TEMPE, Ariz. — After rejoining the Big 12 last year, it took a month and a half of conference competition for the Colorado men’s basketball team to notch its first league win.
The Buffaloes made certain they weren’t going to wait that long for a road win this time.
CU held off a furious late rally by Arizona State to post a 95-89 win Saturday afternoon at Desert Financial Arena.
The victory ended an 11-game losing streak for CU in true road games.
Colorado led by 14 points in the first half and led 48-38 at halftime. The Buffs weathered a couple mini-runs by ASU before the Sun Devils scored 10 consecutive points to take their first lead since early in the first half at 81-80.
CU, though, made the plays down the stretch, with freshman Isaiah Johnson putting the Buffs back in front with a pair of free throws with 1 minute, 50 seconds remaining.
Johnson led the Buffs with 19 points and Sebastian Rancik went 12-for-14 on free throws with 18 points. Bangot Dak recorded his third double-double of the season with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
This story will be updated.
Colorado 95, Arizona State 89
COLORADO (11-3, 1-0 Big 12)
Dak 4-8 4-5 12, Rancik 3-7 12-14 18, Malone 3-4 0-0 6, Hargress 8-12 0-0 17, Kossaras 2-3 1-2 6, I.Johnson 5-11 7-8 19, Holland 2-4 2-2 7, Michaeli 0-8 6-6 6, Sanders 2-2 0-1 4. Totals 29-59 32-38 95.
ARIZONA STATE (9-5, 0-1)
Mukeba 7-10 2-4 16, Diop 7-9 6-8 20, Ford 0-4 0-0 0, Meeusen 0-6 2-2 2, Odum 6-15 7-9 21, A.Johnson 7-14 2-2 18, Grbović 3-6 0-0 8, Adams 0-3 2-2 2, Best 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 31-68 21-27 89.
Halftime: Colorado 48-38; 3-Point Goals: Colorado 5-16 (I.Johnson 2-4, Holland 1-1, Hargress 1-2, Kossaras 1-2, Dak 0-1, Rancik 0-2, Michaeli 0-4), Arizona State 6-28 (Grbović 2-5, A.Johnson 2-6, Odum 2-7, Adams 0-2, Ford 0-3, Meeusen 0-5); Fouled Out: Mukeba, Meeusen, Grbović; Rebounds: Colorado 42 (Dak 10), Arizona State 32 (Mukeba, A.Johnson 6); Assists: Colorado 14 (Sanders 5), Arizona State 19 (Odum 12); Total Fouls: Colorado 26, Arizona State 24.