Cory Higgins scored a season-high 33 points to lead Colorado over Iowa State 75-72 in a battle between Big 12 also-rans on Saturday.
With Colorado (13-15, 4-10) trailing 46-40 with 16 minutes left, Higgins scored 15 of the Buffaloes' next 17 points to give them a 57-55 lead with 7:20 left. He hit two 3-pointers in the stretch, and he finished it with a baseline drive past 6-foot-9 LaRon Dendy.
Casey Crawford hit two 3-pointers to extend Colorado's lead to four, and the Buffaloes hit eight free throws in the final 1:16 to seal the win.
Marquis Gilstrap scored 26 points for the Cyclones (14-15, 3-11), who have lost 10 of their last 12 games.
The Cyclones rallied from an early deficit to take a 38-36 lead at halftime. Gilstrap led Iowa State with 12 first-half points, and Higgins and Marcus Relphorde had 12 each for Colorado.
