by Cal Aboud, Sun Devil Communications Intern
The Arizona State men’s basketball team cruised to a 79-44 victory over California Thursday night, the second-largest Pac-12 road win in school history, as it dealt the Golden Bears their second-largest home loss. The 35-point win is topped only by a 91-55 Sun Devil win at California on Feb. 3, 1979, and it is the biggest Pac-12 win since ASU beat Washington State by 41 (96-55) on Jan. 11, 2003.
ASU'S BIGGEST ROAD WINS IN PAC-10/12 HISTORY
36-ASU 91, @Cal 55 (Feb. 3, 1979)
35-ASU 79, @Cal 44 (Jan. 22, 2015)
33-ASU 87, @Washington State 54 (Feb. 6, 2003)
30-ASU 90, @Stanford 60 (Jan. 2, 2009)
28-ASU 90, @Washington 62 (Jan. 10, 1981)
Led by career high scoring nights for senior Bo Barnes (17) and freshman Kodi Justice (16), the Sun Devils improved to 10-9 and 2-4 in conference play and won its fourth straight over California.
The Sun Devils got off to a hot start taking advantage of 11 first-half Cal turnovers, who entered the game averaging the fewest turnovers per game (10.5) in the league. The Sun Devils quickly capitalized on the Bear’s miscues scoring nine of their first 10 points off turnovers and had 15 points off of turnovers in the half.
Eric Jacobsen set the tone early, connecting on several low post shots and finishing with nine points for the half. Shaq Mckissic grabbed three steals, while Barnes, Chance Murray, and Justice all played active roles off the bench and contributed to the Sun Devil’s first half success.
California Golden Bears, who scored their fewest points in the first half for the season, went a span of 13 minutes without scoring a basket. The Sun Devils ended the first half on a 23-1 run to lead 34-13. It marked ASU's biggest halftime lead in conference game since it led Stanford 54-22 on Jan. 30, 2010.
The Sun Devils entered the second half with the same energy and kept their foot on the gas and matched the intensity they exhibited in the first half. Bo Barnes and Kodi Justice combined to go 6-of-8 from beyond the arc. Barnes finished with a career high of 17 points and also grabbed five rebounds. Justice also scored a career high, finishing with 16, while Savon Goodman and Jacobsen each added nine points.
The Sun Devils bench contributed 48 points to the teams winning effort, a number which ultimately surpassed Cal's total scoring effort (44).
Next up, the Sun Devils travel to Stanford to face the Cardinal on Saturday. The contest is set to tip off at 9 p.m. PT/10 p.m. MT and will be televised on ESPNU.
----POSTGAME NOTES/CHARTS---
ASU BIGGEST VICTORY MARGIN IN PAC-10 GAME (1987-88 TO PRESENT)
51--ASU 96, WSU 45 (Feb. 7, 2002/Rob Evans)
41--ASU 96, Washington State 55 (Jan. 11, 2003/Rob Evans)
38--ASU 82, Oregon State 44 (Feb. 25, 1995/Bill Frieder)
36--ASU 91, @Cal 55 (Feb. 3, 1979)/Ned Wulk
35-ASU 79, @Cal 44 (Jan. 22, 2015)/Herb Sendek
ASU'S BIGGEST ROAD WINS IN PAC-10/12 HISTORY
36-ASU 91, Cal 55 (Feb. 3, 1979)
35-ASU 79, Cal 44 (Jan. 22, 2015)
33-ASU 87, Washington State 54 (Feb. 6, 2003)
30-ASU 90, Stanford 60 (Jan. 2, 2009)
28-ASU 90, Washington 62 (Jan. 10, 1981)
BO BOMBS: Bo Barnes matched his Sun Devil career-high with 17 points at California on Jan. 22 in the Sun Devil 79-44 win. He also had 17 vs. Maryland in Kansas City on Nov. 24. He posted two 19-point games in his freshman year while playing for Hawaii in 2010-11.
BO BARNES TOP SCORING GAMES
19 vs. Cal State Fullerton (11/13/10)
19 vs. Montana State (11/12/10)
17 at California (1/22/15)
17 vs. Maryland @Kansas City (11/24/14)
17 vs. Florida State (12/22/10)
17 vs. Chicago State (11/17/10)
MARGIN OF VICTORY: Thursday's 35-point win at California is the largest in a Pac-12 game in Coach Sendek's tenure.
BIGGEST VICTORY MARGIN BY ASU UNDER COACH SENDEK IN PAC-12 GAME
35 (79-44) at California (Jan. 22, 2015)
31 (69-38) vs. Oregon State (Jan. 8, 2009)
30 (90-60) at Stanford (Jan. 2, 2009)
25 (71-46) vs. Washington State (Jan. 10, 2010)
21 (72-51) vs. Colorado (Jan. 25, 2014)
MOST SUN DEVIL POINTS OFF THE BENCH UNDER HERB SENDEK IN PAC-12 ROAD GAME
20, Jon Gilling at Oregon State (Mar. 8, 2014)
18, Kyle Cain at California (Feb. 4, 2012)
17, Bo Barnes at California (Jan. 22, 2105)
16, Kodi Justice at California (Jan. 22, 2015)
AT THE HALF: ASU held California to just 13 points in the first half, tied for the fewest in a Pac-12 game since 1989-90. ASU led Oregon State 19-13 in Corvallis on Feb. 7, 2009.
SUN DEVIL OPPONENT FEWEST HALFTIME POINTS (SINCE 1989-90)
ASU 42, Delaware State 12 (Dec. 12, 2009)
ASU 20, Colgate 12 (Dec. 19, 2006)
ASU 36, Old Dominion 12 (Jan. 7, 1995)
ASU 34, @California 13 (Jan. 22, 2015)
ASU 19, @Oregon State 13 (Feb. 7, 2009)
ASU 33, Oregon State 13 (Feb. 25, 1995)