Robert Franks added 14 for the Cougars (10-15, 2-11 Pac-12), hitting two foul shots with 27 seconds left after stealing the ball from Dominique Collier with the Buffaloes hunting a potential go-ahead shot.
Collier and George King missed 3-point attempts on Colorado's next possession, and Flynn iced the outcome by sinking a foul shot with five seconds remaining. The result enabled Washington State to share the Pac-12 basement with California.
Viont'e Daniels contributed 10 points for the Cougars, which won despite making just 40.3 percent of their field-goal attempts and only 7-of 29 from 3-point range. Washington State was also outrebounded 39-33 but converted 15 Buffs turnovers into 18 points.
McKinley Wright IV and Dallas Walton each scored 16 points to pace Colorado, while Namon Wright hit for 12. The Buffaloes (15-11, 7-7) shot poorly, sinking only 40 percent from the field and 3 of 18 on 3-pointers. They did a good deal of work at the foul line, canning 26 of 35 attempts.
King was held to nine points, nearly five under his average, although he did grab a game-high 11 rebounds.
Neither team led by more than four points in a first half that featured four ties and five lead changes. Washington State edged out to a 25-21 lead with 6:09 remaining after Flynn canned a jumper, but Colorado rattled off eight unanswered points and grabbed a 29-25 advantage when Wright converted a three-point play at the 4:59 mark.
The Buffaloes didn't score for the half's remainder. The Cougars weren't able to take full advantage of that drought, though, managing only five points. A foul shot by Kwinton Hinson with one second left enabled Washington State to take a 30-29 edge into the locker room.
--Field Level Media
Colorado | Washington St. | |
Dallas Walton 16 | Scoring | Malachi Flynn 30 |
McKinley Wright IV 6 | Assists | Viont'e Daniels 4 |
George King 11 | Rebounds | Robert Franks 8 |
Dallas Walton 8 | Free Throws Made | Malachi Flynn 5 |
Tyler Bey 1 | Steals | Malachi Flynn 3 |
Dallas Walton 2 | Blocks | Robert Franks 2 |
Team | Points | FG% | 3PM-3PA | FTM-FTA | Assists | Rebounds | Blocks | Steals | Turnovers |
Colorado | 69 | 39.2 | 3-18 | 26-35 | 10 | 36 | 3 | 2 | 15 |
Washington St. | 73 | 40.3 | 7-29 | 16-23 | 9 | 28 | 5 | 8 | 7 |