PHOENIX, Ariz. \u2013 Colorado’s late second-half rally was not enough on Saturday, and the Buffaloes dropped a 77-68 decision against Stanford in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Series Phoenix at the Mortgage Matchup Center.<\/p>\n
Tad Boyle<\/a>‘s Buffs fell to 10-2 while the Cardinal improved to 10-2 after the first meeting between the former Pac-12 foes since 2024.<\/p>\n Barrington Hargress<\/a> led CU with 16 points and six assists. Sebastian Rancik<\/a> had 14, and Isaiah Johnson<\/a> contributed 11 as the other two Buffs in double figures.<\/p>\n Stanford was led by freshman guard Ebuka Okorie, who set the Cardinal record for most points in a single game by a freshman with 32. He shot 6-of-13 from the field and 18-of-21 from the free throw line.<\/p>\n Colorado had success in the first half, creating as much as a seven-point lead by controlling the paint, but Stanford cut into the lead after holding the Buffs to only one made shot in the final five minutes of the first half.<\/p>\n The offensive struggles continued through most of the second half, with the Buffs starting 5-of-20 from the field, allowing Stanford to build a 16-point lead with six minutes remaining.<\/p>\n Colorado made seven of its last eight shots of the game in a last-ditch attempt but could not get enough stops to complete the comeback.<\/p>\n Despite the late offensive surge, Stanford still held Colorado to 12-of-28 from the field in the second half and forced 11 turnovers that led to 13 points. The Buffs held the Cardinal to 11-of-25 from the field in the second half, but sent them to the line 30 times and 41 overall in the game.<\/p>\n HOW IT HAPPENED
\nAfter missing its opening shot of the game, Colorado made its next four shots, with two coming from Rancik, one being a 3-pointer, a dunk by Elijah Malone<\/a>, and a jumper by Hargress to keep pace early on.<\/p>\n