Brooks: Booker, Buffs Celebrate Senior Night With Win

BOULDER – Askia Booker transformed his Senior Night into a special one, hitting a career-high 29 points in the Coors Events Center and pushing the Colorado Buffaloes to an 87-81 win over Arizona State.

Sunday night's victory snapped a three-game losing streak for CU (13-15, 6-10 Pac-12) and ended the Buffs' regular season at home with an 11-5 record. It wasn't the home season CU coach Tad Boyle, his players or Buffs fans expected, but ending it on an up-beat note sent the crowd of 9,087 away at least satisfied for one final night.

"The win means a lot," said Booker, who at the conclusion of his postgame remarks to the CEC crowd gathered his teammates around him "and said thank you . . . they gave their all tonight, it wasn't just me. Credit goes to them."

But some credit, added Booker, also goes to ASU guard Gerry Blakes: "(He) started talking an hour before the game running his mouth. It was why I got that technical . . . I felt I was back home, there's always a lot of trash talking."

Booker's 'T' occurred in the first half after Booker hit a 3-pointer in front of the ASU bench. He turned, faced the Sun Devils and coach Herb Sendek, and whatever was said was enough to draw the technical and prompt Boyle to replace Booker with Dom Collier.

"I'm not going to let players stay in a game after getting a technical," Boyle said afterwards. "I thought 'Ski' was a little too hyped . . . there's no question he's an emotional guy; I'm just glad he played well and glad we won."

Booker had 11 points at halftime on three-of-seven shooting. He finished 9-of-16 from the field and 10-of-11 from the free throw line, with two assists, two steals and only two turnovers. Most of his 18 second-half points were the result of slashing drives to the basket, either making the shots or getting his points at the foul line.  His final two free throws with 6.4 seconds left put the Sun Devils away.

Also appearing at the CEC for the final time were CU walk-on seniors Kevin Nelson and Geoff Bates, who replaced Booker in the final seconds. He walked to the bench to a standing ovation.

After not shooting above 38 percent in their previous six games, the Buffs shot 59.2 percent in this one – including 68.2 in the second half. They also had 14 assists on their 29 made baskets, made six steals and blocked five shots. Getting stops in the final three minutes also was critical.

Boyle said he was certain the Buffs' shooting would heat up: "We've been talking about it, and eventually we knew we were going to break out . . . I thought it was good that Arizona State came in and ran with us; that's the way we like it."

Boyle also couldn't get a read on his team during Sunday's shootaround or at its pregame meal. He said a head coach and his staff can only say so much, then snapping out of a funk falls on the players.

"Our guys went out and won this one, they did what they had to do," he said. "Hopefully this will give us a little bit of mojo . . . this group deserved this win; they've been through a lot (and) they played with great passion."

Booker got scoring help from Josh Scott (14) and Dustin Thomas (12). Scott also grabbed six rebounds and blocked three shots – the biggest rejection in the final minute. "Josh had a heck of a game," Boyle said.

The Wildcats (15-14, 7-9) had four players in double figures, topped by Shaquielle McKissic's 18.

The Buffs led 40-38 at halftime, but only a couple of minutes before they owned their largest advantage of the half – 36-27. The Sun Devils quickly cut into that nine-point deficit, going on an 11-0 run that featured three consecutive treys – one by McKissic and a pair by Jonathan Gilling that were drilled from the right corner a step or two in front of the CU bench.

The Sun Devils finished with eight treys, marking the 11th time this season the Buffs have allowed that many or more.

After that 3-point barrage, Tra Holder hit a pair of free throws and the Buffs' nine-point margin had evaporated. They trailed 38-36 until Booker ended the half with two foul shots and a layup with 2.4 seconds before the buzzer.

As they did in the first half, the Buffs slowed down the Sun Devils' offense with full-court pressure after made baskets and free throws. It was enough of a disruption early in the second half to keep ASU off balance and help CU rebuild its nine-point (50-41) advantage five minutes in. In that 10-3 start, Booker had a layup and two free throws and assisted on a Scott stuff with a nice bounce pass from the top of the key.

After ASU trimmed its deficit to 53-49, Thomas accounted for six consecutive points on two baskets inside and a pair of free throws to push CU ahead 59-50 with 11:51 to play. But once again, the Sun Devils closed to within four points before Booker began getting to the rim and finishing with layups.

Three straight Booker trips inside pushed CU up 65-58, but ASU countered with treys from the left corner by Bo Barnes and McKissic, and a put-back by Savon Goodman brought the Sun Devils to within 68-66 with 6:58 remaining.

With 4:42 to play, the Buffs were on familiar ground – needing stops and efficient possessions down the stretch to take back the night. CU lost rebounder Wesley Gordon to five fouls with 3:20 left, and his fifth foul came on an Eric Jacobsen put-back that gave ASU a 74-73 lead. But Jacobsen – six-of-10 from the line at that point – missed the "and-one" chance and the Buffs remained down by one.

Another Booker trip the rim and a finger-roll layup, followed by a lay-in from Thomas, gave CU a 77-74 lead with 2:06 remaining. The Sun Devils closed to 77-76 on a high (and prayerful) banked-in Jacobsen follow, but were denied the lead after Scott blocked Goodman and Tre'Shaun Fletcher was fouled.

With 47.2 seconds to play, he hit both free throws for a three-point Buffs lead (79-76), and when a long rebound after a missed Barnes 3-pointer went out of bounds, CU appeared in control.

Not so fast.

Fouled with 36.3 seconds left, Booker hit a pair of foul shots, but ASU got one free throw from Holder and another two from Goodman to make it a two-point game (81-79) with 24.9 seconds left. Fletcher was fouled at midcourt and made one of two, but Scott tipped in the miss and CU led 84-79.

The Devils weren't done. Two Holder free throws made it a one-possession game (84-81) until Xavier Talton hit one of two foul shots (85-81) with nine seconds showing. After an officials review, the Buffs retained possession on an out-of-bounds call, and Booker sealed his Senior Night win with two free throws with 6.4 seconds left.

"I'm happy for 'Ski,'" Scott said. "He works really hard and deserves this win . . . We're glad to be able to give him a special night at the Events Center."

The Buffs close out the regular season with games at Washington (Thursday, 7 p.m. MST, FS1) and Washington State (4:30 p.m. MST, Pac-12 Networks). The Pac-12 Tournament is March 11-March 14 in Las Vegas.

Contact: BG.Brooks@Colorado.EDU