(Photo: Scotty Bara/WCSN)
In another close game from beginning to end, Arizona State came up short against Alabama 76- 71.
Junior guard Gerry Blakes led the way for the Sun Devils with 21 points and nine rebounds. However, Crimson Tide senior guard Levi Randolph has a dynamic performance, as he led all scorers with had the most dynamic per leading scorer for Alabama was senior guard Levi Randolph with 28 points.
The game got off to a slow start, with Alabama leading only 13-7 with 10 minutes to go in the first half. Although the offensive production of the team wasn’t as explosive as Monday night in the first half, there was one commonality between the start of this game and the start of the Maryland game, and that was Blakes. The junior guard scored 11 first half points, and 21 total on the night.
ASU’s defense came to play yet again in the first half, holding the Crimson Tide to 28 percent shooting on 27 total points. Alabama also played well on the defensive end to start the game, limiting the open looks for three-point shooters Bo Barnes and Jonathan Gilling. Gilling was held scoreless in the first and Barnes only hit two.
The Sun Devils built up an eight point lead midway through the second half thanks to more solid play from Blakes, including a dish to center Eric Jacobsen in the paint followed by a two-handed flush drawing a foul, but this was quickly followed by a 10-0 run for the Crimson Tide to reclaim the lead.
Free throws continued to hurt the Sun Devils, shooting 14-24 from the line on the night. Unlike last night, ASU also shot poorly from the three-point line, shooting 26.3 percent on 6-20 shooting. But with 1:20 left in the game,Gilling hit a three-pointer to tie the game.
In the end, Randolph hit a clutch floater with 45 seconds remaining. Then, Gilling took a questionable three-pointer with 30 seconds left in the game, and poor game management showed to be a vital part as the Sun Devils lost in the final moments of the game.
Player of the game: Gerry Blakes
After a great first half in the Maryland game, Blakes was really quiet in the second half. But tonight, he played a complete game finishing with 21 points and nine rebounds. He scored from all over the floor with jumpers and finished with both hands inside throughout the game. Blakes was the main source of scoring tonight, as it seems to be a different guy from game to game.
Stat of the Night: 12 offensive rebounds
For something ASU has struggled with so far this season, they showed a big step forward crashing the boards on the offensive end thanks largely to Eric Jacobsen and Gerry Blakes. This was key in providing a lot of second chance opportunities, including the opening possession of the second half for the Sun Devils where they hauled in three offensive boards and capitalizing on their fourth opportunity.
Biggest Concern: Free Throw Shooting
Just like the Maryland game, the Sun Devils are shooting themselves in the foot with all of their misses from the free throw line. They shot 58 percent from the line, and that proved to be crucial in closing out the game.
What’s next?
ASU plays on Saturday, Nov. 25 against Colgate in Tempe.
