ASU Men’s Basketball: Sun Devils come up clutch against USC

(Photo: Nicholas Badders/WCSN)

(Photo: Nicholas Badders/WCSN)

College basketball seasons can turn in a moment. Months filled with preparation, elation and anguish disappear in its defining seconds, leaving only a fog that grows thicker or burns off.

Bobby Hurley doesn’t remember much of his team’s thrilling 80-78 victory over USC on Thursday. He said the final stretch was all a blur. What will become clearer in the coming days — especially if ASU can beat UCLA on Saturday — is the direction the Sun Devils (18-6, 6-6 Pac-12) are headed.

“I’m thrilled that you win a game like that,” Hurley said. “We’ve been on the downside of some close losses, too.”

Tra Holder and Shannon Evans refused to surrender another close game, especially with ASU at risk of falling to 5-7 in the Pac-12. They grasped the gravity of the moment, blurred out the last five weeks and delivered a clutch performance.

Down three with 1:01 left, the Sun Devils arrived at a potential turning point. Evans buried a deep, contested three-pointer to tie the game, ASU got the stop on the other end, Hurley let the game play out and Holder kissed a leaning jumper off the glass for the win with 1.9 seconds on the clock.

“Cash,” Evans said of his three-pointer.

“I knew as soon as I released it that it was going in,” Holder said, reflecting on his game-winner.

USC’s attempt to get off a final shot was foiled as time expired, and ASU’s eternally confident guard duo leapt onto the scorer’s table to celebrate. It was the first time since a Jan. 13 win over Oregon State that late-game breaks fell the Sun Devils’ way.

This time, those breaks and big shots started a win streak; one that could cascade into the strong finish ASU desperately needs in conference play.

“The end goal is to play in the (NCAA) tournament in March,” Evans said. “So every game is crucial. I know that we’re at .500 in conference and we did great out of conference or whatever, but nothing matters no more. It’s game by game.”

Thursday’s game mattered. Saturday’s will, too. The fog only burns off if the Sun Devils heat up, building the kind of momentum that led to a 12-0 conference record.

“We need to just do what we need to do tomorrow,” Hurley said, with tomorrow less than 20 minutes away. “Whatever it takes in terms of watching film, and for guys playing heavy minutes we won’t be as physical and focus on getting guys fresh again.”

ASU recovered from its Las Vegas Invitational win over Kansas State in time to wallop Xavier the next day, so preparation for Saturday’s tilt with the Bruins shouldn’t be difficult if the Sun Devils are indeed back on the right track.

The question hangs in the air, hiding behind the haze of Thursday’s euphoric, late-night victory: Is ASU back? It’s not clear yet, but the Sun Devils remain intensely focused on the task in front of them.

“To get the first one out of the way is good,” Evans said. “But at the same time we are trying to get two this week. You feel me? So we’ve got to do that.”