AMES, Iowa — The third time definitely was not a charm for the Colorado men’s basketball team.
Familiarity didn’t help the Buffaloes in their third matchup this season against Iowa State, as the eighth-ranked Cyclones ran away from the Buffs while handing CU a 79-65 defeat on Tuesday night.
The Buffs were unable to build on the momentum from the first Big 12 win of the season last week and did nothing to warm up Hilton Coliseum on a frigid night in Ames. CU recorded just one field goal in the first 10 minutes and struggled to slow down the hosts during the third loss against the Cyclones this year.
The defeat also extended CU’s losing streak against ranked foes in true road games to 21.
Despite CU’s thorough struggles, the Buffs trailed by only five points after a Julian Hammond 3-pointer — CU’s only field goal of the first 10 minutes, which occurred more than five minutes in. But the Buffs went just 7-for-13 at the free throw line in the first half and finished the frame with eight turnovers, while ISU shot .591 in the opening frame.
ISU led 45-28 at halftime, matching the highest first-half point total allowed this season by CU, with the previous 45-point first half also recorded by the Cyclones against the Buffs at the Maui Invitational in November.
Bangot Dak led the Buffs with a career-high 20 points, adding four rebounds, while Harrison Carrington came off the bench to go 4-for-5 with a career-high 11 points. Iowa State outrebounded CU 31-29 and finished with a .511 field goal percentage.
CU (10-16, 1-14 Big 12) returns home to host Baylor on Saturday (2 p.m., ESPN+).
No. 8 Iowa St. 79, Colorado 65
COLORADO (10-16, 1-14 Big 12)
Dak 8-14 3-3 20, Jakimovski 4-8 2-5 10, Rancik 2-2 0-0 4, Malone 0-4 2-2 2, Hammond 3-9 2-2 9, Smith 0-2 0-0 0, Carrington 4-5 2-3 11, Ruffin 2-5 2-2 6, Kossaras 1-1 0-0 3, Diop 0-3 0-1 0, Baskin 0-0 0-4 0. Totals 24-53 13-22 65.
IOWA ST. (21-5, 11-4)
Jefferson 4-6 2-3 12, Momcilovic 2-8 7-8 13, Jackson 3-4 7-10 13, Gilbert 1-3 2-4 5, Lipsey 4-7 2-2 12, Jones 3-9 0-2 7, Heise 4-6 1-2 11, Chatfield 3-3 0-0 6, Fish 0-0 0-0 0, Indrusaitis 0-0 0-0 0, Kelderman 0-0 0-0 0, Rock 0-1 0-0 0, Watson 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 24-47 21-31 79.
Halftime: Iowa St. 45-28. 3-Point Goals: Colorado 4-17 (Carrington 1-1, Kossaras 1-1, Dak 1-3, Hammond 1-4, Diop 0-1, Ruffin 0-2, Smith 0-2, Jakimovski 0-3), Iowa St. 10-21 (Jefferson 2-2, Heise 2-3, Lipsey 2-4, Momcilovic 2-6, Gilbert 1-2, Jones 1-4). Fouled Out: Rancik, Jackson. Rebounds: Colorado 29 (Kossaras 5), Iowa St. 31 (Jefferson 7). Assists: Colorado 10 (Hammond, Smith, Kossaras 2), Iowa St. 19 (Gilbert 5). Total Fouls: Colorado 25, Iowa St. 20.