(Photo: Scotty Bara/WCSN)
The Arizona State Sun Devils ended their two-game losing streak with a 93-54 strong, defensive win against the Detroit Titans.
ASU head coach Herb Sendek premiered a new starting lineup that included Savon Goodman, Shaquielle McKissic, Roosevelt Scott, Eric Jacobsen and Gerry Blakes, which proved more effective in getting off to a faster start.
The Sun Devils played with the kind of rampant force that has yet to be seen this season. They continuously penetrated the Titan defense, drew fouls, created three-point plays and worked the full-court press. They also repeatedly beat the Titans down the floor, all of which discombobulated Detroit’s transition defense.
This game was a clear case of the defense leading the offense. ASU went on an early 15-3 run over five minutes to pull to a 26-11 lead with 8:20 left in the half. From there, the Sun Devils defense denied the Titans the post and outside shot, holding Detroit to an abysmal 8-26 from the floor. ASU held the Titans to 30 percent shooting from the field.
ASU went into the locker room with a hefty 50-22 lead, the most points they have scored in the first half this season.
Detroit continued to put ASU on the line in the second half. A McKissic-Goodman duo annihilated Titan defenders with two acrobatic dunks, exhilarating the ASU offense early in the second half.
The Sun Devils steadily increased their deficit, which abounded on a 25-12 run over the first ten minutes of the second half to put the score at 76-34.
ASU maintained the lead the entire game, outscoring Detroit 50 to 23 in the paint, and scoring 10 points off the fast break. ASU finished the game with a staggering 57 percent field goal percentage while collecting a defensive victory holding Detroit to just 30 percent.
Player of the game: Savon Goodman
Goodman had 19 points, eight boards and two assists at the half. The Sun Devils rallied behind the marauder who continuously bulldozed his way the basket. His physicality was prominent, proving fearless as he took multiple hard fouls that put ASU into the double-bonus with nine minutes left in the first half. Goodman finished the game posting another double-double with 22 points and 11 rebounds, his second double-double in just three games of action.
Stat of the night: 27 points off turnovers.
Nearly a third of ASU’s total points came off of Detroit’s 20 turnovers, something that the Sun Devils usually fall victim to. While ASU gave up 18 points off turnovers to the Titans, they greatly benefited by being able to capitalize on Detroit’s mistakes.
Biggest Concern: 68 percent free-throw shooting
If Goodman, along with the slew of other players from this ASU squad, continue to effectively set up that three-point play by drawing the foul down low, they need to be able to take advantage of the stopped clock and get the easy points that are imperative in close-scoring games down the line.
What’s next: The Sun Devils will welcome the Harvard Crimson to Wells Fargo Arena Sunday at 12:00 p.m. The game will be on the Pac-12 Networks.
You can reach the author on Twitter @KristinaV_18 or by email at kvicario@asu.edu
