ASU gets the bounces, holds on for upset over No. 23 USC
Throughout the season, Arizona State men’s basketball has often followed the same trajectory – fall behind early, grind back and lose a close game in the closing seconds.
The critical plays have been different, whether it is a buzzer-beater layup or missing a pair of free throws, but the end result has been the same.
The Sun Devils (14-11, 4-8 Pac-12) managed to turn around the trend Friday night, getting seemingly all of the bounces to go their way as they held on for a 74-67 victory over No. 23 USC (18-6, 7-4 Pac-12) in front of a crowd of 7,772 at Wells Fargo Arena.
It was ASU’s second win over a ranked opponent this season, and one that required equal parts effort and just dumb luck.
“Five of our eight losses have been us down two or even in the final minutes, and we haven’t won those games,” head coach Bobby Hurley said of his team’s recent struggles. “Whether it’s the way the ball bounces, or we don’t secure a defensive rebound, or our team hits a clutch shot on us. There was a lot of that happening.”
The tide shifted Friday, as it seemed like things were finally bouncing ASU’s way. Each 50-50 ball had an ASU hand on it, the shots started going in and the Sun Devils did just enough to scratch out a win.
Take the final minute, for example. After shooting just 11-for-20 from the free-throw line for the game up until that point, the Sun Devils hit three of their final four free throws to close the game out.
Another case came just a minute earlier, as with the shot clock winding down ASU sophomore point guard Tra Holder faded back to throw up a desperation 3-pointer. The arc looked off, and the shot was destined to just carom off the backboard and jumpstart a USC fast break.
Except it didn’t. Holder’s shot banked in, giving the Sun Devils a 69-60 lead with 1:51 remaining.
“I’m glad that he banked it,” Hurley said. “I don’t feel guilty or bad that he banked it in. We deserve it.”
On ASU’s next possession, they killed the entire shot clock before senior guard Gerry Blakes tossed up a floater. The shot missed, but the rebound deflected out of bounds off the Trojans to give the Sun Devils the ball with a fresh shot clock.
Game over.
Junior forward Savon Goodman said he noticed a different vibe entering the game, which played itself over once the ball was tipped.
“It was just something in the locker room,” he said. “I knew our team was going to win, and we came out and just brought it to them.”
Blakes was critical down the stretch for the Sun Devils, navigating the lane to find teammates as well as his own shot to help close out USC. He finished with 14 points on 4-for-11 shooting to go with eight rebounds and five assists.
“This is what you need from your senior,” Hurley said. “He deserves to play well. He works his butt off, and I’m happy for Gerry.”
Blakes said the Sun Devils needed the win to drive them towards the rest of the season.
“Our backs were against the wall,” Blakes said. “We were in dire need and knew how big this week is. We knew how good of a team USC is and had to give them our all, so when it was in the tight-knit we had to make some plays.”
The effort was there on the defensive end, as the Sun Devils forced 17 total USC turnovers and remained active despite some shooting struggles in the first half.
“We needed that,” Hurley said. “We couldn’t afford to give them multiple cracks at it. If it was on the floor, we needed to get it. If the ball’s bouncing in the paint, we’ve got to secure it because they’re very talented on offense.”
Added Blakes: “We just had a knack for the ball. We were going after it, we were hungry. We did what it takes to win.”
USC coach Andy Enfield said the extra possessions for ASU were the difference in the game.
“We gave them 12 extra possessions,” he said. “We had five more turnovers and (ASU) had seven more offensive rebounds. When you give 12 extra possessions to a team on their home court you are going to lose.”
The Sun Devils look to extend their current winning streak to three games when they host the UCLA Bruins (13-11, 4-7 Pac-12) on Sunday night at 6:30 p.m. on ESPNU. The Bruins are coming off of an 81-75 loss to No. 17 Arizona in Tucson.
