TEMPE, Ariz. — Bo Barnes sank three 3-pointers in a three-minute span late in the game and Arizona State pulled away to win its first Pac-12 game of the season 78-72 over Colorado on Saturday.
Shaquielle McKissic scored 16 to lead five players in double figures for the Sun Devils (9-9, 1-4 Pac-12). Barnes scored 13, going 4 for 6 from 3-point range.
Askia Booker, coming off a career-high 30-point game in the Buffaloes’ loss at No. 10 Arizona on Thursday, led Colorado (9-8, 2-3) with 21. Jaron Hopkins added 20.
There were 12 second-half lead changes before Barnes’ 3 put Arizona State ahead for good 54-51 with 6:38 to play.
The Sun Devils sealed it by making 8 of 10 free throws in the final 1:14 to offset a late barrage of Colorado 3s.
Barnes’ final 3-pointer ignited an 8-0 run that put the Sun Devils up 70-60 on a pair of free throws by Tra Holder with 1:14 to play.
The Buffaloes sank four 3s in the final minute.
Booker banked one in to make it 73-69 but Holder made a pair of free throws to boost the lead to 75-69. Hopkins made Colorado’s final 3 to pull within 75-72 with 23 seconds left.
Gerry Blakes made two free throws and Barnes added another to put it away.
Booker scored the last 12 Colorado points of the first half and his 3-pointer had the Buffaloes up 28-24 with 57 seconds left. But McKissic sank a 3-pointer, then Jonathan Gilling stole the ball and got it to McKissic for a dunk at the buzzer to give the Sun Devils a 29-28 lead.
It was the first time in five Pac-12 games that the Sun Devils led at the half.
TIP-INS
Shaquielle McKissic had four dunks. … Arizona State trailed by an average of 12 points at the half in its first four Pac-12 games.
Colorado is 0-6 on the road this season. … Askia Booker was 9-of-22 shooting, Hopkins 7-of-11.
UP NEXT
Colorado returns home to face Washington on Thursday night.
Arizona State travels to California on Thursday.
