Isaiah Johnson scored 17 points and Colorado overcame a 14-point, first-half deficit to post a 78-70 victory over Cal Baptist on Monday night in nonconference play at Boulder, Colo.
Sebastian Rancik and Barrington Hargress added 12 points apiece for the Buffaloes, who are 8-0 for the first time since the 1949-50 season. Alon Michaeli added 11 points and seven rebounds for Colorado, which used a 16-0 second-half run to take control.
Dominique Daniels Jr. scored 25 points for the Lancers (7-1), who are off to the best start in their eight seasons as a Division I program. Martel Williams added 14 points for Cal Baptist.
The Buffaloes shot 45.3 percent from the field, including 6 of 16 from 3-point range. Colorado had a 41-35 rebounding edge over the Lancers, who entered the game fourth nationally with a plus 14.3-rebounding margin.
Daniels’ jumper gave Cal Baptist a 52-48 lead with 12:28 remaining before Colorado ripped off the game-changing 16 straight points.
Josiah Sanders hit a free throw and layup before Hargress scored on a driving scoop shot with 10:19 left to give the Buffaloes their first lead since 2-0.
Rancik made two free throws, Hargress scored on a layup and Bangot Dak sank two free throws to give Colorado a 59-52 lead with 8:15 remaining.
Johnson hit two free throws and Dak drilled a trey to cap the run and give the Buffaloes a 64-52 lead with 5:12 left.
Cal Baptist ended their drought of seven minutes, 30 seconds with a three-point play from Williams with 4:58 remaining. Baskets by Daniels and Jonathan Griman pushed the Lancers within 64-59 with 4:11 to play.
The Buffaloes led 70-61 after two free throws by Johnson with 2:22 left before Daniels drained a 3-pointer and added a layup to bring the Lancers within four with 1:22 remaining.
Felix Kossaras made an off-balance free-throw line jumper as the shot clock was expiring with 47.2 seconds left as Colorado held off the charge.
The Lancers shot 40.3 percent from the field and were just 2 of 13 from behind the arc.
Colorado scored the first basket of the game before missing its next 10 shots.
Cal Baptist took advantage with an 18-3 push with back-to-back baskets by Daniels giving the Lancers a 13-point advantage with 12:08 left in the half.
Cal Baptist held a 23-9 lead after Devon Malcolm’s layup with 8:26 left in the first half before the Buffaloes rallied to tie the game at 32 on a basket by Johnson with 1:12 remaining.
Williams’ layup with under four seconds left gave the Lancers the two-point halftime edge.
–Field Level Media
