Feb. 28, 1998
TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) - Jeremy Veal scored 17 of his game-high 23 points in the first half and sparked a key run to lead Arizona State past California 99-80 in Pac-10 action Saturday night.
Bobby Lazor had 22 points, Mike Batiste scored 20 and Eddie House added 18 for the Sun Devils (18-11, 8-8), who have won two of their last three games and snapped a two-game losing streak against California.
Geno Carlisle scored 19 points to lead the Golden Bears, who lost their second straight game, and Thomas Kilgore added 18 points.
Robbie Jones' layin gave California a 23-14 lead with 9:21 left in the first half before Veal, one of three seniors playing in their final regular-season home game, scored five straight points to key a 14-0 run that gave Arizona State a 28-23 lead with 4:51 to go in the half.
The Golden Bears rallied, pulling within a point on Sean Marks' layin with 3:47 remaining. But House hit three 3-pointers and the Sun Devils outscored California 14-2 over the final 2:25 to take a 45-32 halftime lead.
Raymond King sank a 3-pointer to cut Arizona State's lead to nine with 15:58 remaining. But Lazor hit a pair of 3-pointers and Ahlon Lewis also sank a 3-pointer as the Sun Devils outscored California 10-2 over the next 3:24 to open a 61-44 lead.
Arizona State led by as many as 25 in the closing minutes.