Dec. 28, 1999
TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) - Eddie House scored 31 points as Arizona State overcame an early nine-point deficit to rout Bucknell 80-55 in Tuesday's opening round of the AZCentral.Com-ASU Holiday Classic.
Tommy Smith scored 14 points and Shawn Redhage added 11 for the Sun Devils (7-3), who will face Penn State in Wednesday's championship game. Penn State defeated Manhattan 83-77 in the tournament opener.
Awvee Storey had seven points and 12 rebounds as Arizona State won its 26th consecutive Holiday Classic opener.
Bryan Bailey scored 14 points and Brian Werner added 11 off the bench for the Bison (5-4), who have lost three straight.
Valter Karavanic hit two 3-pointers in the game's first two minutes and Bucknell took a 13-4 lead with 16:33 remaining in the first half. Storey scored four points to cap a 10-0 run as Arizona State took a 14-13 lead with 13:24 left.
The Bison regained a 19-18 lead midway through the half, but the Sun Devils outscored Bucknell 28-9 over the final 10:10 to take a 46-28 lead. House scored 12 points during the run en route to his sixth career 30-point game.
Arizona State dominated the boards, outrebounding Bucknell 48-26, including 28 offensive rebounds, and committing only 12 turnovers to the Bison's 27.