Cougs fall despite Lacy’s 34

A torrid second half by Askia Booker was just enough to offset a career night by DaVonte Lacy.

Booker scored 21 of his 26 points in the closing period, including 6 of 8 free throws in the final minute, and Colorado overcame a career-best 34-point performance by Lacy to beat Washington State 68-63 on Wednesday night in Boulder, Colo.

Xavier Johnson added 20 points and nine rebounds for Colorado (17-6, 6-4 Pac-12), which swept the season series with the Cougars. The Buffaloes beat Washington State 71-70 in overtime last month in Spokane.

Ike Iroegbu added 10 points for the Cougars, who remain winless in five conference games on the road.

Lacy converted 10 of 19 shots from the field, including a career-high eight of 13 from 3-point range for Washington State (9-13, 2-8). It was his second game back from a rib injury that had sidelined him for a month. He missed the first meeting between the teams.

“My teammates did a good job of knowing that I was shooting the ball pretty well, set screens and got me open and the ball was delivered on time,” Lacy said. “I was just able to hit shots.”

Up by three at the half after a sluggish opening by both teams, Colorado got its offense going behind Booker. He scored 12 of the Buffaloes’ first 13 points in a four-minute stretch opening the period and Colorado surged to 34-23 lead with 16:01 left to play.

Lacy connected on his fifth 3-pointer to stall Colorado’s momentum but Booker hit a jumper before Johnson countered a layup by Iroegbu by converting a three-point play.

The Cougars, who trailed by 15 after a layup by Johnson, fought back to within 60-53 on a dunk by Junior Longrus with 1:15 left to play.

Lacy then hit a pair of 3-pointers in the waning seconds, pulling the Cougars to 66-63 with six seconds remaining. Booker was fouled an instant after the inbounds but he made both free throws with two seconds left to secure Colorado’s victory.

Colorado was held to a season low at home in points in the first half but got a 3-pointer and a layup from Johnson around a layup by Jordan Railey late in the period to take a 23-20 lead.

Benefiting from a 9-0 run early on, the Buffaloes led 15-7. But Washington State got right back in it with three 3-pointers in a five-minute stretch, including two by Lacy to help even the score at 18-all with 3:57 left in the first half.

Stanford 80, California 69: Dwight Powell had his third double-double in five games and Anthony Brown scored 11 points in the final 10 minutes to help the Cardinal (15-7, 6-4 Pac-12) beat the Golden Bears 15-7, 6-4) at Berkeley, Calif.

Brown finished with 16 points and six rebounds while Powell had 22 points, 11 rebounds and six assists for Stanford.

Colorado 68, Washington St. 63

Percentages: FG .429, FT .667. 3-Point Goals: 13-27, .481 (Lacy 8-13, Iroegbu 2-3, Johnson 2-7, Shelton 1-3, Kernich-Drew 0-1). Team Rebounds: 3. Blocked Shots: 2 (Railey, Shelton). Turnovers: 17 (Woolridge 4, Iroegbu 3, Kernich-Drew 2, Lacy 2, Shelton, Johnson, Longrus, Hawkinson, Railey). Steals: 6 (Shelton 3, Johnson, Iroegbu, Railey). Technical Fouls: None.

Percentages: FG .440, FT .667. 3-Point Goals: 6-18, .333 (Booker 2-3, Thomas 1-1, Talton 1-2, Hopkins 1-3, Johnson 1-5, Gordon 0-1, King 0-3). Team Rebounds: 0. Blocked Shots: 5 (Gordon 4, Johnson). Turnovers: 12 (Booker 3, Johnson 3, Thomas 2, Hopkins 2, Scott, Gordon). Steals: 8 (Booker 3, Johnson 2, Hopkins 2, Thomas). Technical Fouls: None.

Halftime—Colorado 23-20 A—8,903.