Buffaloes' Late Surge Falls Short Against Sun Devils at Desert Financial Arena
73-76 was the final score as the Colorado Buffaloes faced a narrow defeat against the Arizona State Sun Devils. The Buffaloes now stand with a record of 0-1, while the Sun Devils improve to 1-0.
In an intense conference game at Desert Financial Arena, the Colorado Buffaloes showcased a resilient effort but ultimately fell short by three points to their hosts, the Arizona State Sun Devils. The game saw nine times tied and five lead changes, indicating a closely contested battle throughout. The Buffaloes entered halftime with a slight disadvantage but managed to outscore their opponents in the second half, though it wasn't enough to secure victory.
The Colorado team's offense was led by impressive shooting from two-point range where they shot 57 percent and from beyond the arc with 35 percent accuracy. They also excelled at free throws, making 20 out of 27 attempts which translates to 74 percent success rate. Despite these efforts, turnovers were an issue for Colorado as they gave up possession thirteen times which allowed Arizona State to score twelve points off these turnovers.
Defensively, Colorado managed only one block compared to eight by Arizona State and recorded four steals during the game. They also gathered thirty-five rebounds in total—twenty-four defensive and eleven offensive—which contributed significantly to their second-chance opportunities resulting in eight points.
The standout statistic for Colorado was their fast break performance where they scored eleven points demonstrating quick transitions from defense to offense. However, this was overshadowed by Arizona State's twenty-one fast break points reflecting their ability to capitalize on quick plays.
Arizona State had fewer turnovers with only eight compared to thirteen by Colorado and made good use of these opportunities scoring twenty-seven points off turnovers—a key factor that may have tipped the scales in their favor.
Looking ahead for fans of the Buffaloes: The next challenge will be against California Golden Bears at Haas Pavilion located in Berkeley on January 10th at 7:00 PM Mountain Time (9:00 PM Eastern). This upcoming game will be broadcast nationally on ESPNU channel number two hundred eight for those wishing to follow along live.