(Las Vegas, NV) Facing adversity and resisting several significant momentum shifts in the second half, Arizona State overcame a 21-point swing and downed Creighton 73-71 at the Michelob Ultra Arena at Mandalay Bay.
Desmond Cambridge Jr. was lethal, dropping his game-high 19 points in only 18 minutes. With ASU taking body blows in the form of a 16-0 Creighton run early in the second half, he drilled two threes in less than 30 seconds to silence the Bluejays faithful.
The Sun Devils clamped down defensively – forcing Creighton to miss seven of its final nine shots in the final five minutes – and earned big baskets down the stretch from Warren Washington, Devan Cambridge and Desmond Cambridge Jr. in the massive win.
KEY MOMENTS
Arizona State went on an 8-0 run over 1:48 from 16:33-14:45 into the first media timeout and held the Bluejays without a field goal over the preceding 4:09.
Creighton was held without a basket for 6:28 from 18:54-12:26 in the first half, allowing ASU to go on a scoring stretch of 13-3.
With 3:42 left in the first half, Arizona State was on a 14-3 scoring stretch over 5:54.
Creighton came out of the half soaring with momentum, racing to a 16-0 run in 4:09 from 17:23-13:14 and taking a double-digit lead
Trailing by 10, Desmond Cambridge Jr. hit back-to-back triples with 12:36 and 12:11 left in the game to snap Arizona State out of its funk.
The Sun Devils closed the game on a 13-6 scoring stretch over the final 5:06. Creighton missed seven of its final nine shots.
NOTABLES
The victory moves Arizona State to 10-1. It is the best mark for the Sun Devils through 11 games since the 2017-18 season, where ASU started 12-0 including a road victory at No. 2 Kansas. It is only the second time in the Bobby Hurley era that ASU has at least 10 wins in its first 11 games.
Arizona State is 17-3 in its last 20 games dating back to last season. In that timespan, they have fifth best winning percentage in all of college basketball.
The Sun Devils are 5-1 in games decided by less than six points including four straight victories during the 2022-23 campaign.
ASU has had at least a 60% A/FGM ratio in five of the last six games for just the third time since the 2010-11 season. Arizona State had 13 assists on 27 made field goals against Creighton.
The Arizona State depth was evident, as the Sun Devils led in bench points 23-7. The Sun Devils have won the category in seven of their last 10 contests and all three neutral site matchups this season.
Despite giving up more than 70 points for the first time this season, ASU clamped down late, forcing Creighton to miss seven of its last nine shots from the floor.
Capitalizing on their presence inside, Arizona State won the rebounding battle 42-35 as well as the offensive glass 12-10. It is the third consecutive contest ASU has won the rebounding battle.
There were only three lead changes the entire contest, early in the first half, at the start of the second and the decisive lead for Arizona State.
Arizona State proved they are able to win in multiple ways. The Sun Devils entered the night ranked seventh in three point field goal percentage defense and were still able to escape with victory despite allowing Creighton to shoot 11-27 (40.7%) from long stance.
Desmond Cambridge Jr. proved to be the difference, scoring a game-high 19 points in 18 minutes. It is his third time tying or leading Arizona State in points this season.
Frankie Collins continued his dominance dishing the basketball this season. He has led or tied the ASU lead in assists in all 10 games he’s played and had a game-high six against the Bluejays. He was the only Sun Devil with more than two dimes.
Devan Cambridge has been extremely effective shooting the rock as of late. In his last seven games, he is 33-45 (73.3%) from the floor.
The Sun Devils now have the second best road non-conference record in the country since Bobby Hurley took over. Arizona State is 11-4 (.733) and is only bested by Miami (FL) at 11-1 (.916).
Through 11 games this season, opposing guards are shooting 131-419 (31.2%) from the field against the ASU defense. Opposing guards are also averaging 7.3 turnovers per game.
The Sun Devils are now 3-0 in neutral site games this season.
FIRST HALF
Defense reigned supreme to start the contest, with both squads combining for a 1-12 start from the floor with two turnovers before Desmond Cambridge Jr. drilled a triple from the left corner with 16:33 to play on a find from DJ Horne.
Arizona State (10-1, 2-0) immediately forced a miss from long distance, as Washington grabbed the rebound and Horne dropped in a midrange jumper with 15:53 left in the opening half, tying the contest at five.
Warren Washington snatched an offensive rebound and Frankie Collins collected his first points of the night on a trey at 15:19, extending the ASU run to 8-0 over 1:15.
Sun Devil MBB (@SunDevilHoops) December 13, 2022Out of the TV break, Creighton (6-5) missed their sixth straight shot and the Sun Devils capitalized as Horne cashed in a jumper from the left side, extending the last ASU run to 10-0 over 2:18 with 14:17 left in the opening stanza.
Jamiya Neal swooped through the lane for his first points for a layup with 12:37 on the clock, extending the Sun Devil lead to six, 13-7. Luther Muhammad countered a Creighton three with a fadeaway midrange of his own, earning his first points of the day.
Sun Devil MBB (@SunDevilHoops) December 13, 2022With his family courtside, Austin Nunez navigated his way to the rim with 10:54 left in the half to extend the Sun Devil advantage to three.
Following a Horne jumper, Nunez cashed in a fastbreak three with 9:23 left, earning a roar from his family.
After ASU forced a couple misses on the ensuing possession, Horne got free on a right-post ball screen for a triple, pushing ASU’s lead back to seven, 24-17 with 8:26 remaining. ASU was on a 7-0 run over 1:10 and forced Creighton to miss four straight shots. The basket moved him to 10 points in less than 13 minutes.
