Arizona State (13-3, 4-1) has 13 wins in its first 16 games for just the seventh time since the 1945-46 campaign and ASU’s 4-1 start in Pac-12 play marks the sixth best win total through five league games since they joined the league prior to the 1979-80 season. Neal notched 14 points and 12 rebounds – just the second double-double of the Sun Devil season – while Cambridge scored a game-high 18 points.
ASU also saw a significant contribution from Warren Washington (seven points, 12 rebounds) and Desmond Cambridge Jr., who surpassed 2,000 career points. He sits 10th among active NCAA players in career scoring.
KEY MOMENTS
ASU took a two-possession lead before the first media timeout, but the Huskies went on a 9-0 run in 3:51 to take a 10-5 edge.
The Sun Devils went on a 11-0 run over 6:03 from 12:09-6:06 and forced a Husky timeout, taking a 16-11 lead. The run featured nine points from Jamiya Neal on a triple, dunk and two jumpers.
ASU went on a 7-0 run over 1:43 from 15:24-13:41 which featured four points from Cambridge and a three from DJ Horne.
The Sun Devils went on another big run, this time 9-0 run over 2:04 from 6:48-4:44 in the second half with Devan Cambridge and Collins tag teaming to extend the Sun Devil lead to 17.
NOTABLES
ASU has 13 wins in its first 16 games. It is just the seventh time the Sun Devils have had at least 13 wins in its first 16 games since the 1945-46 season.
In fact, it’s the first since a 13-3 start in 2017-18 and tied for the best 16 game start under Bobby Hurley.
The Sun Devils’ 4-1 start in Pac-12 play marks the sixth best win total through five league games since statistics were kept beginning in the 1931-32 season. ASU has been 4-1 five times, last in 2007-08 and 5-0 once (1979-80).
Arizona State has now won 12 of its last 13 games at Desert Financial Arena. It is the best 12-game mark since ASU won 14 straight, meshed between the last eight home games of the 2013-14 season and the first six of the 2014-15 season.
With his six points tonight, Desmond Cambridge Jr. eclipsed the 2,000 point milestone and is one of just 10 active players with that many points. His 2,001 points per game rank 10th among active NCAA players and his 328 threes rank sixth among active players. He is one of 33 active players with over 1,500 points and 600 rebounds in his career.
In the NCAA’s quadrant system, losses outside of Quad 1 are highly detrimental to at-large candidacies. ASU is tied for third in the Pac-12 for fewest losses outside of the top quadrant with two.
Desmond Cambridge Jr. is +43 in five league play games this season after a +6 tally against Washington.
Devan Cambridge soared for six dunks on the afternoon.
Arizona State is 9-0 this season when scoring at least 70 points.
DJ Horne’s 12 marked his tenth time this season in double figures this season.
Horne’s four three pointers tied his season high.
Warren Washington erased four Husky shots, his fourth game of the season with at least three blocks.
The Sun Devils have swept the Washington schools at home for the second time in as many chances (2020-21) and also the second time in the Bobby Hurley era.
Warren Washington had seven boards in the opening half and finished with 12, both season bests.
After becoming the first center this season to out-rebound Arizona’s Oumar Ballo, Braxton Meah was limited to just four boards by the stifling Sun Devil bigs.
Neal notched the first double-double of his career and second of the ASU season (Washington 10 points, 14 rebounds at Texas Southern).
Jamiya Neal notched his first career double double and a career high 14 points.
In fact, his three pointer with 4:13 left in the opening half brought him to 12 points, a new career high. His previous best was 11 (USF – 12/22/22).
The Sun Devils have now had two double-doubles this season, after Warren Washington scored 10 points and grabbed 14 rebounds against Texas Southern.
Arizona State went on a 11-0 run over 6:03 from 12:09-6:06 and forced a Husky timeout. It was the 11th run of at least 10 allowed by the Washington defense this season, including two against the Arizona Wildcats last game.
Through 15 games this season, opposing guards are shooting 34% against ASU in conference play and 36% for the season against the Sun Devil defense.
Guards are averaging 9 turnovers per game against the Sun Devils in conference play.
Arizona State has outscored their opponent in the paint 14 times in 16 games this season, including a 38-32 margin against the Huskies.
ASU is outscoring opponents by 35 points in the paint in league play.
In fact, ASU has scored 42% of their points this season from inside the paint (488/1,155).
The Huskies were held to just five blocks, their lowest in conference play this season.
ASU has also scored more fast-break points than opponents in 11 out of 15 games, and the last eight. The Sun Devils are outscoring opponents by a +48 margin on the fast break this season. They outscored Washington 23-16.
ASU has won the turnover battle in four out of five conference games this season and five straight contests. ASU +21 in turnovers compared to its opponents this season.
ASU is +15 in steals in conference games this season.
