Colorado probably doesn’t have the sort of postseason projections that cause must-win games in early February.
Yet given what the Buffaloes will face on the road next week, getting back in the win column was almost imperative. And CU managed to get the job done.
The Buffs held off Arizona State in a back-and-forth battle at the CU Events Center, posting a 78-70 victory in a Big 12 Conference battle. With the victory, the Buffs surpassed last year’s win total within the Big 12.
CU used a 9-2 run to take a 10-point lead in the first half, and the Buffs led 39-27 before ASU scored the final four points of the first half, cutting Colorado’s lead to 39-31 at the break.
The Sun Devils then added 11 of the first 13 points of the second half to take their first lead since the game’s opening sequence. Moments later, the Buffs took the lead for good with seven consecutive points.
Point guard Barrington Hargress had a big game for the Buffs, going 10-for-15 while matching a season-high with 23 points. Sebastian Rancik bounced back from a zero-rebound game in a loss at Baylor to record his first career double-double, finishing with 17 points and a career-high 11 rebounds.
CU (14-10, 4-7 Big 12) plays a pair of ranked teams on the road next week, beginning Wednesday at No. 13 Texas Tech (6 p.m. MT, ESPN+).
This story will be updated.
Colorado 78, Arizona State 70
ARIZONA STATE (12-12, 3-8 Big 12)
Grbović 2-6 2-2 8, Mukeba 1-3 2-3 4, Diop 7-12 5-5 19, Ford 1-5 0-0 2, Odum 7-13 5-6 23, A.Johnson 5-10 2-2 14, Meeusen 0-4 0-0 0, Trouet 0-4 0-0 0. Totals 23-57 16-18 70.
COLORADO (14-10, 4-7)
Dak 6-9 0-0 12, Hargress 10-15 2-2 23, Holland 3-7 1-1 8, I.Johnson 6-12 3-6 16, Sanders 0-1 2-2 2, Rancik 6-12 2-3 17, Inman 0-3 0-0 0, Ifaola 0-0 0-0 0, Malone 0-0 0-0 0, Michaeli 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 31-61 10-14 78.
Halftime: Colorado 39-31. 3-Point Goals: Arizona State 8-23 (Odum 4-8, A.Johnson 2-3, Grbović 2-6, Meeusen 0-2, Ford 0-4), Colorado 6-22 (Rancik 3-5, Holland 1-1, Hargress 1-4, I.Johnson 1-7, Michaeli 0-2, Inman 0-3). Rebounds: Arizona State 26 (Diop 7), Colorado 40 (Rancik 11). Assists: Arizona State 13 (Odum 5), Colorado 15 (Hargress 4). Total Fouls: Arizona State 17, Colorado 18.
