Colorado Buffaloes Aim to Upset No. 5 Houston Cougars Before Big 12 Tournament

Coach Tad Boyle's young Buffs look to build momentum with a key road win against the struggling Cougars.

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

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The Colorado Buffaloes (16-12, 6-9 Big 12) face a tough road test against the No. 5 Houston Cougars (22-6, 12-4 Big 12) as they look to pull off an upset and build momentum heading into the Big 12 Tournament. The Buffs are coming off back-to-back home wins over Kansas State and Oklahoma State, led by strong performances from freshman guard Isaiah Johnson and veteran guards Ian Inman and Barrington Hargress. However, the Cougars have hit a late-season skid, losing three straight games against ranked Big 12 opponents. Colorado will be making its first trip to Houston since 1994, hoping to avenge two losses to the Cougars last season in the Big 12 Tournament.

Why it matters

This game represents a key opportunity for the Colorado Buffaloes to notch a marquee road win against a top-5 opponent before the Big 12 Tournament. A victory would provide a major confidence boost for the young Buffs squad and potentially improve their seeding and outlook for the postseason. For Houston, this game represents a chance to end their recent slide and regain their footing as a national title contender.

The details

In their last outing, the Buffaloes rallied from an early deficit to defeat Kansas State 79-70, led by Isaiah Johnson's near triple-double (18 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists). Ian Inman also had a career-high 17 points with 5 made 3-pointers. The Cougars, meanwhile, have lost three straight games against ranked Big 12 opponents, including a home loss to No. 4 Arizona. Freshman guard Kingston Flemings leads Houston in scoring (16.6 ppg) and assists (5.1 apg), while senior guard Emmanuel Sharp averages 16 points per game.

  • The game is scheduled for Saturday, February 28, 2026 at 10:00 AM MT.
  • Colorado last visited Houston in 1994.

The players

Tad Boyle

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

Isaiah Johnson

A freshman guard for the Colorado Buffaloes who had a near triple-double in the team's last game.

Kingston Flemings

A freshman guard for the Houston Cougars who leads the team in scoring and assists.

Emmanuel Sharp

A senior guard for the Houston Cougars who averages 16 points per game.

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What they’re saying

“We must prove we haven't been thinking about next season, even after back-to-back wins. Or else, the No. 5 Houston Cougars will embarrass us ahead of an important Big 12 tournament for our future together.”

— Tad Boyle, Head Coach, Colorado Buffaloes

What’s next

The winner of this game will have momentum heading into the Big 12 Tournament, which begins on March 5th.

The takeaway

This game represents a crucial opportunity for the young Colorado Buffaloes to notch a signature road win against a top-5 opponent and build confidence ahead of the postseason. For Houston, it's a chance to end their recent skid and reassert themselves as a national title contender.