Colorado Buffaloes Survive Late Oklahoma State Comeback

Buffs junior forward Bangot Dak leads the way as Colorado holds on for 83-69 victory

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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The Colorado Buffaloes men's basketball team beat the Oklahoma State Cowboys 83-69 on Saturday, improving their record to 15-12 with only four games remaining in the regular season. Colorado led by 8 at halftime, but Oklahoma State quickly erased the deficit and took the lead in the second half. However, the Buffs were able to regain control and secure the victory, led by junior forward Bangot Dak's 17 points.

Why it matters

While Colorado's postseason future is still uncertain, this win provides a boost of momentum as they head into the final stretch of the regular season. The Buffs have shown the ability to win close games against tough Big 12 opponents, which could pay dividends if they make a run in the conference tournament.

The details

Colorado entered halftime with an 8-point lead, but Oklahoma State quickly erased the deficit and took a 48-47 lead with just under 16 minutes remaining in the second half. However, the Buffs were able to regain control of the game, led by Bangot Dak's 17 points. Junior guard Barrington Hargress also had a strong game, scoring 16 points and dishing out a game-high 8 assists. Colorado shot 41% from three-point range and outrebounded Oklahoma State 37-30.

  • The game was played on Saturday, February 21, 2026.

The players

Bangot Dak

A junior forward for the Colorado Buffaloes who led all scorers with 17 points and added 7 rebounds and 2 blocks.

Barrington Hargress

A junior guard for the Colorado Buffaloes who scored 16 points and had a game-high 8 assists.

Tad Boyle

The head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes men's basketball team.

Sebastian Rancik

A Colorado Buffaloes forward who grabbed a team-high 10 rebounds.

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What they’re saying

“We're getting too comfortable. I feel like Coach [Tad Boyle] says it well, we get complacent knowing that we can go down there and score out our actions or out of our God given abilities, but our mindset just changes a little bit. And you can tell in our energy, and that's just something we've been struggling with this season. The have multiple efforts and keep stringing those stops together and doing the right thing over and over again, but it's tough with a young team.”

— Bangot Dak, Junior forward

“When you don't play your best and you can come out of a Big 12 game with a double-digit win, you feel pretty good. You take it and move on. But I was really disappointed with how we finished the first half. We've got the ability to play so much better than we played tonight, but you take it. You move on, you're thankful for it, and you got to keep learning and growing with this young team.”

— Tad Boyle, Head coach

What’s next

The Buffs have four games remaining in the regular season, including matchups against No. 2 Houston and No. 4 Arizona. Colorado will look to split those final four games and then focus on making a run in the Big 12 Tournament, where they will hope to secure an NCAA Tournament berth.

The takeaway

This game showcased the resilience and leadership of Colorado's veteran players like Bangot Dak, who helped the young Buffs team withstand Oklahoma State's second-half comeback attempt. While Colorado may still be a longshot for the NCAA Tournament, this win demonstrates the team's potential and ability to compete with the top teams in the Big 12.