The Sun Devils (16-7, 7-5) and Beavers (9-14, 3-9) were never separated by more than six points for the first 34 minutes of the game. ASU used a 21-11 scoring advantage of the final 11:30 to seal an 11-point victory.
ASU had 18 assists on 22 made field goals, good for an 81.8 A/FGM ratio. It is the third such game they have finished with a clip that high this season, the most the Sun Devils have had in a full season since the 2010-11 campaign.
Additionally, ASU forced 16 turnovers, with the Maroon & Gold maintaining their status as the only squad in the Pac-12 to force double-digit turnovers in every conference game this season.
NOTABLES
Arizona State is the only team in the Pac-12 to force double digit turnovers in every conference game this season.
In fact, the Sun Devils have forced double-digit turnovers in 15 consecutive conference games dating back to last season, the most in the Pac-12 in that span.
This is the 21st time in the last 22 games ASU has forced double-digit turnovers, and 48 of 54 dating back to the start of last season.
ASU forced 16 against Oregon State in both matchups this season.
The Sun Devils had 18 assists on 22 made shots, good for an 81.8% A/FGM ratio. It is the second highest A/FGM ratio this season.
In fact, it is the first time since 2010-11 that ASU has had three such games in a season.
Arizona State had seven assists on its first eight field goals and nine of 11 in the first half.
In 10 of 12 conference games, ASU has had an A/FGM ratio of at least 50%.
Frankie Collins has led or tied ASU in assists in 17 of the 22 games he played.
ASU has also scored more fast-break points than opponents in 18 out of 23 games this year and outscored the Beavers 17-3. It is tied for the second largest fastbreak margin this season.
In fact, the Sun Devils have outscored their opponents on the run in 12 of the last 14 and are outscoring their opponents by a +91 margin on the run this season.
The Sun Devils have outscored their opponent in fast break points in nine of 12 league games this season.
Additionally, the Sun Devils had the same number of fast break points in both matchups with the beavers (17).
Desmond Cambridge Jr. has scored at least 15 points in his last seven games.
It is only the second time in his five-year career that he has dropped at least 15 in seven straight games. He did it in eight straight contests from 12/1/18 – 1/8/19 at Brown.
Cambridge Jr. has paced the Sun Devil offense in six of the 12 conference games this season and eight of 22 games overall.
He has led ASU in scoring in five of the last seven games. In fact, 16 of his 18 points came in the second half.
Arizona State has won 12 of its past 15 games inside the friendly confines of Desert Financial Arena. It is the best 15-game stretch since ASU won 14 of 15 meshed between the last eight home games of the 2013-14 season and the first seven of the 2014-15 season.
After trailing 35-31 at the half, Arizona State engineered its 38th halftime comeback in the Bobby Hurley era and fifth this year.
In fact, this is the first halftime comeback for Arizona State at home this season.
20 of the 38 halftime comebacks under Bobby Hurley have come in conference play.
The current starting lineup of Frankie Collins, DJ Horne, Desmond Cambridge Jr., Devan Cambridge and Warren Washington improved to 13-3 on the season.
The contest marked the ninth time this season ASU has held the opponent to four or less turnovers in the first half this season.
ASU has won the last 14 games vs. Oregon State in Tempe.
The Cambridge brothers have had a massive impact on the floor in their first year in the desert.
Desmond Cambridge Jr was the leading scorer in both matchups against OSU with 21 points in the first game and 18 tonight.
On top of Desmond’s scoring, a Cambridge brother has led ASU in points in more than half of games played (13 of 23).
Both have led ASU in blocks in three contests, third most on the team.
Overall, Desmond sports a team-high +35 in league play and Devan is right behind him at +34.
In fact, in 12 against Power 6 opponents, Desmond is +63 and Devan is +49.
The Sun Devils are 11-0 when Devan scores in double figures.
The Sun Devils have scored 40.9% of their points inside the paint this season.
ASU has won the PIP battle in 16 of 23 games this season including their first seven conference games and eight of 11 conference games.
In fact, the Sun Devils have a +83 margin in the paint this season.
ASU had three scorers in double digits in the both matchups against Oregon State in Desmond Jr., (21) Devan (13) and Collins (12).
Desmond Cambridge Jr.’s six made free throws are the most in a game since March 12, 2020 when he went 9/9 against San Diego State.
Oregon State’s leading scorer Jordan Pope, who started the first 9:51 of the game with nine points on 3/5 shooting from three, finished the last 30:09 of the game with just six points on 2/12 shooting, (1/7 from three)
Additionally, the Sun Devil defense clamped down, holding Oregon State to 20 field goals. It is tied for the fewest Arizona State has allowed this season in conference play this season. They have held opponents to 20 or less FGM in 11 conference games over the last two seasons.
Glenn Taylor Jr., who leads Oregon State in second half scoring with 6.8 points per game, was held scoreless in the second half for just the second time this season.
ASU held Oregon to eight field goals made in both second halves of games this season.
Two of ASU’s league play wins have been by double digits (at Oregon, vs. Oregon State).
The Sun Devils are 7-0 when they hold teams under 60 points.
KEY MOMENTS
ASU held Oregon State to first half stretches of 5:02 (10:09-5:07) and 2:25 (13:20-10:55) without a made field goal.
