COLORADO UPSETS NO. 4 ARIZONA STATE
Nation’s No. 4-ranked team bows to Buffaloes in Pac-12 thriller in Boulder
BOULDER » Namon Wright sprinted down the floor in transition, received a bounce pass from Deleon Brown near the elbow, leaped through the air and hammered the basketball tomahawk-style through the net.
Suddenly, a Colorado Buffaloes upset against the nation’s fourth-ranked team didn’t seem so crazy with a three-point lead late in the second half — despite five CU players on the floor Thursday night being freshmen against a senior-laden Arizona State squad. When the final buzzer sounded in overtime with the Buffaloes on top 90-81, Tad Boyle pumped his right fist into the air while mobbed by assistants and players to celebrate one of his biggest victories as CU’s coach.
Tied at 74 after regulation, the Buffaloes went on to outscore ASU 16-7 in the extra period and never trailed. It marked the first time CU has beaten a top-five ranked opponent since 2011.
“I’m really proud of our guys,” Boyle said. “We’ve got a young group that’s growing up quick. What a win for the Buffs.”
The Sun Devils (12-2, 0-2 Pac-12) opened the game with an 11-0 run less than four minutes in while the Buffaloes missed their first seven shots from the field.
CU regained composure after a Boyle timeout at the 16:06 mark — spurred on by eight first-half points from forward George King while Arizona State converted just one field-goal attempt over the course of nearly six minutes. Brown banked in a transition layup with 2:30 left before the break to cut CU’s deficit to one point, but the Sun Devils finished the first half leading 34-29.
“We never got down on ourselves,” King said. “We held our heads (high) and stayed positive the whole game.”
CU (9-6, 1-2) went on a 13-2 run in the second half, punctuated by Namon Wright’s dunk, and the Buffaloes led by six points with 1:17 left. ASU stormed back with three free throws, a Tra Holder layup, plus a Mickey Mitchell dunk off an offensive rebound with five seconds remaining to force overtime.
CU immediately charged ahead in the extra period with a McKinley Wright layup through contact, followed by one of King’s team-high four 3pointers. ASU missed five of its final six shots from the field.
McKinley Wright and Namon Wright led CU with 19 points apiece. King added 18 and nine rebounds. Dominique Collier contributed 11 points and six assists.
Holder led the Sun Devils, who made just 9-of-33 (27.3 percent) 3-point attempts, with 24 points and Kodi Justice contributed 16.
The Buffaloes will look for another upset home victory at noon Saturday against No. 14 Arizona.
“The future of Colorado basketball with these young guys is bright,” Boyle said.