It may not have been the season Colorado fans dreamed of, but the Buffaloes made sure to close it in style, sending their seniors off with a dominant 76-56 win over TCU in their final home game of the regular season. In a year filled with growing pains and tough breaks, this one was different—the Buffs played with pride, purpose, and a whole lot of heart.
For a team that had struggled to find consistency, Saturday’s game felt like a statement. The Buffs never trailed, coming out of the gates hot and refusing to let up. Senior guard Julian Hammond III put on a show, pouring in 19 points and tying a career-high with seven assists. Graduate forward Trevor Baskin owned the glass, grabbing a team season-high 16 rebounds, while RJ Smith and Bangot Dak each contributed double-digit scoring efforts.
Head coach Tad Boyle, who has seen his fair share of ups and downs with this squad, couldn’t have been prouder.
“I'm really happy for our five seniors,” Boyle said. “We challenged our guys to play for them, to give everything they had today, and they answered the call.”
And answer they did. The Buffs played some of their most complete basketball of the season, shooting a respectable 45.6% from the field and knocking down eight three-pointers, something that’s been a struggle all year.
On the defensive end, they locked in, holding TCU to just 31.6% shooting and dominating the boards with a plus-16 rebounding margin.
Perhaps the most emotional moment of the night came when senior walk-on Jack Pease got his chance in the final minute. After years of grinding in practice, he finally had his moment in the spotlight, stepping to the free-throw line and knocking down his first career point. The bench erupted, and the crowd followed suit. It was one of those moments that reminds you why college basketball is special.
“It means a lot when you can do that for a guy like Jack,” senior Javon Ruffin said. “He’s put in so much work for this program. To see him get that moment, that’s what this is all about.”
While the Buffs’ first season back in the Big 12 didn’t go as planned—finishing conference play at just 3-17—Saturday’s win was a reminder of what this team is capable of. The energy, the effort, the execution—it was all there.
Now, the focus shifts to the Big 12 Tournament, where the Buffs will face TCU again in the opening round.