Arizona State began its Rocky Mountain road trip with elevated hopes because of its recent play. But the Sun Devils were unable to maintain their momentum, slipping back into the Pac-12 pack after another difficult loss on Sunday.
The Sun Devils had trouble stopping Colorado at the rim, gave up 59.2 percent shooting from the field to the Buffaloes and missed 14 free throw attempts in an 87-81 at the Coors Events Center.
"We just need to get back to defending," ASU assistant Larry Greer said in a postgame radio interview. "It's really hard to win if you don't defend and you don't make your free throws."
Utah shot 63.3 percent from the field in an 83-41 on Thursday, the first game on the first trip after the Sun Devils (15-14, 7-9) climbed out of a 0-4 start in Pac-12 play by winning seven of 10 to reach .500 for the first time.
ASU entered the trip with a chance, however slim, at one of four first-round byes in the Pac-12 tournament that begins March 11 in Las Vegas. But the two loss this week and UCLA's victory over Washington State late Sunday night eliminated the ASU from consideration. Arizona, Utah and Oregon locked up first-round byes, and UCLA (18-12, 10-7) needs only to beat USC on Wednesday or Stanford to lose one its final two games to get the last bye.
ASU still can finish fifth in the league if it beats Stanford and California on the upcoming final weekend of the regular season. The Sun Devils host Stanford (18-10, 9-7) on Thursday night.
Shaquielle McKissic (18 points) and Tra Holder (14) led ASU in scoring against Colorado, while Savon Goodman and Eric Jacobsen had 12 apiece. Both big men battled foul trouble and Colorado (13-15, 6-10) went on a 22-8 run midway through the first half after Goodman and Jacobsen picked up two fouls each.
With senior guard Askia Booker (29 points) leading the charge, the Buffaloes pushed the ball up the floor and got close look after close look. They made nine baskets at the rim and had six other free throws when fouled at close range in he first half, with Booker's driving layup while splitting a screen good for a 40-38 halftime lead.
"They are a great transition team," Greer said. "They are very athletic. When you miss, you have to run back" on defense.
ASU trailed by nine points, 59-50, with 11:51 left before Jacobsen, Holder and McKissic led a 22-11 run capped by a Bo Barnes 3-pointer with 4:39 remaining for a 72-70 lead. It was the Sun Devils' first lead of the half.
Jacobsen, who scored all of his 12 points in the second half, gave ASU its last lead, 74-73, on a put-back with 3:20 to play. He missed the and-one free throw and was 6 of 11 from the foul line for the game.
The Sun Devils made 64.1 percent of their free throws after entering the game 67 percent team, which was 242nd among the 345 Division I schools. Holder was 12 of 16 from the foul line. McKissic was 4 of 7.
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