(Photo: Scotty Bara/WCSN)
The Arizona State Sun Devils came out on the losing end of a hard-fought battle Saturday night as the Stanford Cardinal slid past the Sun Devils 89-70.
This game was a stunning three-point exhibition. ASU senior forward Jon Gilling was hot from the beginning, cashing in a perfect 3-for-3 from beyond the arc in the first half.
However, senior forward Bo Barnes wouldn’t let Gilling have all the fun, going 3-for-5 from three-point territory and methodically weaving in and out of Stanford’s zone defense to find the arc in much needed situations.
These two teams were well matched, going back and forth, sinking three after three, jumper after jumper. Stanford shot an absurd 70 percent from the floor in the first half, while ASU claimed a 57.1 percent average from three-point land.
The game was knotted at 24 points with nine minutes left in the half when Shaquielle McKissic found a lane, drove to the basket and dished it back out to Savon Goodman who came up with the dunk.
The teams continued to trade the lead until four minutes left in the half, Stanford led 40-37 and embarked on a 14-4 run over the Sun Devils, who fell victim to a late first-half collapse, putting them into a 10-point deficit with a score of 51-41 going into the locker room.
The Sun Devils were not the same team in the second half. They came out of the locker room sluggish, and were unable to exhibit the same transition defense fans saw in the first half of play.
ASU never claimed another lead, falling deeper and deeper into a hole that the Sun Devils did not have enough momentum to dig themselves out of. Stanford went on a 20-12 run over the last 10 minutes, giving Stanford the 89-70 victory
Player of the Game: Chasson Randle
Randle put up 21 points, went 6-for-8 from the floor, had two shining threes and was 100 percent from the charity stripe. His near-perfect play charged Stanford’s batteries late into the first half to help them pull past ASU for the victory.
Stat of the Game: Stanford’s first-half 70 percent shooting
Stanford steamrolled past ASU defenders, going 19-for-27 from the field and 5-for-6 from beyond the arc. They also reigned in 14 boards and 11 points off nine ASU turnovers.
Biggest Concern: ASU outrebounded defensively 30-18
As good as ASU was playing offensively in the first half, the Sun Devils were unable to crash the boards in an effort to get those second chances that could have given them a heftier lead that may have lofted them over the Cardinal or at least kept them within striking distance in the second half.
What’s next?
The Sun Devils will take on Oregon State on Wednesday at 6 p.m. in Wells Fargo Arena. The game will be broadcasted on the Pac-12 Networks.
You can reach the author via Twitter at KristinaV_18 or by email at kvicario@asu.edu
