(Photo: Scotty Bara/WCSN)
In a game that echoed the Arizona State (21-9,10-7) basketball season in its entirety, the Sun Devils lost an up-and-down game of runs to the Oregon Ducks (21-8, 9-8) Tuesday night 85-78 at Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene, Ore.
The Ducks got off on a 15-0 run to start the game in which Damyean Dotson scored eight straight points. The bleeding was stopped by Jermaine Marshall with 14:44 to play in the first half which ignited a 16-2 run for ASU, which brought the Sun Devils to within one point 17-16 after another make by Marshall from beyond the arc with 8:44 to play. The Ducks didn’t lay down going on another 7-0 run before the scoring stabilized and Oregon went into the halftime locker room up 33-25.
The second half was a lot more contentious. Oregon widened its lead to 14 points after Dotson hit a three-pointer with 15:47 to play, but the Sun Devils chipped away to bring the game back to within three points after a Shaquielle McKissic free throw with 10:52 remaining cut the Ducks’ lead down to 55-52.
Unfortunately for the maroon and gold, Oregon only widened its lead from there. It capped off a 7-0 run with 4:42 to play to expand its lead to 71-59. ASU also didn’t help its own cause going without a field goal for nearly five minutes late in the second half.
Jahii Carson continued his impressive road dominance this season with 28 points on 10 of 19 shooting. Marshall added 16 points while Jordan Bachynski had a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds.
Mike Moser led the way for the team from Eugene with 22 points and 17 rebounds on 6 of 11 shooting. Oregon also dominated in numerous statistical categories. They out rebounded the Sun Devils 40-33 and scored 32 points in the paint compared to just 12 for ASU. The Sun Devils are now 2-6 on the road in Pac-12 play.
ASU will play Oregon State in Corvallis, Ore. Saturday at 2:30 M.T. where it will have another chance to clinch a first round bye in the Pac-12 Tournament with a win.
You can reach this reporter via email nkruege1@asu.edu or on Twitter @NickPKrueger