Sun Devil MBB (@SunDevilHoops) December 13, 2022Horne continued his recreation of the lost art, hitting a midrange jumper with 7:05 left in the frame. It was Arizona State’s fourth make in its last five shots.
Neal found his way to the basket for a layup with 5:46 left and Desmond Cambridge Jr.raised the lead to double-digits for the first time with a triple at 4:01, 31-20. The Sun Devils were on a 7-0 run over 3:13 and a 10-3 scoring stretch from 9:36 to 4:01.
The energy in the building shifted towards the Bluejays late in the half, but Arizona State closed the half with some swagger. The Sun Devils defense suffocated Creighton and forced a turnover with 2.6 seconds left and entered the break leading by six, 35-29.
SECOND HALF
Creighton started the second half on a 7-3 scoring stretch and ASU took a timeout after their lead was cut to two, 38-36, with 16:53 to play.
Neal swiped the ball and Nunez quieted the Bluejay faithful with a triple from the left corner to open the second half scoring for ASU at 17:29.
Creighton claimed the lead back and extended it to 47-38, a 16-0 run until Desmond Cambridge Jr. hit a shot to make it 47-40.
He countered a Creighton trey with one of his own at 12:36. A Bluejay offensive foul gave way to Desmond Cambridge Jr. drilling a fadeaway trey to cut the deficit to four, 50-46 with 12:11 to go. It brought him to 14 points in 12 minutes.
Sun Devil MBB (@SunDevilHoops) December 13, 2022Cambridge Jr., in rhythm, nailed a three from Collins with 10:34 and brought ASU to within three, 52-49.
Sun Devil MBB (@SunDevilHoops) December 13, 2022The Cambridge brothers refused to let Arizona State die. Devan Cambridge quieted the Creighton faithful and tied the game on a contested triple from Collins, 53-53 with 9:04 to play.
Nunez hit a three pointer with 6:35 left to bring the game to within four, 60-56. Alonzo Gaffney then followed a Creighton three with his own on the ensuing possession, his first points of the night and ASU’s third straight make from the floor.
Following a Creighton miss and foul at the defensive end, Washington hit two free throws. Then, Devan Cambridge snatched a rebound and Washington floated in a putback to tie the game at 65 with 3:56 left in regulation, extending the Sun Devil run to 6-0 over 1:15.
The toughness continued for ASU. Creighton missed a three and Arizona State took its first lead since 16:53 left in the first half as the Cambridge brothers connected for a Devan layup on an alley-oop.
ASU continued its assault on momentum. Horne dished a slick pass to Washington who punched in an and-one layup with 2:25 to play. He hit the free throw and Arizona State led 70-66.
Sun Devil MBB (@SunDevilHoops) December 13, 2022Creighton drilled a three with 2:01 to play, but Desmond Cambridge Jr. continued to exemplify guts, cashing in his own with 1:42 left. This shot proved to be the go-ahead basket.
Sun Devil MBB (@SunDevilHoops) December 13, 2022Defense, again, reigned supreme. With ASU leading 73-71 and less than 10 seconds left.Creighton missed a contested three from more than 25 feet with .2 seconds left on the clock.
Arizona State earned a clean inbound and secured the massive victory, 73-71.
QUOTABLES
Arizona State Men’s Basketball Head Coach Bobby Hurley
Opening Statement:
I’m proud of my guys and how we battled through that game, lost the lead and they were surging but we had a response. When Desmond had some foul issues, it’s rare to see a guy with 19 points in 18 minutes. Great work in the time he was able to be out there. Devan was great as well with his offensive rebounding and rebounding overall. It was kind of clutch for us down the stretch. Our bench was good too. We outscored Creighton pretty good in that category, I thought that was key. We have to learn to play without fouling and giving away free points. They’re a very good team. Obviously, not having the big fella helped us and they’re going to have a great year once he gets healthy and back in the mix.
On being tough…
We have good chemistry. These guys play for each other and come up in big moments. I can’t even say how many big shots Desmond hit in this game and Austin Nunez, the freshman on a big stage again, delivering big shots. Our defense has been better, to give up 71 is a lot but you have to give Creighton credit because they have so many ways that they can hurt you; guys that can shoot the basketball and they are very unique.
On the quality of competition they have played…
Coach McDermott is one of the most respected and outstanding coaches in our game. We’ve been able to have some games with them and I like to challenge my team. We want to try and play the very best. We know that when we play Creighton, its going to be very close and they have been. You learn a lot about your team when you play a team like Creighton.
Arizona State Guard Desmond Cambridge Jr.
On his contribution…
I was on the bench a lot of the game with foul trouble so I was just sitting on the bench watching. When you watch games like that, you’re just on the edge of your seat and fired up. That’s just a high octane game. When I came in, I’m here to score the ball and we needed some points so I was aggressive. My teammates believe in me and trust me.
On the game having a lot of fouls…
I just want to say how proud I am of us. No discredit to the rest. In games like that, you can get frustrated and we stayed cool. We showed that we can be a really poised team. So when we play big games, we can’t get frustrated.
UP NEXT
Arizona State returns to the friendly confines of Desert Financial Arena Sunday at 5:00 p.m. for a tilt with San Diego. They will be looking for their 10th consecutive victory.
Press Release courtesy of Sun Devil Athletics – Josh Schwam, Graduate Media Relations Intern
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