(Photo: Scotty Bara/WCSN)
The Colorado Buffaloes edged out the Arizona State Sun Devils after the Buffaloes pulled out the win in the last 40 seconds of the game, 87-81.
The similarities in these two teams’ first half play were uncanny.
With 3:33 left to play in the first half, each team was an identical 11-21 from the field. Colorado was up three and attacking an ASU team that had shifted into a defensive mode, which materialized a 9-0 Colorado run.
But one minute later, it was senior forward Shaquielle McKissic draining a three to end the scoreless two-minute period for ASU.
The Sun Devils were able to come up with a stop and put the ball back into the hot hands of senior forward Jonathan Gilling. Gilling matched McKissic with a three, only to march back down the floor and promptly hit another three to spark a 9-0 run for ASU.
The story of the first half was simple: Capture the momentum, dominate on offense. It was the identical form of that domination that posted a mirror image of the statistics at half time. Arizona State was shooting 56 percent from the floor and 50 percent from beyond the arc. Colorado was just behind ASU with 52 percent from the field and just above with 60 percent from the arc. Each team had six turnovers and the lead changes eight times.
The Sun Devils went into the second half with Savon Goodman on the bench with three fouls. The foul calls to start out the second half were prominent and caused abrupt momentum changes that held the two teams within a small margin of each other.
ASU handed Colorado its largest lead with nine points that abounded on a 10-2 Buffalo run with 13 minutes left to play.
The Sun Devils were scrappy on both ends of the court tonight. Eric Jacobsen was effective in the post, grabbing seven boards and putting up 12 points before fouling out with 1:20 left in the game.
However, it was the 76 percent free throw shooting by Colorado in the prolonged shoot-and-foul tactic that lasted the final 40 seconds of the game, as well as two game-saving blocks by Buffalo big man Josh Scott that allowed the Colorado to edge out the Sun Devils in the end.
Player of the Game: Askia Booker
In his last home game of his college career, Booker put up a home-court career-high 29 points and gave Colorado the free throws that put the game out of reach for the Sun Devils.
Stat of the Game: Colorado’s 57 percent from the three-point line
Colorado was able to pose a hefty threat from behind the arc tonight, not only allowing the point totals to soar, but also eliciting tighter coverage around the perimeter that opened up the posts.
Biggest Concern: 24-19 Defensive Rebounds
This game came down to the final shot and all the Sun Devils needed was a rebound to put the ball back in their hands for just one more chance. It was the dominance on the defensive boards that kept ASU from getting the win.
What’s Next?
The Sun Devils will face the Stanford Cardinal on Thursday at 9 p.m. in Wells Fargo Arena. Fox Sports 1 has the broadcast.
You can reach the author on Twitter @KristinaV_18 or by email at kvicario@asu.edu
