SUN DEVILS WIN IN 2 OT
Freshman Dort, ASU pull away in 2OT
Arizona State’s Romello White (right) tangles with Cal State Fullerton’s Johnny Wang in ASU’s season opener Tuesday. Reports at sundevils.azcentral.com and on 1C. JOE CAMPOREALE/USA TODAY NETWORK
With just one starter returning, ASU men’s basketball coach Bobby Hurley was looking for a newcomer to step up. One did.
True freshman Luguentz Dort scored 28 points, including nine in overtime, to lead the Sun Devils to a 102-94 double overtime win over visiting Cal State Fullerton Tuesday in the regular-season opener for both squads at Wells Fargo Arena. It was the highest point total by a freshman in school history in an opener.
Dort made a pair of free throws for a 92-89 ASU lead in the second extra period. The teams exchanged turnovers and Dort later scored on a putback for a 94-89 lead with 2:08 left in the second overtime. The Sun Devils hung on from there.
“He’s so poised and so mature for a freshman,” Hurley said. “He’s very gifted, very hard to deal with off a ball screen.”
Dort, a native of Canada, admits he was a little nervous in his ASU debut but played through that and enjoyed the competitive atmosphere. His ability to drive the paint proved crucial. When he wasn’t scoring he was drawing a foul, something evidenced by his 13 free throw attempts.
“I’m physical, I feel that’s something I do well, so I’m going to keep doing it,” Dort said.
The contest wast tied at 83 at the end of regulation with Fullerton’s Wayne Arnold missing a potential game-winning jumper as time expired. Arnold had just two shot attempts in the game and played just six minutes but the Sun Devils did a good job of defending the Titans’ talented guard duo of Kyle Allman and Khalil Ahmad who combined for 64 points.
“Those guys are very good. At times they were unguardable,” Hurley said. “We knew how good they were and it showed.”
The first overtime ended with the score tied at 89. This time it was the Sun Devils with the last opportunity but a long jumper by Kimani Lawrence just lipped out.
“I thought it was down. I even had the pose and everything,” Lawrence laughed.
ASU struggled early, hitting only four of their first 17 shots from the field. That wasn’t unexpected though. Hurley chalked much of that up to openingnight nerves. He also had just one starter back from last year’s 20-win team while the Titans returned four from a team that won the Big West Tournament and advanced to NCAA play.
The Sun Devils also have had injuries the past month which have prevented them from establishing any continuity, even in practice. Sophomore point guard Remy Martin, the Sixth Man of the Year in the Pac-12 a year ago, has been slowed by a sprained ankle. He did not play in last week’s exhibition and was limited to reserve duty Tuesday.
Hurley said Martin practiced sparingly last week and was at about 60 percent. He did end up playing 31 minutes with eight points and five rebounds with much of that coming late after others had fouled out.
ASU shot 33 of 78 from the field but made only 10 of 26 free-throw attempts. Dort was followed by Lawrence (16), Rob Edwards (14), Zylan Cheatham (12) and Romello White (10). Dort, Cheatham and De’Quon Lake each had nine rebounds.
Cal State Fullerton, coached by former ASU assistant Dedrique Taylor, made 34 of 74 from the field and 19 of 26 tries from the line.
ASU was aided by a 58-42 advantage on the boards. Each team had 17 turnovers.
Hurley saw lots of room for improvement but appreciated having a competitive game out of the gate.
“It was a very competitive game and we really battled,” he said. “That was great for us. I think we got a lot out of it. We have some areas to clean up but there were some positive things.”
The Titans got a lot out of the game, as well.
“I was proud that they competed,” Taylor said. “We set the standard, so now it’s can we maintain that moving forward, that is the biggest thing for us.”
ASU will remain at home for a Friday game against McNeese State. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m.