(Photo: Brady Klain/WCSN)
Arizona State was the only undefeated Pac-12 team left coming into Wednesday’s contest with the University of Nebraska-Omaha.
With guards Rob Edwards and Remy Martin out with injury for ASU, coach Bobby Hurley and his squad had to carry a “next man up” mentality to keep their undefeated record.
“Next man up” turned to “next men up” as ASU rolled UNO 89-71.
While Kimani Lawrence lead the way, De’Quon Lake and Taeshon Cherry answered the bell.
Lawrence had a big second half, hitting three 3-pointers while ASU went on a 16-2 run to open the second frame.
Cherry, in his first career start, nailed his first four shots and finished the game shooting 8-of-12 for a career-high 19 points.
“Made some great plays,” Hurley said of his freshman. “His defense was solid and he adds a new dimension to our team — a guy that you can’t leave unaccounted for behind the 3-point line.”
Cherry had suffered a knee injury earlier this year and missed about a month of practice. With some time under his belt, the freshman came out and put on an efficient performance.
“The last couple of games I’ve been playing with confidence and it’s been going in,” Cherry said.
His teammate, Zylan Cheatham, however, said he has seen this game coming for a while for Cherry.
“As soon as he committed, we knew he could help us,” Cheatham said. “We knew what he would bring to the table. We knew what he was capable of.”
As if the play of the wings wasn’t overwhelming enough, ASU showed both its size and depth in that department.
De’Quon Lake was the spark off the bench, tallying nine points and seven boards in the first half.
But all those performances may have been overshadowed by Cheatham’s stat-stuffing night.
Cheatham played a complete game, nearly recording a triple-double. He finished with 13 points, 12 boards and nine assists.
“Zylan’s approach, I thought, was unbelievable,” Hurley said. “His patience and his unselfishness, his passing and his defense. He’s a winner and that kid is a heck of a player.”
Cheatham said it was in the second half he knew he could record ASU’s second triple-double in program history. He intended to pursue it, but fell just one assist shy.
“I just kept playing and within the flow it just kept happening,” Cheatham said.
Missing three key players from their squad, ASU found a way to roll UNO and keep their undefeated record in tact. Hurley said he wasn’t sure when he will get Martin, Edwards and Mickey Mitchell back, but he intends to put their health first.
“I’m being told, just feedback I’m getting from the guys that are out and from our doctors, not long-term things to be concerned about,” Hurley said. “But at the same time, I’m going to protect my players and make sure they’re 100 percent healthy when they have an opportunity to go.”
When the three do return, however, this impressive ASU squad can continue to make noise both nationally and in the Pac-12.
“We haven’t put together two halves yet,” Cheatham said. “That’s the exciting part of this. We’ve accomplished a lot and we haven’t even scratched the surface of what we’re gonna be so I’m just excited for the future.”
