ASU Men’s Basketball: Sun Devils look to stay perfect at home as they host WCC’s Pepperdine

(Photo: Scotty Bara/WCSN)

Arizona State will look to stay perfect at home as they host the Pepperdine Waves, whose 5-1 record is their strongest start since the 2004-2005 season.

Both teams are coming off a full week’s rest due to final exams and should be fully charged coming into Saturday’s tilt. ASU has had particular success with an extended period of rest as they have gone 25-11 under head coach Herb Sendek when they have a full five days between games.

The Sun Devils are also still riding a 13-game winning streak in Wells Fargo Arena and have won 21 of the last 22 games at home. They will be looking to bounce back after a narrow loss at the hands of Texas A&M, 72-71, but the team remains winless away from Tempe.

ASU’s loss came with an extra hint of discouragement as they led Texas A&M 69-68 with 2:43 remaining. The Sun Devils have actually led under three minutes in each of their three losses, so away from home, closing out game remains a concern.

In the latest game for the Waves, they shot 50 percent from beyond the arc to defeat Cal State Fullerton 74-62 despite leading scorer Stacy Davis being held to 24 minutes due to foul trouble. The limited minutes notwithstanding, the junior forward still racked up 10 points to pace his team.

Keys to the game

Three-point shooting

ASU’s hot shooting from the three-point line has paced an offense prone to scoreless droughts. They sunk 12 shots from distance against the Aggies and have been shooting 41 percent from behind the arc this season. With the offensive woes and inconsistencies that have come up this season, the three-point shooting has often sparked the ASU offense and given it life. They have also knocked in a three-pointer in their last 42 games.

Matching up with Stacy Davis

Davis has quitely become one of the strongest players on the west coast. A preseason All-WCC first team selection, Davis has scored in double figures in 16 straight contests. He also has 13 career double-doubles, and Pepperdine won its last seven games in which Davis records one. Despite his undersized 6-foot-6 frame, ASU will have to clean the glass as to keep Davis under control.

Bench Play

ASU has been the beneficiary of strong bench play so far this season, highlighted by senior forwards Jonathan Gilling and Bo Barnes. The two have combined to average 20.1 points per game and are shooting 54.5 percent from behind the arc. Additionally, with freshman Kodi Justice getting the nod as the team’s starting point guard, freshman Tra Holder has become a spark off the bench. Against Texas A&M, the 6-foot point guard produced 14 points, five assists and three rebounds in 26 minutes. If he can add to ASU’s already strong second-unit, that bodes well for Sendek and his team.

Prediction

Overall, ASU is much more talented and physically imposing than Pepperdine. Senior center Eric Jacobsen’s continuously improving play from inside the paint, combined with the team’s hot shooting from the perimeter, only translates to an improving team. Their strong defensive efforts have been increased in Wells Fargo Arena, so ASU should walk away with their 14th consecutive home win on Saturday.

You can reach Zac Pacleb on Twitter @ZacPacleb or via email at zacpacleb@gmail.com

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