Isaiah Johnson Leads Colorado to Eighth Straight Win Over Cal Baptist

The Colorado Buffaloes defeated California Baptist 78-70 on Monday night, marking their eighth consecutive win to open the season. True freshman Isaiah Johnson led the team with 17 points, showcasing his potential as a vital contributor off the bench. Barrington Hargress and Sebastian Rancik also made significant contributions, each scoring 12 points in the victory.

Johnson excelled at the free-throw line, converting 9 of 11 attempts. Alon Michaeli added 11 points for Colorado, which shot 45% from the field, including 38% from three-point range. The Buffaloes’ performance highlights their impressive start, which is the best in the program’s history since the 1949-50 season.

Game Highlights and Turning Points

California Baptist’s Dominique Daniels Jr. was a standout for the Lancers, scoring 25 points with an impressive 10 of 11 shooting from the foul line. Martel Williams contributed 14 points, but the Lancers struggled to maintain their momentum throughout the game. A layup from Jordan Muller with 13:03 left in the second half briefly gave California Baptist a 50-48 lead after Michaeli had tied the game at 48.

Despite a promising start, the Lancers went on a scoring drought that spanned several minutes. Colorado seized the opportunity, executing a decisive 16-0 run to extend their lead to 64-54 after Bangot Dak hit a three-pointer with 5:12 remaining. Although Williams managed to complete a three-point play and Jonathan Griman added a dunk to bring California Baptist within 64-59, they could not close the gap further.

Daniels attempted to rally the Lancers with a personal 5-0 run, scoring a three-pointer and a layup to narrow the deficit to 70-66, but Colorado maintained control until the final buzzer.

Upcoming Matches

With this victory, Colorado sets its sights on a challenging matchup against Colorado State on Saturday. Meanwhile, California Baptist will travel to face ninth-ranked BYU on Wednesday, looking to rebound from this defeat. The Buffaloes continue to build on their best start in 76 years, raising expectations for the remainder of the season.

This early success has generated excitement among fans and analysts alike, as the Buffaloes aim to sustain their momentum and compete at a high level in the upcoming matches.