Buffs ring in 2026 with win over Arizona State in Big 12 opener

Freshman guard Isaiah Johnson is the season-leading scorer for the Buffs, averaging 15.6 points per game. (Photo by Aspen Doust/Sko Buffs Sports)

The Colorado Buffaloes (11-3, 1-0 Big 12) defeated the Arizona State Sun Devils (9-5, 0-1 Big 12) 95-89 in Tempe, Arizona, on Saturday to secure their first road Big 12 win since the 2011 season. 

The early first half was riddled with sloppy basketball for both teams. 

Despite Arizona State winning the opening tip-off, Colorado opened the scoring on a second-chance hook shot under the rim from center Elijah Malone. 

The Buffaloes struggled to take care of the basketball as well, as a five-second violation and poor rebounding gave Arizona State several extra possessions early. Both teams combined for four turnovers and just three field goals in the first four minutes of the game.

Arizona State guard Anthony “Pig” Johnson gave the Sun Devils their first lead of the day (7-4) as he knocked down the game’s first three-pointer with 15:27 to play in the first half.

Colorado guard Barrington Hargress responded with early offense of his own, as he brought his scoring total to 11 points in as many minutes of play to begin the game. Colorado rallied around him, going on a 7-for-8 shooting stretch to extend its lead to 27-17.

The rebounding woes that plagued the Buffaloes early switched benches as the Sun Devils gave CU a multitude of extra possessions during its scoring streak. With 6:52 remaining before halftime, Colorado racked up four offensive rebounds in one possession before Hargress buried a devastating step-back two-pointer.

Additionally, Arizona State’s season-leading scorer, guard Maurice Odum, only managed four points in the first half, with just two points from the field.

However, Arizona State’s big men played effectively down the stretch of the first half to keep their team in the game. Center Massamba Diop tallied four blocks in the first half, while forward Marcus Adams Jr. secured a team-leading three rebounds.

The Sun Devils cut their deficit to single-digits with 10 seconds remaining before halftime, but a buzzer-beating layup from Hargress sent Colorado to the locker room with a 48-38 lead.

The second half got off to a rocky start for the Buffaloes as foul and turnover troubles allowed the Sun Devils to cut the lead to 50-44. 

While Colorado was able to extend its lead back to 11 points behind trips to the free-throw line and an aggressive dunk from forward Bangot Dak, Arizona State quickly caught fire again.

Odum shook free of his first-half scoring struggles. He surpassed his first half point total less than five minutes into the second half as he helped ASU cut the lead to one possession, 57-54.

Odum expanded his scoring range beyond the arc with 9:44 remaining in the game, as he hit his first three-pointer and ASU’s first of the second half. He recorded 17 points after halftime and finished the game with 21.

Alongside him, Arizona State forward Allen Mukeba got hot in the second half. He turned the tide of the game with a monstrous jam over CU forward Sebastian Rancik that broke the wire connecting the shot clock to the backboard. He followed that up with a block on Hargress that opened the door for Diop to tie the game with a dunk of his own.

Arizona State went on to take the lead, erasing what was a 14-point deficit at its highest. 

However, Colorado matched ASU’s explosivity down the stretch, as star guard Isaiah Johnson came through in the clutch. Johnson fought to the rim numerous times as both teams traded the lead and recorded 11 second-half points. 

"I thought we made some really big plays down the stretch,” Colorado head coach Tad Boyle said postgame. “... You've got to continue to learn, especially with a young team like this. You have to learn every single day in practice, you have to learn every single game."

His total of 19 points on the night, alongside Rancik’s 18, were generated by their aggressive play styles. They got to the free-throw line for a combined 22 shots by forcing contact and made 19 of those attempts.

ASU forwards Andrija Grbovic and Mukeba fouled out of the game in the final minute and left the Sun Devils on their heels. The Buffaloes salted away the game to escape Tempe with a victory.

Colorado’s next game will be back at the CU Events Center on Wednesday against the Utah Utes (8-6, 0-1 Big 12) at 7 p.m. MT (ESPN+).