Washington
Arizona State steps up the pressure, surges past No. 21 Washington State in Pac-12 play
the Sun Devils turned in one of their best performances of The season, downing visiting Washington State 73-61 in Pac-12 play at Desert Financial Arena.
It was really anyone’s guess as to how the Arizona State Sun Devils were going to respond when they stepped on the court to face No. 21 Washington State on Saturday night. Coach Bobby Hurley saw both versions of his team in an overtime loss to Washington on Thursday and it had an embarrassing showing against rival Arizona a week ago.
But the Sun Devils turned in one of their best performances of the season, downing visiting Washington State 73-61 in Pac-12 play at Desert Financial Arena. The Sun Devils (14-14, 8-9) led for 35:44 minutes and came out with an intensity and sense of urgency that they didn’t seem to have 48 hours earlier.
The performance was all the more impressive given the competition. Washington State surprisingly started the day atop the Pac-12. Coach Kyle Smith lost his top four scorers from last season and was picked 10th in the preseason coaches poll but boasts a national ranking for the first time since the 2007-08 season when it finished the season ranked 21st.
The Cougars (21-7, 12-5) were also coming off a dramatic 77-74 victory over Arizona, handing the Wildcats their first loss at McKalea Center this season.
“I thought possible the best defense we’ve played in terms of they’re a handful around the basket with (Isaac) Jones and they’ve got guys that can shoot, playmakers,” Hurley said. “So they have a really good team. Kyle Smith has done a phenomenal job there and it’s one of the great stories in college basketball, what they’ve been able to do so you could see why they’ve had the success they’ve had but our defense was up for the challenge tonight and we stepped up in that regard.”
The showing by ASU snapped the Cougars’ eight-game win streak, that team’s last loss coming on Jan. 20 against California in overtime.
Let’s take a closer look at the contest:
What went right for ASU
Played a solid first half: Hurley admitted after the frustrating Washington loss that he didn’t know where his team’s psyche would be. It had that lopsided and embarrassing loss at Arizona, then played about as bad for the first 23 or so minutes on Thursday against Washington. But the Sun Devils played their best first half in awhile, shooting 53% (16-for-30) and showing a hustle and toughness that had been missing. At one point Adam Miller and Jose Perez both went two rows deep into the crowd for a loose ball.
Balanced scoring: The Sun Devils had four players in double figures and two players with nine points. Jose Perez had 16 points, followed by Frankie Collins with 14, Adam Miller 12 and Alonzo Gaffney 11. Jamiya Neal and Bryant Selebangue each chipped in with nine. For Gaffney is was more points than he registered in the last four games combined. It was Selebangue’s biggest point contribution since a Jan. 20 game against USC in which he also had nine.
“If we’re going to have success the rest of the season, it’s not going to be with one guy. The times we seem to win there are four or five guys in double figures. We need that type of production, and again, the box scores shows that tonight,” Hurley said. “When we have that many guys playing that well at that end of the floor it really gets everyone energized and we play better at both ends.”
Held their own on the boards: Rebounding is an area in which ASU has been deficient much of the season but they finished equal with the Cougars on the boards, each with 35 rebounds. Despite coming off the bench Selebangue had seven followed by Gaffney, Perez and Collins each with six rebounds. So it was a balanced effort there too. ASU came into the game 348th out of 351 teams in rebounding margin at minus 7 so to finish even was significant.
Not reliant on the long ball: ASU went 6-for-14 from deep (44.8%) which was noteworthy since they came in shooting 30.7% for the season from there. It was the fewest 3-point attempts ASU has had in a game this year, the previous low being 15 attempts in the win over San Francisco on Dec. 3. They were 5-for-15 in that one.
Good shooting night: The Sun Devils came in shooting 41.9% on the season which ranks 307th overall and 11th in Pac-12 play. In this one they shot 49.2% (29-for-59) with Miller and Gaffney both going 5-for-8 and Selebangue going 4-for-5.
