Arizona
ASU basketball saves best game of year for NCAA Tournament First Four
The No. 11 seed Arizona State Solar Devils males’s basketball staff saved their finest efficiency of the season for the First 4 of the NCAA Match.
The truth is, the sport was solely tied for 12 seconds and ASU trailed for simply 40 ticks earlier than leaping out to a 13-3 lead over the No. 11 seed Nevada Wolf Pack throughout the first 3:21 of Wednesday night time’s contest in Dayton en path to a 98-73 victory.
That time whole marks essentially the most factors ever scored in a First 4 sport in NCAA Match historical past and the 53 factors scored within the first half set a brand new season excessive for Arizona State.
“It was an entire efficiency for us. You wish to be taking part in this manner at the moment of yr,” head coach Bobby Hurley informed reporters postgame. “That’s what it’s all about.
“I actually imagine that our schedule and the video games we’ve been in, particularly late within the season, put together you for these kinds of video games. And it was throughout the board, simply everybody contributed. Our protection was excellent within the first half.”
The Solar Devils capitalized on a 17-0 run and 22-2 run over the primary 6.5 minutes to take a 53-26 lead into the halftime break, with ASU’s lead rising to its largest margin of 30 simply 13 seconds into the second half. Arizona State additionally compelled 10 of its 11 turnovers within the first 20 minutes of the competition.
As a staff, ASU shot a staggering 64% from the sphere whereas additionally hitting 11 three-pointers and going 71% from the free throw line. The 64% metric on 35-of-55 taking pictures is the very best share within the Hurley period.
Evaluate that to Nevada, who didn’t have a nasty offensive night time, however couldn’t sustain with Arizona State’s offensive explosion regardless of taking pictures 48% from the ground, 86% from the charity stripe and matched the Solar Devils in made three-pointers.
The truth is, the Wolf Pack failed to attain their first two-point subject purpose till the 8:39 mark within the first half after beginning the sport 6-for-10 from the sphere, with the primary six made subject targets being from past the arc.
“We already play good protection, in order that’s what we cling our hats on,” ASU guard Desmond Cambridge Jr. stated. “However when our offense is clicking like that, we’re a tough staff to cease.”
ASU completed with 5 gamers in double figures, with DJ Horne main the way in which with 20 factors, whereas Cambridge Jr. and Warren Washington — who each transferred from Nevada this offseason — ended the night time with 17 and 9, respectively. The duo additionally completed with the first- and second-most assists on the staff, as Cambridge Jr. had six and Washington had 4 out of a staff whole of 21.
“I feel once we get off to begins like that, it simply feeds on to all people on the staff and builds vitality, and I really feel prefer it confirmed tonight,” Horne stated.
Hurley clearly had his guys ready for the Wolf Pack protection, as they used quite a few backdoor cuts for straightforward buckets that led to a 36-24 paint-points differential. ASU ahead Jamiya Neal, who has exploded offensively within the staff’s previous few video games, additionally contributed with 16 of his facet’s 33 bench factors.
And regardless of Arizona State place to begin guard Frankie Collins solely taking part in 13 minutes as a consequence of foul hassle, Nevada’s Kenan Blackshear was additionally in the identical boat and was restricted to only 17 minutes on the court docket. Blackshear nonetheless led his staff with seven assists, however guard Jarod Lucas — an Oregon State switch — noticed his manufacturing restricted to only seven factors and two assists due to ASU’s stifling protection.
LOOSE BALLS
The Solar Devils enhance to 13-1 when Devan Cambridge is in double figures (15 factors).
UP NEXT
Arizona State will journey to Denver to tackle No. 6 seed TCU on Friday within the First Spherical of the NCAA Match at 7:05 p.m. on 98.7, the Arizona Sports activities app and ArizonaSports.com.