The Beavers closed the first half on a 12-4 scoring edge over 4:07, taking a 35-31 lead into the break.
ASU went on a 9-0 run over 18:29 – 15:16 in the second half, giving the Sun Devils a 40-37 lead.
The Sun Devils took control from there, closing the game on a 21-11 scoring advantage over 11:30.
FIRST HALF
Warren Washington got the Arizona State offense going with a slam from Desmond Cambridge Jr. at 19:17.
DJ Horne cashed in his first basket – ASU’s second triple – at 17:20 on a find from Devan Cambridge. The Sun Devil defense immediately forced an Oregon State turnover and turned it into a Cambridge basket for a 10-5 Arizona State lead.
ASU forced a turnover and it turned into some brotherly love, with Desmond Cambridge Jr.finding Devan for a slam at 15:06. Collins dropped a slick dime to Washington at 14:16 for a slam.
With the Sun Devils leading 16-10, the Beavers proceeded to go on an 8-5 scoring edge before Alonzo Gaffney hit his second basket in as many attempts at 7:32, extending the Sun Devil lead to 23-18.
After OSU responded, Collins drilled a deep trey from Horne at 4:07 and brought the Sun Devil lead back up to four, 27-23.
Cambridge forced a turnover, flicked the rock to Collins who found Cambridge streaking down the floor for a layup at 2:14, ASU led 29-25.
Oregon State closed the half on a 12-4 scoring advantage over 4:07, taking a 35-31 lead into the half.
SECOND HALF
Oregon State extended its lead to as high as six on two occasions in the first three minutes of the second half, but the Sun Devils responded.
At 17:03, Cambridge Jr. hit two free throws and ASU immediately forced a turnover. Washington swooped to the basket and ASU tied the game at 37 with 13:17 on the clock.
The Sun Devils took the lead back on a Devan Cambridge free throw at 15:45, 38-37. It was the first ASU lead since less than two minutes in the first half.
Then, Cambridge Jr. soared for a half court steal and tossed an alley-oop slam to Devan, igniting the Sun Devil faithful and putting ASU ahead 40-37 with 15:16 left in regulation.
Cambridge Jr. hit ASU’s first triple of the second stanza at 13:08, re-earning the Sun Devils the lead at 45-44. Then, Gaffney skied for a rejection on the left side at 12:15.
Off an offensive rebound, Jamiya Neal drained a triple, his first of the game, and extended the Sun Devil lead to six, 52-46 with 9:36 on the clock.
The game became separated by more than six for the first time at 6:26, when Devan Cambridge hit a free throw, making it 58-51 Sun Devils.
Still leading by seven, Collins flew to the lane and pushed in a layup plus the foul at 1:24. It brought the ASU lead to a game-high nine, 66-56. The Sun Devils brought it to 11 with less than a minute to go and held on for a 68-57 win.
QUOTABLES
Arizona State Men’s Basketball Head Coach Bobby Hurley
Opening Statement…
“I thought we took a step in the right direction today and I’m really excited about how we defended, especially in the second half holding them to 22 points, we did a really good job on that end of the floor. Happy with our bench. There’s a lot of things they did that don’t even show up on the stat sheet. I think we had 18 out of 22 assisted baskets so on offense that’s what we’re striving for and we’ve been pretty good at that. We played well, so happy to see the sharing of the basketball.”
On improvements defending the three…
“I thought we were rotating well, closing out well. It was definitely something we discussed at halftime. The one we left Pope on their out of bounds, everyone kind of went to the cutter and he shot one right in front of our bench with no one around. We just had to do a better job of contesting those and I thought we did that.”
On what Devan brings to the team offensively…
“He was a live wire tonight and was just going to the offensive board. He’s getting in passing lanes, he was communicating well on defense with the switches when we needed to. He brought the appropriate leadership to the team and experience when you’re struggling a little bit, going through a tough time. I thought he brought the right energy to the game and did all those little things we need him to do. It was great for him to see him play that way tonight.”
Arizona State Men’s Basketball Guard Desmond Cambridge Jr.
On the impact of winning a game…
“I definitely think it’s a sigh of relief. Coming off of four losses, it’s just been a whirlwind and just to get that dub, it was just a sigh of relief. I feel good even though I feel bad because we had to gut that out, it was a close one. Nothing’s going to be easy, so we gotta just keep putting them together.”
On going through a four game losing streak…
“We definitely went through some growing pains. Four losses back-to-back, that’s hard mentally on us. Just to stay consistent in practice, keep a good energy, good attitude. But we figured it out, we just kept sticking to it and we didn’t change anything. We did get closer as a team, we are holding each other accountable, being able to take constructive criticism from each other and I think we grew in that. Because this game, it wasn’t easy and we have mistakes all around and we figured out how to get the win.”
Arizona State Men’s Basketball Guard Devan Cambridge
On his impact to the game…
“I talked to my brother about that because he thought it was just him and I was like no, no when I score double digits. But it feels good but it doesn’t really matter about scoring, I’m happy if I get a dunk every game. Just playing defense, just doing the dirty stuff that the team needs.”
UP NEXT
The Sun Devils are back in action this Saturday against the Oregon Ducks. Tip is set for 8:00 p.m. MST at Desert Financial Arena. The game can be seen nationally on ESPN2.
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