DEVILS CLAWED IN TUCSON
Arizona State forward Jalen Graham (24) dunks next to Arizona forward Ira Lee during the first half of the Pac-12 basketball game Saturday in Tucson.
TUCSON, Ariz. - Playing at McKale Center is never an easy task. When you’re having shooting issues and facing a formidable foe that came in looking for a bit of redemption it makes the task even more daunting.
It was the rival Arizona Wildcats cruising past the visiting Arizona State Sun Devils 75-47 on Saturday night in the Pac-12 opener for both squads.
Last season ASU swept the Wildcats for the first time since the 2008-2009 season. But the Wildcats entered the season with conference title aspirations, bolstered by one of the nation’s top freshmen classes.
Both came in having faced quality competition through the non-conference portion of the schedule but these Sun Devils (9-5) were no match for the No. 24 Wildcats (11-3).
There were a few numbers that told the whole story. Arizona finished with a commanding 50-18 advantage on points in the paint as well as a 25-9 edge in fastbreak points.
ASU managed to hit only 18 of 59 tries from the field, which included a 3-for-21 from long distance. Free throws have not been an issue this season but were on this night as ASU made only 8 of 19. Point guard Remy Martin had 20 points but no one else reached double figures and ASU managed only two assists.
Junior forward Romello White, playing on a severely sprained ankle, was held scoreless but had five rebounds. He came out of the game late with ASU not in contention.
“I tried but I didn’t have a lot,” White said, his right ankle, immersed in ice. “I just didn’t have the explosiveness I usually have.”
Arizona made 30 of 63 shots but hit only 4 of 15 from 3-point range and just 11 of 22 from the line. The Wildcats did benefit from a 4-35 advantage on the boards. The wildcats got 17 points and 11 rebounds from freshman Zeke Nnaji. Three others hit double figures with Josh Green contributing 12 and Dylan Smith and Nico Mannion adding 10 each with Mannion, the Pinnacle High product, dishing out seven assists.
Arizona never trailed. ASU only trailed 16-11 halfway through the first 20 minutes but the contest seemed more lopsided than that. White was at the line to cut the deficit to three but he missed both tries.
It was a disappointing start of conference play for the Sun Devils and the task isn’t going to get any easier for Hurley’s squad which will take stay on the road at Oregon State and Oregon.