Isaiah Johnson led Colorado with 19 points
Photo by: Simon Broan
Competitive Buffs Fall To Boomers
July 31, 2025 | Men's Basketball
BOULDER – Colorado men's basketball fell just short in its bid to continue its winning streak down under as the Boomers, Australia's Men's National Team, held off the Buffaloes 93-87 Thursday evening locally (early morning in Boulder) at the Gold Coast Sports & Leisure Centre.
Incoming freshman guard Isaiah Johnson led Colorado off the bench with 19 points, hitting 6 of 10 from the field, including 3 of 4 from 3-point range. Sophomore forward Sebastian Rancik scored 16 points while grabbing five rebounds. Second-year graduate center Elijah Malone had 10 points and a team-high seven rebounds.
Jack McVeigh, an Australian Olympian who played last season on a two-way contract with the NBA's Houston Rockets (Rio Grande Valley), led the Boomers with 20 points while dishing out seven assists.
It was an excellent test for Colorado (2-1 on the exhibition tour), which featured six freshmen and eight newcomers overall, against a Boomers team that in some cases had a full decade of age and experience over the young Buffaloes. The Australian Boomers had a lot at stake in this game as well, using it as a tune-up for the upcoming FIBA Asia Cup in August in Saudi Arabia.
"Colorado Basketball has never been, nor will ever be, satisfied with losing," Colorado head coach Tad Boyle said. "With that being said, I am extremely proud of our team for the toughness and resilience they showed in a very tough environment. This was a Big 12-type game in regards to both the physical play and the road environment with both the fans and officials. This is an experience that we can build upon and learn from next January and February."
The game was tightly played throughout as neither team held a double-digit lead at any point in the contest. Colorado led for a good portion of the first half, building a 10-2 lead out of the gate. The Boomers eventually caught up to take a four-point lead, 24-20, at the end of the first quarter.
Colorado regained the lead late in the second quarter on back-to-back 3-point shots by Leonardo Van Elswyk and Johnson, giving the Buffaloes a 37-35 lead, and held on to take a 44-43 advantage at the break.
The Boomers had their biggest run late in the third quarter. Tied at 57 with 4:48 remaining, Australia ended the quarter on a 13-5 run thanks to the 3-ball. Jack White hit a 3-pointer to break the tie, and Reyne Smith hit back-to-back triples as the Boomers took a 70-62 lead into the fourth.
Colorado wasn't about to pack it in, though. After a McVeigh free throw gave the Boomers their largest lead of the game at 71-62, the Buffaloes cut the lead to five with buckets from Felix Kossaras and Rancik.
Jaylin Galloway, who finished with 16 points, scored three straight to put Australia back up by seven, 76-69, with 6:59 left. The Buffaloes then made their last valiant run with back-to-back 3-point field goals by the freshman duo of Josiah Sanders and Jalin Holland to get within one, 76-75, with 6:16 left.
Australia was able to hold off the Buffaloes, however, building its lead back to eight with another 13-5 run, capped off with a McVeigh 3-pointer to give the Boomers an 89-80 lead with just over two minutes to play before finishing off the six-point win.
"As always, the difference between winning and losing is a very fine line at times," Boyle said. "Tonight was one of those games. A turnover here, or there. A missed free throw, a missed defensive assignment, and the inability again to guard the 3-point line, all of these areas can be pinpointed in this loss. The good news is that we can control and improve on all these areas. This team will be fun to watch learn and grow throughout the upcoming season! Our young players play with a toughness and confidence that is required for success in the Big 12."
The Buffaloes will travel to Cairns for a couple days of sightseeing, including the Great Barrier Reef, before heading to Sydney for their final contest against the Sydney Kings which will take place Monday, Aug. 4, at 11 a.m. in Australia, Sunday, Aug. 3, at 7 p.m. back in Colorado.
Incoming freshman guard Isaiah Johnson led Colorado off the bench with 19 points, hitting 6 of 10 from the field, including 3 of 4 from 3-point range. Sophomore forward Sebastian Rancik scored 16 points while grabbing five rebounds. Second-year graduate center Elijah Malone had 10 points and a team-high seven rebounds.
Jack McVeigh, an Australian Olympian who played last season on a two-way contract with the NBA's Houston Rockets (Rio Grande Valley), led the Boomers with 20 points while dishing out seven assists.
It was an excellent test for Colorado (2-1 on the exhibition tour), which featured six freshmen and eight newcomers overall, against a Boomers team that in some cases had a full decade of age and experience over the young Buffaloes. The Australian Boomers had a lot at stake in this game as well, using it as a tune-up for the upcoming FIBA Asia Cup in August in Saudi Arabia.
"Colorado Basketball has never been, nor will ever be, satisfied with losing," Colorado head coach Tad Boyle said. "With that being said, I am extremely proud of our team for the toughness and resilience they showed in a very tough environment. This was a Big 12-type game in regards to both the physical play and the road environment with both the fans and officials. This is an experience that we can build upon and learn from next January and February."
The game was tightly played throughout as neither team held a double-digit lead at any point in the contest. Colorado led for a good portion of the first half, building a 10-2 lead out of the gate. The Boomers eventually caught up to take a four-point lead, 24-20, at the end of the first quarter.
Colorado regained the lead late in the second quarter on back-to-back 3-point shots by Leonardo Van Elswyk and Johnson, giving the Buffaloes a 37-35 lead, and held on to take a 44-43 advantage at the break.
The Boomers had their biggest run late in the third quarter. Tied at 57 with 4:48 remaining, Australia ended the quarter on a 13-5 run thanks to the 3-ball. Jack White hit a 3-pointer to break the tie, and Reyne Smith hit back-to-back triples as the Boomers took a 70-62 lead into the fourth.
Colorado wasn't about to pack it in, though. After a McVeigh free throw gave the Boomers their largest lead of the game at 71-62, the Buffaloes cut the lead to five with buckets from Felix Kossaras and Rancik.
Jaylin Galloway, who finished with 16 points, scored three straight to put Australia back up by seven, 76-69, with 6:59 left. The Buffaloes then made their last valiant run with back-to-back 3-point field goals by the freshman duo of Josiah Sanders and Jalin Holland to get within one, 76-75, with 6:16 left.
Australia was able to hold off the Buffaloes, however, building its lead back to eight with another 13-5 run, capped off with a McVeigh 3-pointer to give the Boomers an 89-80 lead with just over two minutes to play before finishing off the six-point win.
"As always, the difference between winning and losing is a very fine line at times," Boyle said. "Tonight was one of those games. A turnover here, or there. A missed free throw, a missed defensive assignment, and the inability again to guard the 3-point line, all of these areas can be pinpointed in this loss. The good news is that we can control and improve on all these areas. This team will be fun to watch learn and grow throughout the upcoming season! Our young players play with a toughness and confidence that is required for success in the Big 12."
The Buffaloes will travel to Cairns for a couple days of sightseeing, including the Great Barrier Reef, before heading to Sydney for their final contest against the Sydney Kings which will take place Monday, Aug. 4, at 11 a.m. in Australia, Sunday, Aug. 3, at 7 p.m. back in Colorado.
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