(Photo: Tyler Rittenhouse/WCSN)
A challenging non-conference schedule ended with a comfortable victory for ASU men’s basketball on Friday as the No. 3 Sun Devils (12-0) rolled over Pacific 104-65.
Shannon Evans and Tra Holder led the way for the Sun Devils, combining for 40 points and eight assists on the afternoon. Romello White notched 16 points and eight rebounds while De’Quon Lake dominated on the defensive end with seven blocks.
Unlike many of its previous outings, ASU got off to a quick start, going up 12-2 in the early going thanks in large part to quality ball movement. The Sun Devils spread the floor and found the open man with ease against a porous zone defense. ASU finished the game shooting 12-of-26 from three-point range.
As the first half progressed, the Sun Devils began to pull away. Their defense — particularly when they utilized the full-court press — was stifling, and their offense maintained its signature rapid pace. Whether ASU’s guards were burying deep three-pointers or making a flashy pass to a cutting post player, “Guard U” was in full force against Pacific.
At halftime, ASU led the Tigers 47-31. In the second half, the offensive floodgates opened up at “The Bank.”
The Sun Devils eclipsed 90 points for the ninth time this season and showcased just how dangerous this offense can be. A streak of 10 consecutive made shots — many of which came on the fastbreak — occurred in the middle of the second half to seal this game for ASU.
To put it simply, Pacific was entirely outmatched by one of the best teams in the country.
Bobby Hurley never took his foot off the gas pedal en route to another dominant win for his team, one that finishes off an outstanding non-conference schedule with another statement. After a lackluster first half against Longwood on Tuesday, the Sun Devils needed a thoroughly dominant performance to regain their full confidence.
ASU has defied preseason expectations and finished its non-conference schedule undefeated. Right now, the Sun Devils are one of the most lethal offensive teams in the nation and have their sights set on a Pac-12 title. The road through a gauntlet of conference games begins next Saturday when ASU heads to Tucson to face No. 18 Arizona.
This Territorial Cup tilt means more than any in recent memory. If the Sun Devils can come out of McKale Center with a victory, it will only be the latest in a long list of statements that Hurley and company have made in this remarkable season.
