Colorado men’s basketball blows 15-point lead in stunning loss against Arizona State – The Denver Post

The first 20 minutes might have been the best half of basketball Colorado has put together against a non-ranked team this season.

The next 20 minutes were more along the line of how the Buffaloes have played against foes without a number before their name. And again it cost the Buffaloes dearly.

Arizona State’s Desmond Cambridge capped a stunning comeback by the Sun Devils by draining a 3-pointer with 2.9 seconds remaining, erasing a 15-point CU lead to hand the Buffs a 60-59 loss in their Pac-12 opener on Thursday night at the CU Events Center.

Colorado led 38-23 at halftime and retained its 15-point lead after an Ethan Wright 3-pointer a little less than six minutes into the second half. But on a bad night for the Buffaloes on the turnover front, repeated miscues allowed a Sun Devils team that didn’t shoot well and got crushed on the glass to have a chance down the stretch.

Following the Wright 3-pointer, ASU reeled off a 10-1 run, during which the Buffs committed six turnovers. CU’s lead remained at 12 points following a Tristan da Silva free throw with 6:07 to play, but ASU scored the next 13 points to take a 57-56 lead with 2:27 remaining.

The Buffs recaptured the lead when Jalen Gabbidon drew a foul at the 3-point line and converted all three free throws, giving CU a 59-57 lead with 2:03 left, but the Buffs didn’t score again.