting the first score. However, the Eagles quickly cut off any early momentum.
Eastern Washington’s Isaiah Moses, who played with Hargress at UC Riverside, proved difficult for Colorado to contain. He had 12 points in the first half and ended the night with 30 points, going 3-5 from the three-point range and five assists.
“I knew that once he saw a couple go in he was going to be ultra aggressive, and he was going to have the swagger, and he was going to lead those guys to play hard,” said Hargress on Moses’ performance.
While Colorado’s offense moved effectively, working quickly to get open shots, their spotty defense allowed the Eagles to keep the game close.
Although the Buffs had the length advantage on the Eagles, Eastern Washington’s guards were able to penetrate into the paint and score with crafty finishes and floaters. The Eagles outscored Colorado 42-38 in the paint.
Early foul trouble plagued Colorado, with sophomore guard Felix Kossaras picking up two fouls in the first three minutes of the game. These early fouls proved to be a prelude to Colorado’s defensive trouble throughout the game.
“The foul trouble of Felix Kossaras really, really hurt us in the perimeter tonight, because he’s our best perimeter defender, not even close,” said Colorado head coach Tad Boyle.
Freshman Guard Isaiah Johnson shoots a three pointer during the game against Eastern Washington University at the CU Events Center on Nov. 8, 2025. (Peter FitzGerald/CU Independent)
The first half was a back-and-forth game, with neither team pulling ahead to a significant lead. Freshman guard Isaiah Johnson, coming off a 24-point performance against Montana State, was greeted by roars from the crowd and continued his momentum with a tough finish through traffic, followed by two free throws to cut the Eagles’ lead to one.
A Rancik three in transition put the Buffs up 16-14. Colorado started to get into more of a rhythm once they began rebounding more aggressively, which allowed them to get ahead in transition and get second chances. The Buffs ended with 11 second-chance points and 27 fast-break points.
Sophomore forward Sebastian Rancik shoots a three-pointer during the game against Eastern Washington University at the CU Events Center on Nov. 8, 2025. (Peter FitzGerald/CU Independent)
Freshman guard Ian Inman hit two back-to-back three pointers to put Colorado up 25-21, as the Buffs gained some momentum. Eastern Washington responded with an 8-0 run with under five minutes remaining to take back the lead 33-29.
Colorado thrived from behind the arc, with both Hargress and Rancik sinking one late in the half. The Eagles kept close, though, and Inman ended the half with a drive inside to put the Buffs up 41-39 heading into the locker room.
The Buffs came out hot to start the second half, with an immediate steal by graduate center Elijah Malone leading to an alley-oop slam from junior forward Bangot Dak. Dak continued the momentum-building plays, with a big block in the midst of a 6-0 Buffs run.
Foul trouble continued for Colorado, though, with both Kossaras and Malone getting their third fouls in the first five minutes of the half.
While Colorado seemed to fall into a rhythm, the Eagles stayed close. As the second half ticked to a close, both teams were trading points.
Kossaras hit a big-time three, but Eastern Washington quieted the crowd with a layup on the other end to keep the score close at 79-77, Colorado. Free throws proved crucial for the Buffs towards the end, with Rancik and freshman Alon Michaeli getting to the stripe to keep Colorado just ahead. The Eagles held on, though, kept alive by their three-point shooting, making 7-9 from beyond the arc in the half. Down 85-83 with under 20 seconds in the game, Eastern Washington scrambled, and Moses hit a contested fadeaway three-pointer with three seconds remaining to send it into overtime.
The five minutes of overtime play told the same story, with Colorado staying just ahead. Rancik got the Buffs energized with a big block, but Kossaras fouled out in the first two minutes. The game got chippy as well. Johnson and Eastern Washington’s Straton Rogers both received offsetting technical fouls, and Rogers was ejected after getting another unsporting technical.
Colorado shot four free-throws after the technicals, and hit them all to go up 90-85, a lead the Eagles soon erased by going on a 5-0 run. The Buffs gained more momentum with a big block by Malone, who then sank a rare three on the next play to get the crowd on its feet and put the Buffs up 96-90 with 30 seconds remaining.
Graduate student center Elijah Malone battles for a layup during the game against Eastern Washington University at the CU Events Center on Nov. 8, 2025. (Peter FitzGerald/CU Independent)
As Eastern Washington held on, getting within three points with under ten seconds on the clock, Rancik showed poise, hitting two free throws to solidify the win for Colorado, 102-97.
Despite the win, Colorado’s defense looked spotty at best, allowing Eastern Washington to shoot over 50% from the field in all three periods.
“Our problem is we got no pride, collectively or individually, can’t guard the post, can’t guard the perimeter, can’t guard ball screens,” Boyle said on Colorado’s defensive troubles.
He also touched on the foul trouble that was consistent throughout the game, “We have to adjust to the officiating. The officiating is not going to adjust to us. So we want to play with discipline, without fouling,” Boyle said.
Contact CU Independent Sports Editor Lila Nuttle at lila.nuttle@colorado.edu