What went wrong for the Sun Devils
A stupid foul here of there: We’re being picky here because there was very little that didn’t go right for the Sun Devils. With the ASU up 53-46 with 10:05 left in the game, the Cougars had the ball late in the shot clock with ASU making a solid defensive stand. Kamari Lands fouled Isaac Jones who was getting off a desperation 3 at the buzzer. Jones made all three free throws to cut the deficit to 53-49.
They said it
“If we’re guarding with a purpose and energy and we’re in the right spots and we’re flying around and getting deflections then we can be pretty dynamic getting out in the open court and it leads to our offense and they had four points for a long time. I thought we started out strong and defended them well.” — ASU Coach Bobby Hurley
“It was real focused. Coach told us we got to be the good eggs. You guys don’t know what that means but you put that out there I think the whole team, we were the good eggs tonight.” — ASU’s Jose Perez
“You can’t complain when you beat a ranked team. We knew what it was going to be coming into the game and we were prepared. We needed this one. Lost the last one so had to bounce back and get ready for Wednesday.” — ASU’s Bryant Selebangue
What to look for next
Can ASU build on the strong performance: Given the monumental task that lies in front of it in the form of their rival, the Sun Devils needed a confidence booster and what better way to get it than beat the team that beat your rival not once, but twice this season.
Up next
The Sun Devils have just one game next week and it will be the rematch against rival Arizona (21-6, 12-4) at 8 p.m. Wednesday at Desert Financial Arena. The game will be televised on the Pac-12 Network. ASU will be looking for a bit of redemption having lost to the Wildcats 105-60 at McKale Center a week ago in what was the mostly lopsided game in the series history.
Arizona defeated Washington 91-75 Saturday afternoon behind the 28 points of Caleb Love.
Crews are on the scene of a serious crash on I-95 South in Stafford, Virginia.
Virginia State Police confirmed the crash was fatal but has not yet confirmed how many fatalities there were.
All southbound lanes are closed at mile marker 146.
Traffic is being diverted to Route 1 at exit 148.
This is a developing story. Stay with News4 and nbcwashington.com for updates.
Washington
Sounders FC, Starbucks and Washington Youth Soccer launch Washington Youth Soccer Match Pass to celebrate the next generation of soccer across the Evergreen State | Seattle Sounders
RENTON, WASH. – Sounders FC, in partnership with Starbucks and Washington Youth Soccer, today announced the launch of the Washington Youth Soccer Match Pass, a first-of-its-kind statewide initiative designed to inspire the next generation of young athletes across the Evergreen State. As the sport reaches a defining moment across North America, the Washington Youth Soccer Match Pass invites every registered Washington Youth Soccer athlete aged 18 and under to receive a complimentary ticket to select home matches this season, connecting young players and their families across Washington to the heart of Sounders FC matchdays and Pacific Northwest soccer culture.
More than a ticket initiative, the Washington Youth Soccer Match Pass is rooted in a shared belief that soccer belongs to everyone who plays it. With over 90,000 registered Washington Youth Soccer athletes eligible for the program – which includes access to additional discounted tickets for friends and family members – the Washington Youth Soccer Match Pass celebrates those that continue to shape the sport’s strong foundation across the state. Coming at a significant moment for soccer in the region, with Seattle hosting six matches during the FIFA World Cup 2026™ this summer, Sounders FC and its partners are joining together to invest in the players, families, clubs and communities that fuel the game year-round.
“The Washington Youth Soccer Match Pass is about recognizing that every young player across Washington is already part of the story of this club,” said Sounders FC President of Business Operations Hugh Weber. “The Sounders are not just Seattle’s club – it’s Washington’s soccer club. Many of the players who wear our crest today, including Jordan Morris, Paul Rothrock and Jackson Ragen, grew up playing in Washington Youth Soccer. Their journeys are proof that the connection between local soccer communities and Sounders FC is real, lasting and deeply rooted.”
The program is available for the Rave Green’s final 12 MLS regular-season and Leagues Cup home matches of the 2026 campaign, beginning with Seattle’s first contest after the 2026 FIFA World Cup break against archrival Portland Timbers on Thursday, July 16 (7:30 p.m. PT / Apple TV, FS1, iHeartMedia Seattle, El Rey 1360 AM). Eligible Washington Youth Soccer athletes can access the offer through a **dedicated online portal** using their WYS Player ID.
