Dec 30, 2024; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Iowa State Cyclones forward Brandton Chatfield (33) and Colorado Buffaloes forward Bangot Dak (8) reach for a loose ball in the first half at CU Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
What can’t Iowa State backup big man Brandton Chatfield do?
Well, he’s not a great free throw shooter, but his offensive rebounding ability?
The 6-10 Washington State transfer’s a monster on that important front.
Chatfield grabbed a season-high seven boards — all on the offensive end — and the No. 3 Cyclones survived Colorado’s upset bid in the Big 12 season opener for both schools, escaping Boulder with a 79-69 win Monday night at the CU Events Center.
“Just being super physical, both on defense and on offense,” Chatfield said on the Cyclone Radio Network after the win. “Just hitting it hard on both ends of the floor as much as you can.”
At one point late in Monday’s road win, Chatfield got isolated on Colorado’s point guard and leading scorer, Julian Hammond III, and held his own, forcing a missed shot.
“It makes you feel really good when you get switched onto a smaller guy with crazy moves and can get to the basket real easy,” said Chatfield, who also scored nine points. “And then you make him miss a shot — it’s a great feeling.”
Curtis Jones led ISU (11-1, 1-0) with 20 points, fellow guard Keshon Gilbert added 14 points, and forward Joshua Jefferson chipped in 13 points and a program-record-tying eight steals in the team’s second win this season over the Buffaloes (9-3, 0-1).
The Cyclones pummeled Colorado, 99-71, in last month’s Maui Invitational, but Monday’s game, as expected, was anything but a blowout.
“This has been a tough place to play,” ISU head coach T.J. Otzelberger said. “They’d won 24 of 25 going into tonight, so a lot of things that mentally can go against you, and I thought our guys did a great job of staying the course, staying focused.”
Buffaloes point guard Julian Hammond III — who scored 20 points in the first (officially nonconference) matchup — led all scorers with 21 points on 9-for-17 shooting. Colorado shot 49.1 percent from the field, but coughed up 19 turnovers that led to 24 of ISU’s points.
The Cyclones shot just 43 percent from the field and 22 percent (four of 18) from 3-point range, but collected a staggering 20 offensive rebounds while shining on both ends of the floor in critical moments.
“Brandt was tremendous and all of our frontcourt guys really imposed their will,” Otzelberger said. “I just thought that was the difference for us tonight.”
ISU took its biggest lead of 12 points early in the second half, but Colorado immediately fought back, scoring 22 of the game’s next 27 points to take a 53-48 lead on Javon Ruffin’s driving layup with 12:59 remaining.
The Cyclones responded with an 11-4 spurt that reestablished a four-point edge, at 61-57, with 8:03 left, and the Buffaloes never regained the lead again.
“It’s always hard beating the same team twice, so just coming in with the mindset it’s gonna be a tough game — just take the hits, and they’re gonna make runs and we’re gonna make runs,” Jefferson said. “Just continue to play hard and do what we do.”
ISU’s back in action on Saturday when No. 25 Baylor (8-3) comes to Hilton Coliseum on a day in which the Cyclones’ 1999-2000 and 2000-01 Big 12 champions coached by Larry Eustachy will be honored.
“(Those are) coaches and folks that came before us and helped set the tone for this program, and achieved great things,” Otzelberger said. “It’s a great opportunity to be on that journey together and we’ll be excited and ready to go for Saturday.”
