(Tempe, AZ) Arizona State Men’s Basketball knocked off Oklahoma State, 85-76, to earn their fourth Big 12 Conference win of the season.
The Sun Devils (13-12, 4-8) defeated the Cowboys (16-8, 4-7) thanks in large part to the rebounding effort. Arizona State out-rebounded Oklahoma State, 45-34, an advantage that proved to be one of the major differences in the game. Head Coach Bobby Hurley‘s squad controlled the entire contest, leading for over 35 minutes of game action. Arizona State shot 28-of-35 (80%) from the free throw line which helped them seal the game, including a 19-of-21 (90.5%) effort in the second half. The Maroon and Gold finished with a healthy margin in several important statistical categories, including points off turnovers (26-13), second chance points (24-4), bench points (28-17), and points in the paint (38-26).
For the first time all season, six Sun Devils scored 10 or more points. Everyone was getting in on the action, as Arizona State scored 85 points, moving their record to 10-2 in games in which they scored 80 or more. ASU did it without relying on the three-point shot (only five made threes), instead opting to punish the Cowboys in the paint and take advantage of Oklahoma State turnovers.
Redshirt sophomore forward Santiago Trouet made a major impact on both ends of the court. By finishing with 16 points and 10 rebounds, he accounted for his fourth double-double of the season. Freshman center Massamba Diop produced a team-best 17 points on 6-of-10 shooting, adding three blocks and seven rebounds. Sophomore guard Noah Meeusen stuffed the stat sheet with a line of 12 points, five assists, three steals, and four rebounds. Senior guards Moe Odum (13) and Pig Johnson (10) along with junior forward Andrija Grbovic (11) rounded out the double-digit point efforts.
A challenge made by Coach Hurley to his team was rebounding. His team responded with one of their best efforts on the boards this season. After collecting 45 rebounds, Arizona State is now 5-0 when finishing with 40 or more boards. Thanks to a 45-34 rebounding edge over Oklahoma State, the Sun Devils are now 8-1 when out-rebounding their opponent.
The Cowboys came into the game averaging 84.8 points per game, the 27th-best total in the nation. Arizona State held them to only 76 points, over eight points below their season average. That was a key metric as Oklahoma State came into the game 16-0 this season when scoring at least 81 points and now are 0-8 otherwise. The Sun Devils remain at home after a weekend off, as they prepare to host No. 16 Texas Tech.
First Half
Both teams quickly engaged in a back and forth battle with Massamba Diop accounting for four of ASU’s eight points where they led 8-7 going into the first media timeout.
The Sun Devils widened the gap of their lead following the break, going on a quick 8-3 scoring run that included a second-chance dunk from Allen Mukeba as ASU held on to a 16-10 lead going into the media timeout.
Moe Odum got the three pointers going for the Sun Devils, as he hit one off a Cowboys’ turnover. Andrija Grbović pushed ASU’s lead even further by knocking down back-to-back threes with his second one resulting in an and one for the Sun Devils as he made a 7-0 run on his own as the Sun Devils lead 29-21 going into the break.
Coming out of the timeout, the Cowboys closed the Sun Devils’ lead to just one before Moe Odum splashed a triple off a Noah Meeusen assist. ASU went into the next media timeout with a 32-30 lead.
The Cowboys tied the game right out of the break, but Pig Johnson responded with a driving layup to retake the lead for ASU. With nearly a minute to go in the first half, Grbović capitalized on a missed jumper with a second-chance layup. The Sun Devils finished the half with a 16-0 advantage on second-chance points.
Second Half
The Sun Devils continued to take advantage of their second-chance scoring opportunities with a tip-in layup from Diop. ASU continued to keep the lead with a slam dunk from Santiago Trouetas they went into the first media timeout of the second half with a 47-43 lead.
The Cowboys continued to fight back and were able to tie the game, but the Sun Devils wouldn’t let them take the lead as Trouet scored the next six points for ASU as they continued to hang onto the lead 57-52 going into the break.
Coming out of the timeout, Diop threw down a thunderous and-one dunk off an Odum assist. A smooth driving layup from Johnson helped the Sun Devils still in the lead 64-59 going into another media timeout.
The Cowboys closed the Sun Devils’ lead to one coming out of the break as critical free throws were the difference during this segment as they hit five free throws to stay in the lead 69-68 going into the media timeout.
Arizona State was able to pull it away off a 9-0 scoring run coming out of the break which included a knock down three from Odum. ASU prevented the Cowboys from going on any scoring runs on their own for the rest of the half as the Sun Devils got the win 85-76.
Up next
Sun Devil Men’s Basketball will enjoy a deserved weekend off before they are back at Desert Financial Arena next week to take on No. 16 Texas Tech Red Raiders.
Press Release courtesy of Sun Devil Athletics – Connor Smith
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