Buffs Break 13-Game Big 12 Slump with a 76-63 Win Over UCF

It’s official: the Colorado Buffaloes are finally winners in the Big 12. After 14 long years, the Buffs finally snagged their first conference win with a 76-63 victory over UCF. And let’s be real: if you were one of those fans anxiously waiting for this day, this one felt so sweet.

For context, the last time Colorado won a Big 12 game was March 10, 2011, when they took down Kansas State in the Big 12 Tournament. And after a long stretch in the Pac-12, it’s clear the Buffs are settling back in. But this win? Oh, this one was a confidence builder.

Andrej Jakimovski was the man of the hour, leading the charge with 15 points. Julian Hammond III backed him up with 11 points, and Sebastian Rancik added 10 more.

But it wasn’t just the scoring that did the trick. No, the real story was on the boards, where Colorado dominated. They out-rebounded UCF 52-29 and grabbed a ridiculous 16 offensive boards

It wasn’t all smooth sailing, though. UCF (13-12, 4-10 Big 12) was making it interesting. Keyshawn Hall (19 points) and Darius Johnson (15 points) kept the Knights in it. And just when it looked like Colorado might pull away in the first half, UCF went on a 13-2 run to grab a 31-27 lead.

But the Buffs weren’t about to let that slide. They closed the half with an 11-5 run, and Bangot Dak’s layup at the buzzer gave Colorado a 38-36 lead at the break.

As for the second half? The Buffs flexed their muscles. They stayed aggressive, and by the time the clock hit zero, it was clear: Colorado finally put their Big 12 demons to bed.

Oh, and did I mention the cherry on top?

The legendary Derrick White, current NBA champ with the Boston Celtics, had his jersey unveiled during a halftime ceremony. A little recognition for the program's past greatness, while the team builds its future greatness? Perfect.

With the win, Colorado also snapped their 13-game Big 12 losing streak. The joy on social media was palpable.

Looking ahead, Colorado travels to face 10th-ranked Iowa State on Tuesday. That’s going to be a tough one, but hey, the Buffs just beat UCF and finally shook off that 13-game skid. Why not take that energy to Ames? If they keep up the rebounding and execution down the stretch, they might just pull off the upset.