Colorado Buffaloes Show Fight in Close Loss to BYU

Tad Boyle's squad proves it can compete on the road despite falling short against ranked opponent

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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Following a close 90-86 road loss to the 22nd-ranked BYU Cougars, Colorado Buffaloes head coach Tad Boyle praised his team's fight and effort, despite the defeat. The Buffaloes played a solid all-around game, getting strong offensive contributions from their starting lineup, but ultimately came up short due to struggles from the free-throw line and being out-rebounded by the Cougars.

Why it matters

While the loss hurts Colorado's NCAA Tournament hopes, Boyle sees this performance as a positive sign for the team's future. The Buffaloes showed they can compete on the road against a ranked opponent, a crucial skill for any team looking to make a deep postseason run.

The details

Colorado's starting five of Bangot Dak, Sebastian Rancik, Isaiah Johnson, Jalin Holland, and Barrington Hargrees combined for 80 of the team's 86 points. Johnson led the way with a team-high 27 points. However, the Buffaloes struggled from the free-throw line, shooting just 61% (11-18), and were out-rebounded 46-39 by BYU, including giving up 8 offensive rebounds. The Cougars also had the edge from three-point range, making 11-of-22 attempts compared to Colorado's 9-of-32.

  • The game was played on February 14, 2026 in Provo, Utah.
  • Colorado's next road games are in the Big 12 conference, with two opportunities to show their grit and determination.

The players

Tad Boyle

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

Bangot Dak

A forward for the Colorado Buffaloes.

Sebastian Rancik

A forward for the Colorado Buffaloes.

Isaiah Johnson

A guard for the Colorado Buffaloes who led the team with 27 points in the game.

Jalin Holland

A guard for the Colorado Buffaloes.

Barrington Hargrees

A guard for the Colorado Buffaloes.

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What they’re saying

“Tonight we fought like a team I'm proud of representing.”

— Tad Boyle, Head Coach (Colorado Buffaloes)

“Sometimes basketball comes down to a make-or-miss game. Most games don't, but some games do. And tonight, you know, BYU made the open shots when they had them down the stretch. And we didn't.”

— Tad Boyle, Head Coach (Colorado Buffaloes)

“But our guys fought, and I can live with that. No moral victories, but I can live with the fight we had.”

— Tad Boyle, Head Coach (Colorado Buffaloes)

What’s next

The Buffaloes have two more road games in the Big 12 conference, where they will look to build on this performance and show their grit and determination for a full 40 minutes.

The takeaway

While the loss to BYU hurts Colorado's NCAA Tournament hopes, Tad Boyle sees this as a positive sign for his team's future. The Buffaloes proved they can compete on the road against a ranked opponent, which is a crucial skill for any team looking to make a deep postseason run. With two more road games in the Big 12, Colorado has an opportunity to show their resilience and continue to improve their performance away from home.