Close, But Not Enough: The last plays of Arizona State vs. Washington broken down

(Photo: Emma Jeanson/WCSN)

What occurred in Desert Financial Arena Thursday night was nothing short of historic. Arizona State men’s basketball (13-14, 7-9 Pac-12) managed to erase a 21-point deficit at halftime against Washington (15-12, 7-9 Pac-12).

Washington had stunned the Tempe crowd into silence at halftime. By the end of regular time, the life had been pumped back into the arena. Bucket after bucket the Sun Devils clawed back to force the game into overtime. The squad even had multiple chances late in regular time to possibly end the game in regular time. They didn’t capitalize, the game went into overtime and ASU lost 84-82 on the final play. Four words can describe the last minute plus overtime of this matchup for the Sun Devils.

Close, but not enough.

Let’s examine the plays down the stretch that ultimately led to ASU falling just short.

44 seconds remaining (72-68 Washington): ASU graduate wingman Jose Perez got fouled in the lane with a chance to cut the deficit to two. The Bronx native had made four of six from the charity stripe to that point and shot 71.4% from the line for the season. He missed both.

Close but not enough.

33 seconds remaining (73-71 Washington): ASU junior guard Frankie Collins ripped the ball from Washington graduate forward Keion Brooks Jr.’s firm two-hand grasp. The steal set a four-decade-old single-season program record for steals in a season. Collins was immediately fouled. The crowd erupted. The guard had made history and had a chance to finally tie a game the Sun Devils had no business coming back in, from the line. He missed both.

Close, but not enough.

16 seconds remaining (74-71 Washington): Collins unleashed a pull-up three that missed but he was fouled on the way down. Three free throw attempts. He made the first. Nervous energy from the crowd pervaded the air. A second chance to finally tie a game the Sun Devils had no business coming back in, from the line. He missed the second.

Close, but not enough.

2:53 remaining in overtime (79-78 Arizona State): ASU finally had a lead for the first time since leading 1-0 just seconds into the first half. The chance to make history was palpable. All the Sun Devils had to do was play sound basketball from there on out to put away a reeling Huskie squad. ASU Sophmore forward Kamari Lands promptly sent an errant pass across the top of the key that was picked off. Washington’s graduate forward Moses Wood converted the easy transition lay-in. Washington took back the lead and the front foot. ASU had squandered the lead.

Close, but not enough.

2.4 seconds remaining in overtime (84-82 Washington): Last play of the game. ASU had one chance from a baseline inbounds play to tie the game and survive to see another overtime period. They called the number of the biggest player on the court, 7-foot sophomore center Shawn Phillips Jr. While not the most offensively advanced player, he was the best lob threat. Perfect for the last play. ASU ran an off-ball screen in the high post to allow Phillips a lane to roll to the hoop to catch the inbound lobbed to him. The big man collected the pass mere feet from the rim and in one jump and motion caught and released a generally routine close shot from inside the paint. The ball hit the back rim and flew out.

Phillips stood frozen on the spot as despair engulfed his body rendering him motionless. Game over. Washington won, and no successful comeback record was set. As had been apparent most of the dying moments of this game ASU had yet again been at the precipice but fallen short.

Close, but not enough.