(Photo: Scotty Bara/WCSN)
The Arizona State Sun Devils will face the Detroit Titans on Tuesday in Wells Fargo Arena at 1 p.m. Both teams come into this game with a loss in their preceding games, ASU to Lehigh, and Detroit to Rhode Island.
The Titans carry a three-game losing streak into this matchup and look to avoid the weight of adding a fourth. They lost 69-55 to the Rhode Island Rams despite a team-leading 17 points from senior forward Juwan Howard Jr. and an early first-half lead.
The Sun Devils look to end their two-game losing skid after falling to Lehigh 84-81 in a triple-overtime thriller, their first home loss of the season. Sophomores Savon Goodman and Chance Murray posted 24 and 17 points respectively in the losing effort. Senior forward Shaquielle McKissic played 50 minutes of basketball, put up 13 points and snatched nine boards. The team will look to turn the momentum back in their direction as they welcome the Titans.
Keys to Matchup
Turnovers
This is always an issue for the Sun Devils. ASU turned the ball over 19 times in the game against Lehigh. ASU has fallen in four games by five points or less, so making the most of each possession is critical. If they can increase their turnover margin and take advantage of the defensive pressure they put upon the opposing team, they’ll find much more success.
Keeping up the Bench Production
The Sun Devil bench posted 58 points against Lehigh. On a team where offensive consistency can be hard to come by, bench production is vital in not only giving the starters a rest, but also providing the momentum which can keep ASU from another detrimental, yet familiar, slow start.
Shut down Juwan Howard Jr.
Howard Jr. is one of three seniors on the Titans and one of few who can put up a threatening point total. If ASU junior center Eric Jacobsen can play tight on the post, it will make it hard for Howard Jr. to exert his normal dominance from the floor and keep him below his normally high field-goal percentage.
Prediction
ASU ends its losing streak here and takes the easy win. If Goodman, McKissic and Blakes can combine to put up points from the start, it will make it difficult for a shorter Detroit squad to beat the ASU defense early as fans saw Lehigh do. The Sun Devils need to diminish their turnover total, and they will be more than capable of taking home the victory to get back on track for the upcoming conference schedule.
You can reach the author on Twitter @KristinaV_18 or by email at kvicario@asu.edu
