Sun Devils' Effort Falls Short Against Buffaloes' Surge at Desert Financial Arena

The Arizona State Sun Devils faced a challenging contest against the Colorado Buffaloes, culminating in a score of 81-68. The Sun Devils now stand with an unblemished rank, while the Buffaloes boast a rank of 5. Despite a spirited effort, the home team could not overcome their opponent's offensive push.

The game started off competitively with both teams showcasing their skills. The Buffaloes took an early lead in the first quarter with 25 points to ASU's 18 and maintained their momentum by matching that output in the second quarter while holding ASU to just seven points. However, Arizona State came back strong after halftime, outscoring Colorado by three points in the third quarter but still trailing overall.

Arizona State's performance was marked by determination and resilience. They managed to secure more total rebounds than Colorado at 41 versus 37 and excelled at free throws with an impressive accuracy rate of 77 percent compared to Colorado's 59 percent. Their defensive efforts resulted in eight steals, equaling that of the Buffaloes.

However, it was not enough to counteract Colorado's robust offense which boasted a field goal percentage of 50 percent and two-point shooting accuracy reaching an impressive 61 percent. The visitors also capitalized on fast break opportunities scoring a notable total of 22 fast break points.

A key factor contributing to ASU’s defeat was turnovers; they committed more turnovers (16) than assists (13), which hindered their ability to maintain possession and build momentum throughout the game.

Looking ahead for Arizona State Sun Devils fans, they can mark their calendars for another exciting matchup as ASU will face off against Oregon Ducks at Matthew Knight Arena on January 12th at 7:00 PM PST. This upcoming game will be held in Eugene, OR and fans can catch all the action live as it unfolds on court.