Colorado edges ASU to claim first Big 12 road win in 15 years
Isaiah Johnson had 19 points off the bench to lead Colorado to a 95-89 win over Arizona State on Saturday at Tempe, Ariz., in what was the Buffaloes' first Big 12 road victory since Feb. 23, 2011.
Colorado, of course, spent 13 years in the Pac-12 since their last Big 12 road win, but it's still a noteworthy achievement as the Buffaloes (11-3, 1-0 Big 12) snapped an 11-game Big 12 road losing streak.
Sebastian Rancik added 18 points for Colorado while Bangot Dak had 12 points and 10 rebounds. Barrington Hargress contributed 17 points on 8-of-12 shooting from the field.
Despite having three players with at least 20 points -- Maurice Odum with 21 and Massamba Diop and Anthony Johnson each with 20 - the Sun Devils (9-5, 0-1) extended their losing streak to three games. Diop, a 7-foot-1 freshman, had a career-high seven blocks while Odum handed out a season-high 12 assists.
Isaiah Johnson scored on a drive to give his team an 85-84 lead with 1:53 left. He then made two free throws after getting fouled going for a defensive rebound as Colorado would not relinquish the lead again, though Arizona State tried.
Arizona State's Anthony Johnson sank a 3-pointer with 23 seconds left to cut Colorado's margin to 91-89, but Isaiah Johnson answered with two free throws. The Sun Devils missed two 3-point attempts, then Rancik sank two free throws with 0:07 on the clock to clinch it.
The Buffaloes led 48-38 at halftime behind 17 points from Hargress on 8-of-9 shooting from the field.
Arizona State scored eight unanswered points to cut the lead to 57-54 with 14:17 left.
Colorado answered by extending its lead to 71-60 after Arizona State committed two turnovers and missed three shots from 3-point range.
The Sun Devils rallied for 10 unanswered points, including five from Mukeba, to take an 81-80 lead with 4:05 left.
The Buffaloes outrebounded the Sun Devils 42-32 and sank 32 of 38 from the free-throw line.