National Basketball Association
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Arizona 68, Colorado 54
When: 9:00 PM ET, Thursday, January 15, 2015
Where: McKale Center, Tucson, Arizona
Officials: # Gregory Nixon, # Mike Scyphers, # Larry Spaulding
Attendance: 14655

No. 9 Arizona 68, Colorado 54: Freshman Stanley Johnson recorded a season-high 22 points and eight rebounds, and the Wildcats had little trouble with the short-handed Buffaloes to earn their 31st straight victory at home.

T.J. McConnell recorded eight points, seven rebounds and six assists as Arizona (15-2, 3-1 Pac-12) bounced back from a 58-56 loss at Oregon State on Sunday with its fifth straight victory over Colorado. Kaleb Tarczewski scored 14, Elliott Pitts 12 and Brandon Ashley added seven points and 11 rebounds for the Wildcats.

Askia Booker scored a career-high 30 points before leaving with an ankle injury and Jaron Hopkins added eight for the Buffaloes (9-7, 2-2), who were without two starters - Josh Scott (back) and Xavier Johnson (ankle). Booker was 11-for-17 from the field - 6-for-9 from 3-point range - while his teammates were 10-for-32.

Arizona closed the first half with a 12-3 run - highlighted by Ashley's three-point play and Pitts' 3-pointer - to take a 35-25 lead at intermission. Booker scored 18 points on 7-for-9 shooting from the field and 4-for-4 from 3-point range prior to the break, while Stanley Johnson - a Wooden Award Midseason Top 25 pick - scored 12.

Colorado opened the second half with a 7-2 run as Booker drilled a 3-pointer and Jaron Hopkins dunked off a behind-the-back pass from Dustin Thomas and Hopkins' dunk with 11:29 left cut the Wildcats' lead to 47-42. Pitts and McDonnell responded with back-to-back 3-pointers to stretch Arizona's lead to 53-42 and the Buffaloes could get no closer than nine down the stretch while losing Booker with 5:29 left when he landed awkwardly after making his final 3.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Scott averages 13.8 points and a team-best 7.2 rebounds while Xavier Johnson produces 12.8 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. ... The Wildcats, whose average margin of victory during the win streak over the Buffaloes is 16.8, enjoyed a 41-26 rebounding advantage. ... The Buffaloes have lost 40 consecutive road games against top 10 teams with their last such victory Jan. 15, 1973 against Missouri 81-79 in overtime.
Top Game Performances
 
Colorado   Arizona
Askia Booker 30 Scoring Stanley Johnson 22
Askia Booker 3 Assists T.J. McConnell 6
Wesley Gordon 5 Rebounds Brandon Ashley 11
Askia Booker 2 Free Throws Made Stanley Johnson 8
Askia Booker 1 Steals Stanley Johnson 2
Jaron Hopkins 1 Blocks Rondae Hollis-Jefferson 2
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
Colorado 54 42.9 7-18 5-10 8 21 1 4 10
Arizona 68 41.8 7-18 15-19 16 39 3 4 8