With Seattle as its hometown, Starbucks is deeply rooted in communities across Washington and beyond. Starbucks serves as the initiative’s founding partner to make professional soccer more accessible for families throughout the season. A longtime Sounders FC partner, Starbucks joins the club in its commitment to creating meaningful opportunities for youth athletes and their families across Washington, reinforcing shared values of community, connection and access to the game.
“We are proud to partner with Sounders FC and Washington Youth Soccer to expand our support for youth soccer across our hometown of Seattle and communities across Washington,” said Starbucks Senior Vice President of Global Marketing Erin Silvoy. “At Starbucks, we believe sports are a powerful force for connection, that brings people together through shared rituals and moments of joy. By helping more youth experience soccer first-hand, we hope to inspire the next generation while supporting the athletes, coaches and families who make our communities stronger.”
Founded in 1961, Washington Youth Soccer is one of the region’s leading youth sports organizations, helping shape generations of players and families through recreational and competitive opportunities across the state for more than 60 years. Affiliated with U.S. Youth Soccer, U.S. Soccer and FIFA, Washington Youth Soccer works alongside nearly 200 member clubs and local associations to help grow and strengthen the game at every level, creating accessible pathways and enriching experiences for youth athletes and their families throughout Washington.
”We see this partnership as a catalyst to inspire the next generation of youth soccer players,” said Washington Youth Soccer Executive Director Roger Levesque. “There is something unique about attending a Sounders match at Lumen Field – the sights, sounds and world-class soccer all contribute to a goose bump-inducing experience. But the true inspiration comes from living the highs and lows of a match together, alongside family, friends and thousands of fans, who for 90 minutes, are all on the same team. We are grateful for the opportunity to work with Sounders FC and Starbucks to bring this experience and the joy of soccer to the Washington Youth Soccer community.”
MLS is currently amid an extended break from play for the FIFA World Cup 2026™, with Seattle returning to action on Thursday, July 16 against the Portland Timbers on the Emerald Queen Casino Pitch at Lumen Field (7:30 p.m. PT / Apple TV, iHeartMedia Seattle, El Rey 1360 AM).
ABOUT SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC
Born in 1974 and a member of Major League Soccer since 2009, Seattle Sounders FC is one of North America’s leading professional soccer organizations. The club has captured nine major trophies since its inaugural MLS season, and following its Leagues Cup victory in 2025, Seattle became the first team in U.S. soccer history to win every major competition (Concacaf Champions Cup, MLS Cup, Supporters’ Shield, U.S. Open Cup, Leagues Cup). Since the club’s MLS debut, Sounders fans have set the standard for soccer support in North America, leading the league in attendance for eight-consecutive seasons (2009-2016), routinely ranking in the global top 30 among all professional clubs and never finishing outside of MLS’ top three.
Since 1971, Starbucks Coffee Company has been committed to responsibly sourcing and roasting hi-quality arabica coffee. Today, with a global footprint of more than 41,000 company-operated and licensed coffeehouses and a growing presence in consumer-packaged goods, we are the world’s premier purveyor of specialty coffee. Through our unwavering commitment to excellence and our guiding principles, we bring the unique Starbucks Experience to life for every customer through every cup. To share in the experience, please visit us in our stores or online at about.starbucks.com or www.starbucks.com.
ABOUT WASHINGTON YOUTH SOCCER
Washington Youth Soccer (WYS) is the largest youth sports organization in Washington State, serving more than 90,000 players through a network of over 200 member associations and clubs statewide. WYS is committed to fostering the physical, mental, and emotional growth of youth through the game of soccer by creating opportunities for players of all backgrounds and ability levels to learn, compete, and thrive. Through leagues, tournaments, player development programs, coaching education, community partnerships, and initiatives supported by the Washington Youth Soccer Foundation, WYS works to grow the game and create meaningful experiences for young athletes across Washington.
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