Colorado survives slobberknocker for first Big 12 road win over Kansas State

Thursday marked Zyanna Walker's first game in Manhattan since Feb. 24, 2025, when she and the Wildcats fell to the then No. 17 Baylor Bears 79-62. (Photo via @CUBuffsWBB/X)

The Colorado Buffaloes (14-7, 5-4 Big 12) out-hustled the Kansas State Wildcats (11-11, 4-5), 56–47, to secure their first Big 12 win away from friendly confines.

The Buffaloes were led by former Wildcat Zyanna Walker, who recorded her first career double-double in the win. Walker scored 13 points and hauled in 10 rebounds, including four on the offensive glass.

Colorado was balanced on the stat sheet, with four players reaching double digits and the bench unit leading the way. The reserves contributed 27 points, as forward Logyn Greer and guard Desiree Wooten scored 11 points each. Starting forward Jade Masogayo also added 13 points and seven rebounds.

Colorado capitalized on second chances, scoring 15 points off 16 offensive rebounds, and added 18 points off 17 Wildcat turnovers. It was a slobberknocker throughout, with both teams shooting just over 30 percent from the field. 

“I thought our execution was really good," Colorado head coach JR Payne said. "I think we have a really unselfish group ... We love to share the ball, and I thought we did that. We scored in a handful of different ways, executed, knocked down a couple shots, which always helps…”

The Buffaloes stampeded to a quick start, with a Walker pluck-and-score and a Tabitha Betson 3-pointer prior. Colorado’s defense didn’t allow Kansas State to score in the first three minutes of the game. Both teams went on dry spells with a bucket here and there, and Colorado ended the first with a three-point lead 13-10. 

In the first quarter, Colorado shot just 25 percent from the field, with Walker and Wooten contributing five points apiece. 

Through seven minutes of the second, the Wildcats took their largest lead of the game at 18-15, courtesy of an 8-2 run. Neither team reached double digits in a rock fight of a second quarter, as the Buffaloes inched out the Wildcats 9-8. Seven of Colorado’s second-quarter points came in the final 2:43, leading to a four-point halftime lead. 

The Buffaloes kept Kansas State at arm’s length to open the third quarter, after the Wildcats cut their deficit by three with an early and-one. Colorado responded by stretching the lead to eight behind a Desiree Wooten floater and fast-break finish, followed by a Jade Masogayo elbow jumper. The 6-0 flurry forced the Wildcats to call a timeout.

Colorado carried a four-point lead into the final quarter, with Masogayo and Zyanna Walker keeping Kansas State at bay.

The Wildcats clawed back to start the fourth, going on an 8-0 run to take a three-point lead in just two-and-a-half minutes. Colorado ended the surge with a second-chance bucket from Greer and a Wooten layup to retake the lead. Things started to look dire for the Buffaloes, putting Kansas State into bonus with over five minutes left to play and a one-point lead. 

However, Colorado refused to falter, pushing its lead to seven off a 3-pointer from Walker and two layups from Masogayo. The Buffaloes closed out the game on a 7-1 spurt over a minute of play to secure the nine-point victory. 

Colorado stays on the road to take on the Kansas Jayhawks (13-9, 3-7) in Lawrence, Kansas, on Sunday. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. MT (ESPN+).