TEMPE, Ariz. — Arizona State put together a strong performance on Saturday, defeating Colorado with a decisive score of 81-61. BJ Freeman led the way for the Sun Devils, contributing 19 points, while Jayden Quaintance had a strong showing with 11 points and 10 rebounds, securing a double-double for his efforts. Basheer Jihad added 17 points and Amier Ali chipped in 10 points, notably shooting a perfect 7 for 7 from the free-throw line.

This victory marked Arizona State’s first win in the Big 12 Conference, improving their season record to 10-3 overall and 1-1 in conference play. The Sun Devils displayed excellent shooting, boasting an overall field goal percentage of 51.9% (28 of 54) and 46.4% (13 for 28) from beyond the arc.

For Colorado, Trevor Baskin stood out among the reserves, scoring 23 points, which was two points more than the combined total of the Buffaloes’ starting lineup. Early in the game, Alston Mason’s 3-pointer put Arizona State ahead 8-6, triggering a momentum shift that led to a 14-2 scoring run, propelling them to a 19-8 lead.

Colorado’s Harrison Carrington attempted to halt the Sun Devils’ surge briefly with a 3-pointer at the 10:43 mark in the first half. However, Arizona State responded with a 13-0 run over a span of just over two minutes, extending their lead to 32-11 with 7:52 remaining in the half. During that stretch, Ali hit three free throws, Mason added a jump shot, and both Quaintance and Jihad connected on 3-pointers.

By halftime, Arizona State had established a solid 40-27 lead, relying on their 51.7% shooting (15 for 29), while Colorado struggled with a shooting percentage of 34.3% (12 for 34), including a dismal 2 for 14 from three-point territory.

Looking ahead, Colorado will continue their road trip as they prepare to face Central Florida on Wednesday, while Arizona State is set to travel to take on seventh-ranked Kansas on the same day.