Colorado Buffaloes Dominate in Season Opener, Prepare for Northern Colorado Matchup

The Colorado Buffaloes kicked off their 2024-25 college basketball season with a strong performance, defeating Eastern Washington by a score of 76-56. Despite a slow start, trailing 31-25 at halftime, the Buffaloes rallied in the second half, outscoring Eastern Washington 51-25 to secure a 20-point victory. Colorado shot 45.8% from the field, 39.1% on three-pointers, and 76.5% on free throws. Sebastian Rancik led the team with 13 points and three rebounds, while Javon Ruffin and Trevor Baskin each contributed 12 points[1][4].

The Buffaloes’ rebounding and defensive efforts were also noteworthy, as they won the rebounding battle by 17 and turned the game around with a strong second-half performance. However, they did struggle with turnovers, committing 18 in the game[1].

Next, the Colorado Buffaloes are set to face the Northern Colorado Bears on Friday, November 8, at the CU Events Center in Boulder, Colorado. The Northern Colorado Bears, who are also 1-0 this season, come into this matchup after defeating Colorado College 75-55. Langston Reynolds led the Bears with 21 points and seven rebounds, while Brock Wisne added 15 points and nine rebounds. Northern Colorado’s defense was impressive, holding Colorado College to just 26 points in the second half[1].

The betting odds favor the Colorado Buffaloes, with a spread of -12.5 points. Historical trends suggest that Colorado has a strong advantage at home, having won each of their last 12 night games at CU Events Center against non-AP-ranked opponents. However, Northern Colorado has shown resilience in night games against non-conference opponents, winning their last three such matchups[1].

The game will be available to stream on ESPN+, and fans are anticipating a competitive matchup between these two Colorado-based teams.