Arizona St. Sun Devils earn 7th straight victory
Remy Martin scores 17 points
TEMPE— Arizona State completed a worst-to-first journey in 37 days, and it does not plan to stop now.
“I think we are getting better as a team and we have not peaked yet,” Arizona State coach Bobby Hurley said after the Sun Devils survived a late Oregon State rally for a 74-73 victory to move into first place in the Pac-12 on Saturday.
“That’s a good feeling to have this time of year.”
Guards Remy Martin and Alonzo Verge Jr. scored 17
ASU: 19-8 overall, 10-4 conf. OSU: 15-12 overall, 5-10 conf.
points apiece to lead five players in double figures and Arizona State extended its winning streak to seven games, its longest winning streak in conference play since the 1980-81 team won 11 in a row en route to the NCAA tournament.
The Sun Devils (19-8, 10-4
Pac-12) were 1-3 and tied for last place in the conference after losing to No. 18 Colorado on Jan. 16. They have won nine of 10 since, losing only to Washington State at the buzzer.
Among their conquests are No. 24 Arizona and No. 14 Oregon.
“Where we were at one point, and we’ve kind of transformed ourselves and really have found an identity,” Hurley said. “Having a lot of guys playing well at the right time of the year.
“You have a team you have to rip their heart out to beat them, and that’s what we’re bringing to the court every game. It was just a commitment. Everyone made it. We feel we could do more and we started playing up to our level.”
Romello White had 15 points, Kimani Lawrence had 14 and Rob Edwards had 10 for the Sun Devils.
Tres Tinkle had 25 points and Ethan Thompson had 20 and a season-high four 3-pointers for the Beavers, who have lost three in a row and eight of 11.
There were 11 lead changes and five ties in the first 11 minutes of the second half before Edwards made three free throws after being fouled on a 3-point attempt for a 64-61 lead, and the Beavers did not lead again.
The Beavers scored the final five points after Verge’s layup gave Arizona State a 74-68 lead with 2:31 left. Kylor Kelly made a layup before Jarod Lucas’ 3-pointer with 1:40 remaining closed the deficit to 74-73.
Oregon State had the last possession, and Lucas’ 3-pointer from the right corner with two seconds remaining bounced off. White switched onto Tinkle as he drove down the left side of the lane, forcing Tinkle to pass to Lucas.
“I thought we battled hard enough to win that game,” Oregon State coach Wayne Tinkle said.