In a recent matchup in Boulder, Colorado, J’Wan Roberts led the No. 5 Houston Cougars with 20 points, while Terrance Arceneaux contributed 15 points, including 13 in a pivotal second half, as Houston managed to secure a 69-59 victory over the Buffaloes, marking Colorado’s 12th consecutive loss. L.J. Cryer also added 15 points for Houston, although he seemed to have sustained an injury during the closing moments of the contest.

Houston started the game strong, quickly establishing a 9-0 advantage, suggesting that the game could turn into a rout. However, Colorado showcased patience on offense, coupled with a solid defense, gradually closing the gap and applying pressure on the Cougars. A crucial incident occurred with just three minutes remaining when Milos Uzan of Colorado was initially called for traveling after the shot clock expired. Following a review, the call was overturned, allowing Roberts to score twice in quick succession, providing much-needed breathing space for Houston.

Leading Colorado was Julian Hammond III, who netted 22 points and sank five three-pointers. This defeat marked the Buffaloes’ first time losing 12 games in a row since the 2008-09 season.

Key observations from the game reveal that Kelvin Sampson, the head coach for Houston, achieved his first victory against Colorado in his current role, having recorded an impressive 14-3 record against them previously while coaching at Oklahoma. For Colorado, the loss pushed their record to 1-3 against top-five ranked opponents this season, a historic occurrence as it’s the fourth instance in the historical AP rankings era (since 1948-49) where they faced four top-five teams in a single season.

A pivotal moment in the game came midway through the second half when Houston’s Mylik Wilson executed a crucial steal and capitalized with a dunk, altering the momentum as the game approached the final minutes.

Statistically, Houston dominated various aspects of the game, particularly in the rebounding department, where they outperformed Colorado 38-26. In points scored in the paint, Houston notched 42 compared to Colorado’s 20, while also leading in second-chance points with a 18-7 advantage.

Looking ahead, Houston is set to host Baylor on Monday, whereas Colorado will face No. 16 Kansas on Tuesday.