The Colorado Buffaloes men's basketball team won a 95- 89 road match against the Arizona State Sun Devils on Saturday, January 4, 2026, at Desert Financial Arena, Tempe, Arizona. The victory increased Colorado's all-time series lead over Arizona State to 16-13.
Powerful First Half Establishes the Mark
Colorado had taken the lead early, developing a 48-38 advantage by halftime through consistent offensive execution and disciplined play on each side of the floor. That impressive first-half effort was important, as it enabled the Buffaloes to overcome a second-half Arizona State onslaught.
At the break, Arizona State made a response of 51 points, but Colorado equally countered by scoring 47 points each, to maintain the victory.
Score by Half
- Colorado: 48 (1st Half), 47 (2nd Half) — 95
- Arizona State: 38 (1st Half), 51 (2nd Half) — 89
Defensive Execution Proves Decisive
The defense of Colorado was a major force that determined the result, especially when it mattered at the end of the game. The Buffaloes pressed Arizona State in the backcourt regularly, curtailing clean shots and offensive flow when the Sun Devils tried to make-up.
The intensity of that defense was translated into effective offense as Colorado made up for stops to create quality scoring opportunities towards the end.
Balanced Scoring Wields the Buffaloes
Although we could not get the individual statistics of the game, Colorado once again turned to the even distribution of the scoring throughout the lineup. During the season, guards Isaiah Johnson and Sebastian Rancik have played key roles in the team's offensive identity, and that identity has remained the defining performance of the Buffaloes.
Arizona State Short-Handed
Arizona State was without one of the starting forwards, Santiago Trouet, who did not play because of a leg injury. His loss affected the Sun Devils' depth in the front court, especially when Colorado was making its first-half charge.
The win places Colorado at a 1613 overall lead in the series history. Since the two programs started playing in January 2020, the rivalry is even with 5-5 of all the 10 games counted.
The teams will be reunited on February 8, 2026, with Arizona State visiting Boulder to play Colorado in the CU Events Center.