(Photo: Max Zepeda/WCSN)
After defeating the SMU Mustangs on Dec. 7, Arizona State Men’s Basketball headed to Las Vegas for the Jack Jones Hoopfest, matching up with the Creighton Bluejays, who once sat inside the top 4 of the AP Poll.
Two of the Bluejays’ six victories were against top 25 teams, but they arrived in Las Vegas on a four-game skid, knocking them out of the rankings.
Scoring runs were abundant in the matchup, which saw ASU lead by as many as 11 points and trail by 10, which came on the heels of a 16-0 Creighton run.
The Sun Devils (10-1, 2-0 Pac-12) extended their winning streak to eight games, defeating Creighton (6-5,0-0 Big East) 73-71. ASU was led by senior guard Desmond Cambridge Jr., who scored 19 points and grabbed five rebounds.
Here are five takeaways from the Sun Devils’ trip to Las Vegas.
Cambridge shines in second half
In the early parts of the season, Cambridge has found success on the offensive side of the ball, averaging 10.3 points per game on 38.1 percent shooting. The Nevada transfer’s success has allowed head coach Bobby Hurley to place him in the starting lineup in every game since the Sun Devils’ second game of the season.
During Monday night’s first half, Cambridge played a supporting role to junior guard DJ Horne, who amassed 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting before the break. His six first-half points were tied for second-most on the team, as the game appeared to be heading in Horne’s direction.
But Horne struggled to shoot the ball after halftime, missing all six of his second-half shots. The slowed production forced the offense to look elsewhere, finding Cambridge, who scored 13 points to close out the game.
Creighton began the second half on a 16-0 run, yielding a commanding 10-point lead. The 6-foot-4 guard was crucial to the comeback, scoring 11 points during 3 minutes, shifting the momentum to ASU’s side.
Bench steps up with starters’ foul trouble
During Monday’s victory, head coach Bobby Hurley was forced to rely on his bench, as three starters had two fouls entering halftime. By the final whistle, the ASU’s bench had outscored the Creighton’s 23-7.
The Bluejays took advantage of the charity stripe opportunities, sinking 8 of their 10 free throws while holding the Sun Devils to two free throw attempts in the first 20 minutes of play.
The foul trouble allowed sophomore guard Jamiya Neal to see early playing time, inheriting a 6-point lead during his appearances. Neal helped the Sun Devils’ lead grow to 11 points in the final six minutes of the first half, scoring six points on 3-of-6 shooting before the break.
Foul trouble continued in the second half, but Creighton also began to commit fouls. ASU shot 13 free throws compared to its opposition’s nine attempts, which helped the offense gather easy scoring opportunities.
Cambridge and senior forward Warren Washington finished the contest with four fouls each, making them the only starters to play less than 20 minutes. The limitations gave Hurley an opportunity to rotate different players into the game. The second-half spotlight shined on freshman guard Austin Nunez, who made two threes with one ending a 7-0 Creighton scoring run.
Rebounding Battle
Even with Washington’s foul trouble, the Sun Devils still outrebounded the Bluejays 42-35. The 7-foot forward combined with senior guard Devan Cambridge for 20 rebounds.
ASU also grabbed 12 offensive rebounds, giving itself an opportunity for 10 second-chance points and extending possessions.
Creighton’s freshman center Fredrick King was dominant around the rim, tallying 11 rebounds and snagging five offensive boards. The 6-foot-10 big man also rejected five shots, making it difficult for ASU to generate production inside the paint.
Defensive differences between halves
A large component of Creighton’s second-half success stemmed from its ability to knock down shots, which was a struggle point for its offense in the first half, shooting just 8-of-31 from the field.
ASU’s defense, which ranks 17th in KenPom’s rankings, held the Bluejays to 25.8 percent from the field and 29 points in the first half. But the defense struggled to maintain its efficiency in the final 20 minutes of playing, allowing its opposition to amass 42 points on 48.4 percent shooting.
A contributor to the different outcomes was the increase in paint presence. Creighton scored 16 of its 22 points in the paint after halftime, creating higher-quality shots.
Collins scoring struggles
Sophomore guard Frankie Collins has been the key to ASU’s offense this season, averaging 12.4 points, 4.3 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game entering the contest. On Monday night, Collins’ passing ability was displayed through six assists, but the 6-foot-1 guard struggled from the floor, scoring just five points on 8.3 percent shooting.
Collins’ scoring was made up by Cambridge Jr., who scored a game-high 19 points, but if his scoring struggles continue, it could be troublesome for the offense.
