BOULDER, Colo. (Interstat) — In a game defined by defensive pressure and offensive inefficiency, the Colorado Buffaloes used a dominant first-half performance and timely second-half answers to hold off the Kansas State Wildcats 79-70 in a Big 12 Conference men’s basketball game Wednesday night at a sold-out Coors Events Center.

A crowd of 6,058 saw the Buffaloes improve to 16-12 overall, while the Wildcats fell to 11-17. Colorado, which led by as many as 15 points in the opening period, saw its advantage whittled down to a single possession multiple times in the second half but never relinquished the lead it established in the game’s first minute.

The most critical phase of the contest came late in the second half, with Kansas State mounting a persistent comeback. After trailing 42-33 at halftime, the Wildcats chipped away, closing to within 64-62 on a pair of Nate Johnson free throws with 10:39 remaining. The Buffaloes responded with a 7-0 run, capped by an Ian Inman 3-pointer off an Isaiah Johnson assist, to push the lead back to nine at 71-62 with 9:50 left.

Kansas State had one final push. A driving layup by PJ Haggerty and a corner 3-pointer from Andrej Kostic, part of a 9-2 Wildcats surge, cut the Colorado lead to 73-71 with 3:34 on the clock. The Buffaloes, however, delivered the decisive counterpunch. On the ensuing possession, Isaiah Johnson drove and scored a tough layup while being fouled. After a Kansas State coach’s challenge was rejected, Johnson hit the free throw to complete the three-point play, restoring a five-point cushion at 76-71.

Kansas State would get no closer than four points the rest of the way, as Colorado sealed the victory at the free-throw line, making three of four attempts in the final 35 seconds. The Wildcats missed their final four field goal attempts, including two blocked by Colorado’s Bangot Dak in the last 14 seconds.

Isaiah Johnson led Colorado with a game-high 18 points and seven assists, orchestrating the offense and scoring key baskets. Ian Inman provided a massive spark off the bench with 17 points, including three 3-pointers, all in the first half to help build the initial advantage. Barrington Hargress added 15 points and four assists, while Sebastian Rancik contributed 13 points and Bangot Dak had 10 points and four blocks, anchoring the interior defense.

For Kansas State, PJ Haggerty shouldered the offensive load with 25 points and four assists in 38 minutes. Nate Johnson was the only other Wildcat in double figures with 10 points. The Wildcats struggled mightily from the field, shooting just 38.8% overall and a frigid 21.7% from 3-point range. Their offensive rating of 83.8 on 84 possessions underscored a night of difficult shot-making against a stout Colorado defense that recorded seven blocks and six steals.

Colorado was only marginally better from the floor at 43.1%, but its 9-for-25 performance from beyond the arc and a 20-for-28 mark at the free-throw line proved decisive. The Buffaloes also won the possession battle, committing 17 turnovers to Kansas State’s 14 but securing seven offensive rebounds to the Wildcats’ six.

The game opened with a sloppy, defensive-oriented first four minutes, with both teams combining for five turnovers before the first media timeout. Colorado settled first, using a 10-2 run midway through the half, fueled by two Inman 3-pointers, to open a 24-13 lead. The Buffaloes maintained a comfortable margin for the remainder of the half, taking a nine-point lead into the break.

Kansas State’s effort never waned, as evidenced by their seven steals and ability to force 17 Colorado turnovers. They consistently attacked the rim, drawing 28 free-throw attempts to Colorado’s 20, but could not string together enough successful offensive sequences to overtake the hosts.

According to pregame analytics from Interstat, Colorado was projected with a 72.9% probability to win. The Buffaloes covered the pregame spread of -6.5, while the total score of 149 fell well under the over/under line of 162, reflecting the defensive struggle.

Kansas State looks to rebound when it hosts Texas Christian on Saturday. Colorado continues its conference schedule on the road at Houston, also on Saturday.