(Tempe, AZ) The second go around for this in-state rivalry. ASU came in at 11-10 (2-6 conference) against the nation’s #1 team the Arizona Wildcats 21-0 (8-0) for then point on the Territorial Cup Scoreboard.
Arizona won a tight game 89-82 down in Tucson on January 14th. Both teams wanted this one bad.
A spirited crowd was loud thoughout the game and as expected many fans drove up from Tucson.
First Half
The Devils got on the board first as Massamba Diop hit a fadeaway six footer. Cats scored at the 18:17 mark.
In the first five minutes, neither team had more than a four point lead. ASU was hitting mid-range jumpers, while the Wildcats were trying to establish their inside game. It was tied 10-10 at the first media timeout.
Moe Odum’s shots were on the mark allowing the Devils to stretch the Arizona defense.
The UofA took its first lead 17-16 with 9:21 left in the half. That lead was short lived as the Sun Devils came right back with a transition bucket 19-18.
The Cats took a six point lead, but ASU came clawing back on the outside jumper 28-26. Hurley’s squad never let Arizona go on one their patented runs.
With four minutes til halftime, the score was knotted up at 30-30.
Both teams went back and forth trading baskets and a one point lead. With two seconds left Meeuseen Noah hot a tying three pointer off the left wing 38-38 heading into the locker room.
Halftime
Just as the score indicated. The shooting was tied at 42% for both teams. Interesting enough, Arzona went the entire first half without a three point basket.
Everything else was very even, rebounds Cats 23, Devils 22. The biggest difference was the UofA had a sizable lead in points in the paint 28-14, but the Sun Devils outside game was clicking.
Odum lead all scorers with 12 points. Motiejus Krivas paced the Cats with 11 points.
Arizona’s largest lead was seven points and Arizona State had a four point advantage.
Second Half
Arizona hit their first three pointer at the 18:12 mark and a 5-0 spurt to lead 44-38. The pace picked up for the next three possessions and the Wildcats led 50-45 at the fist media time out.
Little by little, Arizona would add a point or two to their lead slowly extending it to seven, with 13:08 to go in the game. Devils’ Bryce Ford hit a step back three pointer to stop the UofA’s run.
ASU pulled within a possession 56-53, but the Wildcats came right back with a bucket on their next possession.
Arizona opened up a ten point lead 63-53 wanting to put the Sun Devils away, but the Devils weren’t ready to go away.
On the other hand, ASU had too many empty trips on offense that could have gotten them back within a possession or two.
The Cats led 65-58 with 7:26 left. After the timeout, the outside game started clicking for Arizona and they stretched their lead back to double digits 71-61.
With an opportunity to come back, the Sun Devils missed five consecutive free throws. At the final media timeout, the Wildcats were up 77-64 with 3:16 to go in the game.
In the late stages of the game, Arizona just got stronger as the Devils’ effort wilted. Arizona State was just outmanned down the stretch.
Final Sore Arizona 87 Arizona State 74.
Wrap Up
ASU had a good game plan in the first half as they hung with Arizona as it was tied 38-38 at the half.
The second half was a much different story as the Wildcats kept pounding the ball down low with high percentage shots and the Sun Devils perimeter game didn’t keep pace from the first twenty minutes.
Koa Peat came home and dominated. The former Perry Puma Star from Gilbert scored 21 points as all five Wildcat starters scored in double figures.
ASU only had three players in double figures with only two starters, Odum (15) and Diop (13). Noah Meeusen led ASU with 16 points off the bench.
Arizona scored 50 points in the paint compared to 20 for ASU. When it’s “inside versus outside” the former usually will come out on top.
The Sun Devil bench outscored Arizona 25-12, but Arizona’s big lineup was too much to overcome.
Up Next
Utah comes to Tempe on February 4th. Tipoff is at 7 p.m.
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