Arizona's Miller warns court storming could lead to violence

BOULDER, Colo. - Allonzo Trier's missed 3-pointer at the buzzer may be the final impression from No. 9 Arizona's 75-72 loss to Colorado.

It's not the only reason why Arizona (22-6, 10-5 Pac-12) had its six-game winning streak ended, though.

Ranked second in the country in rebounding margin going into the game at plus-11.4, the Wildcats merely tied the Buffaloes 38-38 in the battle on the boards.

''We didn't buy into what coach (Sean) Miller was preaching today and frankly, they out-toughed us,'' the Wildcats 7-foot center, Kaleb Tarczewski, said. ''That was the reason they won tonight.''

Colorado had the 75-72 edge with 26 seconds left when Scott lost the ball driving in traffic. Arizona turned the ball back over, but then with 9 seconds left, Scott was called for traveling under defensive pressure.

Trier's 3-point try at the buzzer hit the back of the rim and missed.

Colorado's fans stormed the court the moment the shot missed in a chaotic finish that Miller took exception to.

''I have no problem being a great sport and I have no problem recognizing that Colorado deserved to win tonight,'' Miller said. ''They won the game. They were the better team. But what's eventually going to happen in the Pac-12 is this: an Arizona player is going to punch a fan and they are going to punch a fan out of self-defense and when it happens only then will everyone take a deep breath and say we have to do something to protect both teams.'

"I'm going to be fine. Someone can say whatever they want to me, spit, do whatever you want. But I'm worried about the players that are under my direction," Miller, who has seen the court stormed in 10 of his team's last 11 road losses, said.

"If we lose, at least let us get off the court, so that our guys aren't potentially in a situation where a lawsuit could come. Because when that comes, then and only then will people pay attention."

After leading by four at the break, the Buffaloes moved in front 56-45 after Scott converted a three-point play with 14:21 left. Arizona responded with a 9-3 burst to prevent the game from getting out of hand, but Colorado withstood the pressure, leaning on a series of driving layups by Scott to stay in front. His leaning layup with 3:32 remaining put the Buffaloes up by 10.

A basket by Tarczewski and a 3-pointer by Gabe York pulled the Wildcats within 75-70 with 2:10 remaining. Tarczewski then threw down a two-handed dunk off an alley-oop pass from Kadeem Allen.

Arizona missed its first four 3-pointers and trailed 37-33 at the half.

- With files from theScore