(Tempe, AZ) DJ Horne paced the Sun Devils with 18 points, but the Arizona State comeback run fell short against Oregon, 75-70.
Horne now has at least 15 points in all four of his career games against the Ducks. He is just the third Sun Devil in the last 20 seasons to achieve the mark, joining James Harden (5) and Ike Diogu (4).
NOTABLES
DJ Horne led the offense with 18 points. He has had fifteen points in all four career games against the Ducks.
Only two other Sun Devils have had at least four 15 point games against Oregon in the last 20 years; James Harden (5) and Ike Diogu (4).
DJ Horne / Photo Sun Devil Athletics
His 18 points were a conference high and third most this season.
Horne’s 18 were his third highest of the season and most scored in conference play.
Arizona State is the only team in the Pac-12 to force double digit turnovers in every conference game this season after Oregon committed 17 in the contest.
In fact, the Sun Devils have forced double-digit turnovers in 16 consecutive conference games dating back to last season, the most in the Pac-12 in that span.
This is the 22nd time in the last 23 games ASU has forced double-digit turnovers, and 49 of 55 dating back to the start of last season.
Oregon’s 17 turnovers were their second most of the season.
Additionally, ASU is +16 in TOs over the last five games.
In 11 of 13 conference games, ASU has had an A/FGM ratio of at least 50%.
The Sun Devils had 14 assists on 27 made baskets against Oregon.
Frankie Collins has led or tied ASU in assists in 18 of the 23 games he played.
Alonzo Gaffney paced ASU with three blocks, his third time doing so this season. He is tied with the Cambridge brothers for third most on the team.
Devan Cambridge’s two blocks marked the third consecutive game where a different Sun Devil has registered two-or-more blocks. He’s the fifth different Sun Devil to register a multi-block game in conference play.
The Sun Devils have had a player with two-or-more blocks in 12-of-13 conference games this season.
The Oregon State game Thursday was separated by 6 or less for 34:12 and the first 33:24. At the half of the Oregon game, this means that 54:12 of the last 60 minutes of Sun Devil Basketball had been separated by six points (two possessions) or less.
By the end of the game, 61:36 of the last 80 Sun Devil minutes were separated by six points or less.
KEY MOMENTS
The Sun Devils started the first half on an 8-2 scoring advantage over the Ducks over the first 3:18, with two mid-range jumpers coming from DJ Horne.
ASU held Oregon without a field goal for 3:29 (14:56-10:27).
Down 10, the Sun Devils went on a 6-0 run from 7:47-6:49 to bring the score to 58-54.
Oregon never relinquished the lead, trading blows with ASU from that point on and winning, closing the game on a 17-16 edge.
FIRST HALF
DJ Horne got Arizona State (16-8, 7-6) started on a two-dribble pull-up jumper from the free throw line at 19:09. Following an Oregon (14-10, 8-5) miss, Warren Washington thumped home a put back from Frankie Collins, making it 4-0 ASU at 18:18.
Devan Cambridge swatted an Oregon attempt and Desmond Jr. rewarded his brother for a layup at 17:07, making it 6-2 Sun Devils.
Leading 10-9, Alonzo Gaffney knocked in ASU’s first triple of the night from the left corner, making it 13-9 Sun Devils at 13:55. Gaffney violently rejected a Duck shot at 11:26 into the media timeout, ASU led 13-9.
Luther Muhammad / Photo – Sun Devil Athletics
Following an Oregon put back, Luther Muhammad drained a pull-up three at 9:24, bringing the lead back to 16-13. The Ducks threw it out of bounds, resulting in Muhammad’s second triple, increasing the edge back to 21-17.
Collins got pressured in the backcourt, but Washington found Horne for a trey on the right side with 3:52, bringing ASU’s lead back to four.
Oregon responded, hitting a three pointer with :05 on the clock. ASU went into the half with a 30-27 lead.
SECOND HALF
Collins turned the corner and snuck to the bucket for ASU’s first second half points at 17:47. It snapped a 5-0 Oregon run, tying the contest at 32.
The Ducks countered but Collins responded with a mid range jumper. The game was tied at 34 with 16:51 left in regulation. Oregon went on a 5-0 run, leading 39-34 with 15:11 in regulation.
Trailing by nine, Muhammad streaked to the rim for an and-one, converting the basket and cutting the deficit to six. The Ducks extended their lead to nine into the media timeout at 11:31.
Then down 10, Horne scored four straight capped by a breakaway slam at 7:17, cutting ASU’s deficit to six, 58-52 Ducks.
The Ducks missed two free throws, and Collins stormed down the floor for a layup. It was a four point game, 58-54 with 6:59 to play.
Collins made two free throws to cut it back to three at 3:37. It was immediately followed by a Duck miss and Horne pull-up jumper. It was a one-point game with 3:05 on the clock.
Trailing by three, Muhammad found Washington for a loud slam at 2:02 and it was back to a one point contest. Oregon re-countered, and it was back to a three point game.
Like clockwork, Collins dished one low to Washington, who scored four straight points after another dunk.
The Sun Devils trailed by three with 7.6 seconds to play and called a timeout in the half court set but were unable to knock in the game-tying triple. Oregon held on for a 75-70 win.
QUOTABLES
Arizona State Men’s Basketball Head Coach Bobby Hurley
Opening Statement…
“That was a real battle of two teams that are pretty desperate to win. I think those first eight minutes of the second half cost us. They built a lead and we couldn’t overcome it and take the lead back even though guys out there were fighting like heck, scrambling, and trying to make plays. We just didn’t defend and Barthelemy hurt us in the second half. Dante was a handful. He made a sweeping hook there at a critical juncture in the game. Sometimes a guy is just gonna make a play on you that is better than the defense, because I thought Warren guarded him very well in the situation. It’s a tough pill to swallow, but I appreciated the efforts of the guys tonight.”
On plays leading to momentum for Oregon in the second half…
“You don’t like to give a team momentum. I don’t think you can point to one play and say that’s the reason something happened or didn’t happen, but the game situation is understanding that and just knowing ‘Up six, get the last shot or a layup, otherwise let’s make sure we go in at a minimum up six’.”
UP NEXT
The Sun Devils head to northern California next week, traveling to Stanford for a Thursday night matchup. Tip is set for 8 PM MST.
Click on Logo
