The Buffaloes settled for a split Down Under.
The Colorado men’s basketball team completed its exhibition tour through Australia with a 93-74 defeat against the Sydney Kings in a game played on Sunday evening Mountain Time.
The Kings’ staff features Bill Tomlinson, the father of CU assistant and former Buffs guard Nate Tomlinson.
With the defeat, CU returns home 2-2 on the four-game trip, opening the journey with wins against Hoop City and the Gold Coast All-Stars before losing a battle last week against the Australian Boomers, the country’s national team.
Official stats weren’t kept during the defeat against the Sydney Kings, but it was a physical battle in which the Kings outscored the Buffs 34-19 over the final 10 minutes.
“The most physical basketball game in my 31-year Division I coaching career,” CU head coach Tad Boyle said in a release. “It’s a great lesson for our guys to get in the weight room and become physically stronger and finish through contact. Our players showed great resiliency and toughness. This trip will certainly pay dividends once we get into Big 12 play in January and February.
“I am extremely thankful to all our donors who helped make this trip possible. Travel is a great way to expand the education of our student-athletes. Seeing the Australian coastline and experiencing their culture was a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience for many of our players.”
The Buffs were scheduled to depart Australia on Monday evening (Colorado time) and will be off until classes begin Aug. 21.
Originally Published: August 4, 2025 at 11:55 AM MDT