FIRST HALF
Arizona State forced a turnover on the opening Washington Huskies (9-8, 1-5) possession and Devan Cambridge dropped in a bounce pass to Warren Washington, who thumped it down for the first Sun Devil points at 19:26.
Horne drained the first ASU trey with 16:17 on the clock to regain the lead, 5-3.
The Huskies went on a 9-0 run in 3:51 to take a 10-5 lead before Neal hopped into the lane for a fast break slam, cutting the deficit to four, an 11-7 Husky lead.
Neal proceeded to nail another trey at 10:08 and followed it up with another jumper into the media timeout. ASU was on 7-0 run over 3:46 from 12:09-7:58 into the under-eight TV break.
Washington sent aside a Husky shot with 6:28 on the clock and Desmond Cambridge Jr.found a flying Neal for an alley-oop slam. ASU was on an 11-0 run over 5:22 and forced a Husky timeout.
ASU allowed a bucket on the other end but Warren Washington earned a three-point play the old fashioned way, extending the Sun Devil lead to five, 19-14 with 5:55 to play.
The Huskies went on another 5-0 run, tying the contest before Neal cashed in another triple with 4:13 left. It brought him up to 12 points, a new season high.
Desmond Cambridge Jr. was able to find the bottom of the net and drill his first shot of the game, this one from distance, with 1:37 left in the opening stanza.
ASU entered the locker room with a 28-26 advantage.
SECOND HALF
The Cambridge brothers opened the second stanza connected, as Desmond found Devan with 19:51 on the clock to push the lead to four, 30-26.
Desmond Cambridge Jr. dished a no-look dime to Horne for a three with 17:16 to go in the opening half, putting ASU ahead by five, 35-30.
The brother connection continued, as Desmond found Devan again, scoring through the air for a slam with 15:53.
Neal then found himself as the facilitator, hitting Devan Cambridge on the fast break for an alley-oop jam. Luther Muhammad found Horne on the fast break for a triple with 14:30 on the clock, extending the ASU lead to 10, 42-32 its largest of the game. The basket marked ASU’s third straight make and prompted a Husky timeout.
The high-flying Sun Devils continued their run on the rim. Neal again found Devan Cambridge for an alley-oop slam at 10:59, bringing the ASU faithful to their feet.
Both offenses struggled to find momentum before Collins hit a triple with 5:34 on the clock, re-extending the lead to 13, 59-46. Devan Cambridge clearly couldn’t get enough of the rim, as Collins found the big man flying through the air with 5:11 on the clock. Another basket, this time by Collins, forced a Husky timeout. ASU led by a game-best 17, 63-45 with 4:35 left.
Desmond Cambridge Jr. earned his 2,000th career college point with a triple at 3:52, putting the Sun Devils ahead 66-48 and putting aside any opportunity for a Husky comeback.
Arizona State earned the victory, 73-65.
QUOTEABLES
Arizona State Men’s Basketball Head Coach Bobby Hurley
Opening Statement…
“Our defense again came through, our offense wasn’t great in the first half, we missed a lot of shots where we can take some time adjusting to their style of defense and it wasn’t only missed 3’s, it was shots in the paint we struggled to make. We’re transitioning to Guard U to Lob U, that’s what it was looking like in the second half, the showcase of athleticism. It wasn’t only in the open court I think Jamiya (Neal) had a couple against their zone where we were able to get Devan(Cambridge) a cut on the back line. I know there were a lot of assisted baskets and we’re always pleased to see that. So it was a good win and I’m very happy about it.”
On the boost Jamiya Neal gave the team today…
“This was the best he’s played since he’s been here at Arizona State and I think we’ve tried to talk to him to do a lot of things. Don’t identify yourself whether the ball goes through the basket or not. I think we were rebounding the heck out of the ball, 11 defensive rebounds is huge for a guy who plays on the perimeter. His activity level was really good, his defense was really good and the game kind of slowed down where it looked like his vision and reads were good on offense.”
Arizona State Men’s Basketball Guard Devan Cambridge Jr.
On bouncing back this week after two straight loses…
“It means a lot. We are battling for the top of our league right now. We got to protect our home court. We got to bounce back as we go on the road for the next two games. It gives us confidence. School starts tomorrow and I am not looking forward to that.”
Arizona State Men’s Basketball Guard Jamiya Neal
On coming off the bench and the spark he ignited in the first half:
“Coming off the bench, you have to be ready. So however they start the game, you got to go off that. I’d seen my guys were off to a slow start, so I pride myself on trying to be a spark for this team. So I just try to be there and focus on my teammates and being here for my brothers. Today was scoring and rebounding, I was just happy to be there for them.”
UP NEXT
The Sun Devils hit the road for their first conference road trip, facing Oregon at 7:00 MST on Wednesday.
Press Release courtesy of Sun Devil Athletics – Josh Schwam, Graduate Media Relations Intern
Click on Logo
