Colorado men’s basketball drops fourth straight Big 12 game

Jan 12, 2025; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes head coach Tad Boyles duringt the second half against the West Virginia Mountaineers at CU Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Colorado men’s basketball’s return to the Big 12 hasn’t been pretty through four conference games.

Following Saturday’s 78-70 home loss to the No. 21 West Virginia Mountaineers, the Buffs are 0-4 to begin conference play for the first time since 2016-17 in the Pac-12. It’s still early, but Colorado is now tied with Cincinnati for last place in the Big 12.

Once again, Colorado didn’t receive much offensive production outside of point guard Julian Hammond III, who scored 23 points. Assane Diop was the Buffs’ only other double-digit scorer, dropping 13.

Colorado outscored West Virginia 41-38 in the second half despite losing starters Elijah Malone and RJ Smith. According to head coach Tad Boyle, Malone tweaked his back and Smith was “not himself.”

Defensively, the Buffs struggled to slow Big 12-leading scorer Javon Small. The senior point guard scored 26 points, with 10 coming from the free-throw line.

The Buffs (9-6, 0-4 Big 12) will host Cincinnati on Wednesday (7 p.m. MT, ESPN+).

Check out the best pictures from Colorado’s loss to West Virginia on Saturday afternoon: