Booker, Colorado beat San Francisco 72-55

BOULDER, Colo. (AP) Askia Booker couldn't miss in the second half.

Booker scored 16 of his 21 points in the second half to help Colorado break open a close game, and the Buffaloes pulled away to beat San Francisco 72-55 Wednesday night.

Booker established a season high in points on 8 of 12 shooting, converting all six of his field goals in the second half, including four of his five total 3-pointers.

''In the second half, he made some big shots for us,'' Colorado coach Tad Boyle said. ''I thought he came out and forced a few things in the first half, but got into the flow of the game and played within himself down the stretch. To see him going 5 for 6 from three and 8 of 12 from the field, holy cow, it's a good feeling.''

Josh Scott added 12 points for Colorado (5-1), which won its third in a row.

Mark Tollefsen scored 12 points to lead San Francisco (4-3). Matt Christiansen added 10 points.

After Kruize Pinkins opened the second half with a basket for the Dons, Colorado ran off 10-straight points, including successive 3-pointers by Booker to take a 42-36 lead.

''I think my teammates fed off that and our defensive energy picked up,'' Booker said. He added hitting the 3's to start his second half ''were very important, just for my confidence. my rhythm and, most importantly, helping my team get the lead. We really didn't look back from there.''

Corey Hilliard hit a running jumper to temporarily stall Colorado's momentum but the Buffaloes scored eight of the next 10 points to stretch their lead to 50-40 with 12:11 left to play.

The Dons managed to get within six before Scott hit a pair of free throws Booker hit another 3-pointer to help the Buffaloes re-establish a double digit advantage.

San Francisco coach Rex Walters said the Dons hurt themselves with turnovers. Colorado scored 29 points off the Dons' 18 turnovers.

''That's the difference in the game,'' Walter said. ''We never really got better over the course of the second half. I think a lot of it was self-induced.''

Colorado, down by as many as 10 points earlier, pulled to 34-32 at halftime when Dustin Thomas rebounded a teammate's missed free throw and laid it in.

San Francisco put together a 17-2 run midway through the opening half to forge in front 21-11, getting a pair of 3-pointers from Chris Adams during the stretch.

Dominique Collier and Xavier Talton each hit 3-pointers to help the Buffaloes get back in the game.

TIP-INS

San Francisco: The Dons played their first true road game of the season. They were 7-5 on the road last season and have gone 13-11 on the road over the last two seasons. ... Tollefsen has scored in double figures in all seven games this season.

Colorado: Xavier Johnson was held out of the game after missing practice this week because of a hamstring injury suffered in Sunday's win over Lipscomb. ... The Buffaloes have 23 consecutive wins at home against nonconference opponents.

UP NEXT

San Francisco: hosts Houston Baptist on Sunday.

Colorado: at Georgia on Sunday.