(Photo: Marlee Smith/WCSN)
The Arizona State Sun Devils season-opening trip to China ended on a sour note, losing their first game of 2019-20 to the Colorado Buffalos 81-71 on Friday.
ASU started from behind before the opening tipoff, as forwards Romello White and Taeshon Cherry were suspended due to violations of team rules prior to the team’s departure to Shanghai, China.
With two of ASU’s main scorers on the bench, the Devils needed to rely on scoring from other parts of the court. With inexperience on the floor, the Buffaloes set out to attack Arizona State from beyond the arc, scoring four 3-point baskets in the first 10 minutes of the half. Colorado’s D’Shawn Schwartz lead the way in that department, ending the night with 15 points and 3-of-5 from behind the arc.
It was not all doom and glume for the Sun Devils though. Junior Remy Martin rose to the occasion with the absence of White and Cherry, collecting 23 points, nine rebounds and eight assists. Martin was not the only returning player to benefit from the additional offensive looks. Rob Edwards made his presence known, collecting 20 points with four three-pointers and a 54.5 shooting percentage from the floor.
Despite stellar performances from Martin and Edwards, Arizona State’s lacking defensive pressure built leads too great for the Devils to come back from. Colorado generated easy chances from the miscues sustained. Colorado earned 19 fast break points in large part to Arizona State’s 16 turnovers on the night.
Colorado’s pressure late in the first pushed their lead to 13 at the break. The Devils rallied to begin the second half, purring on a show of their own. Arizona State rebounded from the significant deficit in the second half, tying the Buffaloes at 59 apiece with 10:19 remaining in the second half. From then on, CU never trailed in the game, ending the game on a 22-12 run.
Colorado’s offensive attack centered around guards McKinley Wright and Tyler Bey. Wright tactically butchered ASU defense, leading the Buffaloes with 17 points, 12 assists and 32 total minutes played. Bey dominated the glass for CU with 12 total rebounds to go along with his 15 points.
ASU head coach Bobby Hurley will have more weapons at his disposal when the Devils return home to battle Central Connecticut State on Nov. 11 from Desert Financial Arena. ASU offense will have a different look in the post with Cherry and White on the block.
