AIR FORCE ACADEMY — Wow, Colorado and Air Force should play more often.
In a stunning overtime finish geared by a 3-pointer by Buffaloes guard Askai Booker with 2 minutes left in OT and then a layup by Andre Roberson with 11.1 seconds remaining, Colorado finished strong to beat the Falcons 76-73 Wednesday in Clune Arena.
The outcome remained in doubt right up to the second that Air Force guard Todd Fletcher’s 3-point try rimmed out at the buzzer.
With 1:08 left in regulation, CU guard Nate Tomlinson, who finished with a team-high 19 points, hit a 3-pointer to take a 65-62 lead. In the final 48 seconds, the Falcons made 5-of-6 free throws, including two by Mike Fitzgerald with 3 seconds left to tie it at 67 after a Roberson layup to force overtime.
The Buffs were 3-of-7 in the overtime, but the Falcons were 2-of-8.
Air Force guard Michael Lyons was 10-of-19 from the field, including 8-of-9 3-pointers, for a career-high 31 points.
It was a game where the Falcons had the lead, but couldn’t shake the Buffaloes, who just kept coming back.
CU stayed within reach mainly because of a 47-28 advantage in rebounding. However, the Falcons benefitted from 27 points off 18 CU turnovers.
Tomlinson’s shot from inside the three-point line just beat the halftime buzzer and it gave the Buffs their only lead of the first half at 37-36.
Irv Moss: 303 954-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com
