BOULDER — Askia Booker took senior night to heart.
Booker, a 6-foot-1 guard and Colorado’s only scholarship senior, scored 29 points Sunday night in the Buffaloes’ final home game of the season and sparked a hard-fought, 87-81 victory over Arizona State at the Coors Events Center.
Colorado (13-15, 6-10 Pac-12) snapped a three-game losing streak and won for only the second time in eight games. Booker converted four free throws during the final 36 seconds and tallied his best-ever point total for a home game. His best effort for all games is a 43-point explosion in a triple-overtime victory at Southern California on Jan. 29.
Booker said he got especially fired up before the game when he heard ASU guard Gerry Blakes “talking mess.” Booker and Blakes are both from the same area of Los Angeles and grew up playing against each other.
“When somebody says I’m not as good as people say I am, or whatever, I take it personal,” Booker said. “This means a lot. It told the team after the game, ‘Thank you.’ “
The Buffs had a difficult time putting away the Sun Devils (15-14, 7-9) and needed about every point Booker could produce. CU led by nine points on three occasions but held a slim 68-67 advantage with 6½ minutes to go.
The game remained tight to the end. CU led 77-76 when Buffs junior center Josh Scott blocked a shot by forward Savon Goodman along the baseline with 47 seconds left. CU’s Tre’Shaun Fletcher grabbed the loose ball and was fouled. He converted both free throws to put the hosts up by three points.
From there, Colorado made enough free throws to maintain its lead and got a tip-in by Scott off a missed free throw for a much-needed cushion of 84-79.
In a big way, the Buffs snapped a string of string of seven consecutive games without shooting at least 40 percent from the field, a drought that last occurred for a Colorado team in 1958. CU finished with 59.2 percent Sunday night, its best since a 2013 win over California.
“We got the ball moving tonight,” Scott said. “When we play like that, we show the talent on this team that we haven’t shown lately.”
Booker overcame a rough start. Five minutes into the game, he was called for a technical foul for saying something after hitting a 3-pointer from the left corner — and in front of the Sun Devils’ bench. Booker told reporters later it was directed to Blakes and ASU coach Herb Sendek.
“Askia is an emotional player,” said CU coach Tad Boyle, who sat Booker on the bench for a spell after the technical. “It think he came into the game maybe too hyped.
“But this is the way you want a senior to go out on senior night.”
Colorado heads on the road for games at Washington and Washington State before the Pac-12 Tournament.
“It’s March, and hopefully this gave us some mojo,” Boyle said.
Tom Kensler: tkensler@denverpost.com or
