Rancik leads Buffaloes over Eagles in OT Thriller
- Matt Spivack
- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
The Colorado Buffaloes’ (2-0) 102-97 overtime win over the Eastern Washington Eagles (0-3) featured 18 lead changes, keeping fans on the edge of their seats throughout the entirety of the contest.
Despite only making two field goals in OT, the Buffs outscored the Eagles by five points to take the dub. The Eagles shot 50% from the field in overtime, but could not overcome the Buffaloes’ 11 points from the charity stripe in the five-minute extra period.
Although it was close throughout, the Eagles were lucky to extend the game to overtime.
With one minute left in regulation, guard Barrington Hargress drove to the hoop and hit a six-foot fadeaway to extend the Buffs' lead to three points. Eagles guard Isaiah Moses was not ready to back down just yet, quickly carrying the ball up the floor and cutting the deficit back to one with a layup. After playing the foul game, the Eagles got the ball back, down three, and Moses saw an opportunity. The redshirt senior spun to create just enough space between him and forward Felix Kossaras to bang a triple and force overtime.
Moses was the game’s leading scorer with 30 points on 12-of-21 from the field (57%). The Anchorage, Alaska native shot 60% from deep (3-of-5) while throwing out five assists and grabbing two steals.
Eastern Washington forward Alton Hamilton IV led the team in rebounds (8) and poured in 18 points on 54% from the field.
As a team, the Eagles shot just under 60% from the floor and 56%from 3. Through two games, the Buffaloes' defense has looked shaky, allowing both Big Sky squads, Montana State and Eastern Washington, to shoot the ball above 50%against them.
“We have to have more pride [on defense],” head coach Tad Boyle said. “They have to feel about it the way I feel about it, and the way our coaching staff feels about it.”
Offensively, Colorado played well, shooting 50%from the field and only giving up nine turnovers.
Forward Sebastian Rancik led the Buffaloes in points with 24 and tied the team-high in assists (4). The talented sophomore also drew six fouls, cashing in 11 of his 12 free throws.
The first half was back and forth, with both teams' biggest lead being four points. Colorado led by two at the break, thanks to a buzzer-beating layup from freshman Ian Inman.
The Buffaloes started the second half with a Hargress steal that led to a Bangot Dak jam. Colorado’s increased energy to begin the second was met with Eastern Washington’s willingness to fight to the end. Despite holding the Eagles to zero baskets in the first three minutes of the half, Eastern Washington made nine of its first 12 shots to start the second. The Eagles shot 69%from the field in the second half on 18-for-26 shooting.
Despite taking home the win, the Buffs have a lot to clean up, including being physical without fouling. Down the stretch, some of Colorado’s better defenders, Kossaras and Alon Michaeli, were limited due to picking up multiple early fouls; Kossaras fouled out in overtime.
“I’d much rather learn from a win than a loss,” Boyle said. “But I told our team this week… Maybe it will take a loss to wake these dudes up.”
Colorado will be back at the CU Events Center on Friday to host the Providence Friars (1-1) at 7 p.m. MT.
Cover photo by Brody Rector/Sko Buffs Sports
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