After a surprising loss last weekend on the road, Big 12 leader Texas is probably going to be on extra alert for another upset as it leaves Austin again.
The fifth-ranked Longhorns look to win their seventh straight over Colorado when the teams meet Saturday.
Texas (24-4, 12-1) is back on the road for the first time since a 70-67 loss to Nebraska last Saturday. The Longhorns, who play two of their final three games away from home, bounced back with a 76-53 win over Iowa State on Tuesday.
After giving up its highest point total in a conference game against the Cornhuskers, Texas showed why it is one of the Big 12's best defensive teams Tuesday, holding the Cyclones to 27.8 percent shooting in the second half.
Tristan Thompson finished with 17 points and 14 rebounds, while leading scorer Jordan Hamilton scored 20 on 7-of-14 shooting after connecting on 7 of 29 shots the previous two games.
"I spent some extra time in the gym (after the loss)," said Hamilton, who also had eight rebounds. "I wanted to get my shot back. ... Tonight I took good shots."
While Hamilton broke out of his shooting slump, Thompson's work on the glass was just as important. Texas outrebounded the Cyclones 45-36 and has held a rebounding advantage against all but one of its conference opponents, with Nebraska being the only team to outrebound the Longhorns.
That success has helped them hold opponents to 59.6 points per game, second-best in the Big 12.
Texas is one game ahead of second-place and third-ranked Kansas.
The Longhorns will be careful not to overlook Colorado (17-11, 6-7), which despite recent struggles has had some success against ranked teams.
The Buffaloes are looking to win back-to-back games for the first time since a seven-game win streak Dec. 23-Jan. 15 that included two victories over ranked opponents. They are coming off a 71-68 win at Texas Tech on Wednesday.
Levi Knutson scored 18 points, including the second of two free throws with 15.3 seconds left to seal the win. Knutson is averaging 15.7 points and shooting 51.5 percent over the last three games.
"We really have grown up obviously and played better down the stretch," coach Tad Boyle told the Buffaloes' official website. "We ... kept our composure, executed and made shots when we had to make shots."
Colorado is 13-2 at home but has dropped two straight and four of six there against the Longhorns.
The Buffaloes know they'll have to be better defensively after giving up 47 second-half points to the Red Raiders. Colorado ranks 11th in the conference with 72.3 points allowed per game.
The Buffaloes' last victory in this series came in the Big 12 tournament in 2005. Texas won 103-86 last season at home.
Texas reserve Alexis Wangmene will serve the final game of a two-game suspension stemming from a drunken driving charge. He had played in all 27 games before sitting out Wednesday and is averaging 2.4 points and 2.4 rebounds.
