Short-handed ASU falls to Pac-12 favorite UCLA
The Arizona State Sun Devils turned in one of their better efforts of the season but it wasn't quite good enough as they fell to visiting UCLA, 81-75, in overtime in Pac-12 play Thursday night at Desert Financial Arena.
The game featured six ties and 19 leads changes. ASU (4-4, 1-1) forced overtime when senior guard Alonzo Verge made two free throws with 5.8 seconds left in regulation to tie the game at 65.
But the undermanned Sun Devils struggled in overtime. A 3-pointer by David Singleton with 3:09 left gave the Bruins (8-2, 4-0) a 75-69 lead. The Sun Devils missed their next two shots and Cody Riley scored inside to extend UCLA's lead to 77-69.
ASU was down to just eight scholarship players. Among those unavailable was senior point guard Remy Martin who was away after the death of his grandfather. Junior forward Taeshon Cherry and sophomore guard Jaelen House were out due to COVID contact tracing protocols while sophomore forward Jalen Graham was out with mononucleosis.
It was ASU's first game in three weeks, with their last four postponed or canceled due to COVID issues, the first two of those on the part of their opponent.
ASU shot 38.9 percent (28-for-72) from the field while UCLA shot 45.3 (29-for-64). Rebounding has been a problem area for ASU but the Sun Devils were only beat on the boards 46-42. The Sun Devils forced 18 turnovers.
Standout performers
Verge had a stellar all-around game with 25 points, seven rebounds, four assists and three steals.
Freshman guard Josh Christopher recorded his first career double-double with 22 points, 11 rebounds along with two steals and a block.
Freshman forward Marcus Bagley returned after a three-game injury absence and added 11 points, 11 rebounds and three steals.
UCLA was led by Cody Riley who tallied a career-high 22 points, 13 rebounds and two blocks.