Buffs Fall to San Diego State in Bill Walton Classic - University of Colorado Athletics

Saturday, November 7

San Diego, Calif.

1:30 p.m.

Colorado

1-1,0-0Big 12

San Diego State

2-0,0-0Pac-12

Team	1	2	F
Colorado	17	49	66
San Diego St.	35	42	77

Barrington Hargress

November 07, 2026 | Men's Basketball

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Hargress scores CU-high 33, as second-half comeback falls short

By: Cody Cutone, Athletic Communications Student Assistant

SAN DIEGO - The Colorado Buffaloes men's basketball team fell to the San Diego State Aztecs 77-66 in the National University Bill Walton Classic at Pechanga Arena on Saturday afternoon.

It was the first meeting between the two teams in 50 years, as part of the inaugural event which honored Bill Walton in his hometown of San Diego.

"The atmosphere was great," Head Coach Tad Boyle said. "Honoring Bill Walton was something that we were honored to do, and honored to be asked to do. I know how influential he was to San Diego and this community."

The Buffs struggled in the first half, finding themselves having to fight out of a 35-17 deficit. Despite a more balanced effort in the second half in which they outscored the Aztecs 49-42 in the second half, it was not enough as CU falls to 1-1 on the season.

"We sure didn't handle it very well, and that's where we have to do better," Boyle said on the Buffs first road test of the season. "That's a wake up call. That's what you need early in the season, because you don't get these opportunities back."

Colorado shot just 37% from the field, while also committing 23 team fouls. Despite being able to make it to the free throw line 25 times, they made just 15.

There were still positive takeaways from this early season matchup. Fifth-year guard Barrington Hargress' 33 points were a new career-high at CU, while also tying his overall career-high with five made three-pointers.

The Buffs defense also forced 12 steals and caused 20 turnovers, which led to 28 points. Freshman guard Alex Dickeson led the team with six rebounds, while also forcing two steals.

How it happened:

Colorado opened up the scoring with a powerful drive-in layup from sophomore guard Josiah Sanders, but San Diego State quickly responded with a 7-0 scoring run, holding the Buffs to six missed field goals during the three minute span.

A steal from Sanders then led to a pull-up three point jumper from Hargress in transition. The made basket broke the Aztecs scoring run leading into the game's first media timeout, with SDSU holding a narrow 7-5 lead.

Graduate forward Justin Neely's aggressive defense caused a steal out of the break, but also led to two early personal fouls, which kept him scoreless and out for most of the half. San Diego State was hot from beyond the arc, hitting their first three three-point attempts to climb to a 15-5 lead, and tacking on another 8-0 scoring run in the process.

The Buffs broke their six minute scoreless streak at the 10 minute mark, with a powerful drive-in layup and finish from Hargress. Soon after, sophomore guards Ian Inman and Jalin Holland connected off a steal on a fast break layup, with Inman finding Holland in transition. After back and forth free throws between the two teams, Colorado found themselves down 20-10 at the under eight minute mark.

The turnovers and foul trouble continued for Colorado, leading to another 7-0 scoring run from SDSU, extending its lead to 17 points. A technical foul by Hargress following his made layup led to more free throws from the Aztecs. Sophomore guard Chance Gladden's drive-in layup off a Buffs turnover closed out the scoring for the half.

Colorado shot just 20% from the field in the first half, and registered 13 team fouls. San Diego State took a 35-17 lead into halftime.

Holland came out firing for the Buffs in the second half, with an immediate steal and fastbreak dunk. Hargress then exploded, scoring CU's next 8 points, with two three-pointers and a jump shot from the paint. A 12-4 run to start the half saw CU trim the lead to just 10, taking a 39-29 deficit into the half's first media timeout.

Hargress continued his hot streak, when Neely found him for his third made three-pointer of the half. Neely was also able to find an aggressive offensive approach early in the half, being sent to the free throw line eight times. His five made free throws continued to help edge Colorado back into the game, where SDSU saw a 45-35 lead at the 12 minute mark.

The Aztecs were able to knock down back-to-back threes, but the Buffaloes responded quickly with layups from Sanders and Hargress, forcing a San Diego State timeout up 53-41 with just under 10 minutes remaining.

A steal by Holland led to Dickeson's first points of the game, when he drilled a corner three off of the turnover. Two more free throws from Hargress then gave him 26 points on the day, surpassing his previous career high at Colorado. The Aztecs led 59-48 with just over six minutes remaining.

Colorado paid for another missed free throw, as junior guard Latrell Davis hit his third three-pointer of the half, extending the lead back to 64-48. The Buffs turned to a full court press for the last three and a half minutes, looking to add extra pressure in more desperate times. The aggressive approach caused Neely to foul out, registering five points on the day.

Colorado ultimately failed to close the gap in the second half, falling 77 - 66 to San Diego State.

UP NEXT: The Buffaloes return home to face the San Diego Toreros on Tuesday, Nov. 10, at 7:00 p.m. at the CU Events Center. Tickets are available here.