This seemingly unimportant attempt not only set the tone for the remainder of the game, but also was the perfect play to encapsulate ASU’s season.

Diop not only came up short, but airballed the wide-open shot.

The Sun Devils have watched the same movie many times this season, as opportunities for memorable moments, clutch shots and big wins have been squandered away, and the evening of Saturday, Feb. 7, was no different.

Colorado (14-10, 4-7 Big 12) was the beneficiary of ASU’s (12-12, 3-8 Big 12) struggles to play fundamental basketball, as the Buffaloes picked up their fourth conference win at the CU Events Center in Boulder, Colorado, 78-70. While the Sun Devils kept the game in reach, Colorado had a counter for every attack, as no run was big enough to retake the lead when it mattered most.

After Diop’s airball early in the contest, the seven-footer settled in nicely and was a big part of ASU keeping the game in arm's reach for the majority of the second half.

Diop had 19 points on an efficient 7/12 from the field, as well as leading the team in rebounds with seven.

While Diop turned in a nice performance, one of the Sun Devils’ issues lies in the fact that their leading rebounder had only seven rebounds, simply not enough to have any sort of presence on the glass.

The Buffaloes, on the other hand, were able to take advantage and be the aggressor, leading to a rebounding advantage of 14, outgaining ASU 40-26.

More rebounds equal second chances, as Colorado’s 13 offensive rebounds were pivotal considering they were unable to find a rhythm from behind the arc.

While struggling from three-point range, the Buffaloes stampeded to the rim, taking home a huge advantage in points in the paint, much thanks to junior guard Barrington Hargress, who had 23 points on 10/15 from the field.

Colorado spread the wealth, however, as freshman guard Isaiah Johnson and sophomore forward Sebastian Rancik combined for 33 points, creating an offensive trio that was too hot for the Sun Devils to handle.

ASU’s offense ran through Diop as well as senior guard Moe Odum, who led the team with 23 points of his own.

The tandem put together a game to remember offensively; however, two players combining for 42 of your 70 total points usually isn’t a winning recipe, and surely wasn’t on Saturday.

Besides an emphatic slam by Diop halfway through the second period that will almost assuredly be seen on SportsCenter, this game joins a growing list of forgettable contests for head coach Bobby Hurley’s team as the clock continues to tick on any NCAA tournament chances.

The Sun Devils get their next chance at a fourth conference win on Tuesday, Feb. 10, at 7 p.m. MST, as Oklahoma State comes to Tempe with a chip on its shoulder after getting run out of Tucson by No. 1 Arizona 84-47 earlier Saturday afternoon.

The victorious Buffaloes will get three days off before a tougher Big 12 test, as they head to Lubbock, Texas, to face off against No. 13 Texas Tech.