Buffs Beat North Texas In Exhibition Thriller

Sunday, October 18

Denver, Colo.

1 p.m.

Colorado

0-0,0-0Big 12

North Texas

0-0,0-0American

Team	1	2	F
North Texas	27	37	64
Colorado	32	35	67

October 18, 2026 | Men's Basketball

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By: Marcelo Brant, Athletic Communications Student Assistant

DENVER – The Colorado Buffaloes men's basketball team defeated North Texas 67-64 in an exhibition game in the Auraria Event Center at Metropolitan State University in Denver on Sunday.

In a physical battle that resulted in 50 total free-throw attempts, the Buffs clung to a three-point lead with 10 seconds to go, but UNT missed a pair of threes as time expired and CU secured the hard-fought win.

"This was a great test for us this year," Head Coach Tad Boyle said. "On Oct. 18, to play a team like North Texas, with veteran guards, a tough-minded coach and system, and it was a physical game, obviously. Our guys answered the bell down the stretch. These are all about learning opportunities for our team."

The free event, branded the Mile High Hoops Classic, brought Buffaloes basketball action closer to CU fans in Denver.

"It was great having the Denver people who didn't have to drive to Boulder," Boyle added. "Before we left the gym, there were still a bunch of kids getting autographs from our players that maybe don't get a chance to come up to Boulder for a game. It's a great venue."

The duel gave fans a glimpse of what to expect from Buffs hoops this season, with new additions such as guard Alex Dickeson, a freshman from Adelaide, Australia, and graduate student forward Justin Neely, a transfer from UNC Greensboro, playing major roles in the team's win.

Dickeson finished with a team-high 15 points, while Neely led the squad in assists and rebounds, with six and nine, respectively.

"I think it was great," Dickeson said about the game. "North Texas put up a great fight, and coming into this we knew they were going to be physical, getting up into our team defensively, so we needed it."

CU also showed grit on the defensive side, recording seven total blocks, with center Noah Feddersen responsible for three.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

The Buffaloes came out hot, with an 8-0 run to begin the game. Fifth-year guard Barrington Hargress led the charge with four points to pace the early lead. At the first media timeout, CU held a 10-5 lead.

After the break, the Buffs' defense tightened, forcing UNT into six straight misses as part of a four-minute scoring drought. Colorado's defensive highlight of the half came with 10 minutes left, when Dickeson leaped to block guard Amar Amkou's layup attempt.

As the first half wound down, North Texas kept edging closer to CU. Mean Green guard Cole Franklin made a second-chance layup to cut Colorado's lead to 23-22 with three minutes left in the first period.

With a minute to go, Dickeson hit a three-pointer to extend CU's cushion to four points. On the following possession, Neely converted a layup while being fouled and then sank the ensuing free throw to bring the first half to a close, with the Buffaloes holding a narrow 32-27 lead.

The Buffs were led in the first half by Neely's seven points, five rebounds, and three assists, which were all team highs. The forward also converted all five free-throw attempts. CU hit 47% of its shots from the field, while North Texas converted 37%. The Buffs were 3-for-11 from 3-point range, while UNT was 0-for-7.

As the second half began, North Texas rallied, making three straight shots before tying the game at 36-36 at the 16-minute mark when guard Casmir Chavis was fouled while scoring a layup and hit his free throw to knot the game for the first time since it was 0-0. CU soon retook the lead with a highlight-reel slam dunk by guard Jalin Holland, off a bounce-pass assist by Neely.

After the under 12-minute media timeout, North Texas took its first lead on a driving layup by Chavis, kicking off an 8-0 UNT run. Colorado's two-minute scoring drought was ended by a Dickeson three-pointer with nine minutes left to cut the Mean Green's lead to two at 46-44.

Both teams then exchanged leads as the game became a see-saw battle. Dickeson hit a driving right-handed layup, and UNT guard Alexander Aenas responded with the team's first successful three-point shot of the game with 6:22 to go in the second half. After another North Texas three by guard Je'Shawn Stevenson, the Mean Green held a 53-50 lead with four minutes remaining in the second half.

After a pair of fouls by North Texas, CU converted four straight free throws to re-seize the lead at 59-58 with two minutes left. With the Buffs holding just a one-point lead with 27 seconds to go in the game, Hargress made two free throws to extend the advantage to 67-64, and the Buffaloes' defense did the rest, propelling Colorado to the win.

UP NEXT: Colorado will open its 2026-27 season against Abilene Christian on Monday, Nov. 2, at the CU Events Center (ESPN+ and 850 AM and 94.1 FM KOA)