MILWAUKEE -- The Arizona State men's basketball team (6-4) ran into a hot-shooting Maquette team on Tuesday night from BMO Harris Bradley Center in Milwuakee, Wisc. The Sun Devils battled until the final buzzer to close the gap, but were eventually overcome by the Golden Eagles, 78-71.
ASU struggled shooting the ball much of the game, finishing 24-of-62 (.387) from the field, while Marquette found the bottom of the net on a consistent basis on its way to 28-of-49 (.571) shooting.
Gerry Blakes led the way in the scoring column for Arizona State, amassing 20 points to go with five rebouds and two assists. Kodi Justice was the only other Sun Devil to finish in double-digits, scoring 12 points.
The Devils outscored Marquette 39-35 in the second half, but the 11-point halftime deficit proved too much to overcome in the end.
Next up for ASU, Lehigh travels to Tempe for a 7 p.m. (MT) tip on Saturday, Dec. 20.
NOTES: ASU had a season-high eight steals...it marked the third time this year Gerry Blakes led ASU in scoring...Savon Goodman had seven points in eight minutes in his first...Eric Jacobsen is now 39-of-58 (.672) from the field on the year...Gerry Blakes is 20-of-21 (.952) from the free throw line.
MANY GAMES ON FS1: Tuesday marked the first of six Sun Devil games on FOX Sports 1, as ASU's road games at Arizona (Jan. 4) and Oregon State (Jan. 8), its Jan. 15 Pac-12 home opener vs. Utah and return game in Salt Lake City on Feb. 26 and March 5 game in Tempe vs. Stanford are all on FOX SPORTS 1.
FREE THROWS: ASU is 92-of-123 (.748) from the free throw line in the past five games after starting the season 71-of-114 (.623).
BALANCED SCORING: ASU has had six players lead it in scoring. Shaq McKissic (20 vs. Chicago State and 22 vs. Pepperdine), Eric Jacobsen (13 vs. Bethune Cookman and 16 vs. UNLV), Chance Murray (12 vs. LMU off the bench) and Jon Gilling (21 vs. Maryland off the bench) all did it prior to Gerry Blakes scoring 21 vs. Alabama and 23 vs. Colgate in late November, and then Blakes had 20 at Marquette. Tra Holder then had 14 off the bench at Texas A&M on Dec. 6. Last year ASU had five players lead it in scoring.
GETTING IT DONE: Junior college newcomer Gerry Blakes has led the way in the past seven games averaging 16.3 points and 5.7 rebounds and is perfect in 18 free throw attempts in that time.
GERRY BLAKES CAREER 20-POINT GAMES (3)
23 vs. Colgate (11/2914)
21 vs. Alabama @Kansas City (11/25/14)
20 at Marquette (12/16/14)
ERIC IMPROVEMENTS: Entering this year, junior Eric Jacobsen had played in 64 games and averaged 8.8 minutes, 2.1 points and 1.8 rebounds. He is averaging 33.3 minutes, 11.3 points, 8.2 boards and is 39-of-58 (.672) from the field. After posting 16 blocks in his first two seasons, Eric has 18 blocks in this year. he has 39 buckets this year. He had 46 buckets in 64 career games entering the season.
ERIC JACOBSEN DOUBLE-DIGIT REBOUNDS
12 vs. UNLV (12/3/14)
11 vs. LMU (11/20/14)
10 at Marquette (12/16/14)
10 vs. Bethune-Cookman (11/17/14