The primary 20 minutes may need been the most effective half of basketball Colorado has put collectively towards a non-ranked workforce this season.
The following 20 minutes had been extra alongside the road of how the Buffaloes have performed towards foes and not using a quantity earlier than their identify. And once more it price the Buffaloes dearly.
Arizona State’s Desmond Cambridge capped a surprising comeback by the Solar Devils by draining a 3-pointer with 2.9 seconds remaining, erasing a 15-point CU result in hand the Buffs a 60-59 loss within the Pac-12 Convention opener on Thursday evening on the CU Occasions Middle.
Regardless of two wins towards ranked foes this season, CU nonetheless has been unable to put up consecutive wins by way of the primary eight video games of the season.
“This one stings, clearly,” CU head coach Tad Boyle stated. “We performed effectively sufficient to win this recreation, however we didn’t. We didn’t down the stretch. We didn’t within the second half. I felt prefer it ought to have been a 20-point recreation at halftime, minimal. It wasn’t. We frequently speak lots about the identical issues. Not ending. Turning the ball over. Not dealing with stress. It’s been a typical theme with this group. Not placing two halves collectively, whether or not it’s offensively or defensively.
“I believed we misplaced this recreation proper out of the chute within the second half. Our guys that had been beginning that second half weren’t able to play. Disappointing loss. Most likely prime 5 disappointing loss in my 13 years at Colorado.”
Colorado didn’t lead by 20 on the break, however did maintain a 38-23 halftime lead and retained the 15-point benefit after an Ethan Wright 3-pointer rather less than six minutes into the second half. However on a foul evening for the Buffaloes on the turnover entrance, repeated miscues allowed a Solar Devils workforce that didn’t shoot effectively and acquired crushed on the glass to have an opportunity down the stretch.
Following the Wright 3-pointer, ASU reeled off a 10-1 run, throughout which the Buffs dedicated six turnovers. CU’s lead remained at 12 factors following a Tristan da Silva free throw with 6:07 to play, however ASU scored the subsequent 13 factors to take a 57-56 lead with 2:27 remaining.
The Buffs recaptured the lead when Jalen Gabbidon drew a foul on the 3-point line and transformed all three free throws, giving CU a 59-57 lead with 2:03 left, however the Buffs didn’t rating once more. After Gabbidon’s three free throws, CU recorded a pair of defensive stops, solely to show the ball again over to ASU every time earlier than Cambridge’s profitable 3-pointer.
“I simply sort of put it on myself a bit bit, as a result of as a degree guard, particularly a pacesetter, I’ve to regulate all the things,” stated KJ Simpson, who scored a team-high 13 factors but additionally dedicated 5 turnovers. “I’ve acquired to verify the sport doesn’t get out of hand, and I let myself flip the ball over an excessive amount of. Our offense was too wild. We needed to do a greater job of taking part in our recreation, and I feel we simply acquired caught up in making an attempt to play too quick as a result of they had been pressuring us.”
CU completed with a season-high 20 turnovers, committing 12 within the second half whereas permitting ASU to put up a game-changing 22-7 edge in factors off turnovers. The Buffs additionally as soon as once more struggled on the free throw line, going 9-for-17 to drop their season share to .663. Simpson twice missed the entrance finish of 1-and-1 free throw alternatives within the ultimate 2:52. CU didn’t file a discipline aim over the ultimate 6:40.
“We wilted tonight,” Boyle stated. “We wilted to their stress. As a coach, that’s actually, actually arduous to take care of. I’ve to do a greater job.”
Snapshot: Arizona State at CU Buffs
Turning level: ASU used a 10-1 early within the second half to get again within the recreation, then shocked the Buffs with a 13-0 run to take its first lead because the recreation’s early moments.
Buff of the sport: No CU participant loved a very nice outing, however Tristan da Silva completed with 10 factors, a career-high eight rebounds, and three assists.
What’s subsequent?: Pac-12 play continues for CU with an always-challenging journey to Washington on Sunday (1 p.m. MT, Pac-12 Community).
Arizona St. 60, Colorado 59
ARIZONA ST. (7-1, 1-0 Pac-12)
Washington 3-6 0-1 6, Dev.Cambridge 7-12 3-3 18, Des.Cambridge 4-12 0-0 11, Horne 4-12 0-1 8, Nunez 1-7 2-3 4, Neal 2-3 2-3 6, Muhammad 2-5 0-0 4, Gaffney 1-3 0-0 3, Brennan 0-0 0-2 0, Boakye 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 24-61 7-13 60.
COLORADO (4-4, 0-1 Pac-12)
da Silva 4-9 1-3 10, Lovering 0-1 2-2 2, Clifford 0-5 2-4 2, Gabbidon 1-2 3-3 6, Simpson 5-16 0-2 13, Hadley 3-4 0-1 6, Wright 2-7 0-0 6, Hammond 2-5 0-0 5, O’Brien 2-2 1-2 6, Ruffin 1-2 0-0 3. Totals 20-53 9-17 59.
Halftime — Colorado 38-23. 3-point discipline targets — Arizona St. 5-26 (Des.Cambridge 3-8, Gaffney 1-3, Dev.Cambridge 1-4, Muhammad 0-1, Neal 0-1, Nunez 0-4, Horne 0-5), Colorado 10-26 (Simpson 3-10, Wright 2-4, O’Brien 1-1, Gabbidon 1-2, Hammond 1-2, Ruffin 1-2, da Silva 1-4, Clifford 0-1). Rebounds — Arizona St. 34 (Washington 6), Colorado 47 (da Silva 8). Assists — Arizona St. 16 (Horne 6), Colorado 15 (da Silva, Hammond 3). Complete Fouls — Arizona St. 20, Colorado 15. A — 6,917.