Dec. 6, 2004
By MEL REISNER
AP Sports Writer
TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) - Ike Diogu had a season-high 34 points, leading Arizona State to its first 6-1 start since 1992-93 with an 89-81 victory over Fairleigh Dickinson on Monday night.
Diogu, who extended his career-long, double-digit scoring streak to 66 games, also had 10 rebounds to post his fourth straight double-double. He is averaging 25.0 points and 10.3 rebounds through seven games.
Serge Angounou and sophomore Bryson Krueger had career highs, each with 14 points, and Jason Braxton had 10 points, seven rebounds and four assists as the Sun Devils won their fourth straight. Angounou is averaging 11.5 points and 8.5 rebounds in his past four games.
Chad Timberlake, who was suspended by coach Tom Green before Fairleigh Dickinson's 80-66 loss at California on Saturday, matched his career high with 25 points. Gordon Klaiber added 15 points, Andre Harris 14 and Michael Peeples 12 for the Knights (2-5).
Timberlake had 13 points in the second half, getting the Knights within 42-40 when he dunked 21 seconds in.
That sent Arizona State on an 11-2 run highlighted by Braxton's floor-length dribble through pressure for a layup, and the Sun Devils opened a 53-42 lead.
But the Knights answered with a 9-0 spurt capped by Mensah Peterson's 16-foot jumper, cutting the deficit to 53-51 with 12:56 to go.
Arizona State had little breathing room after that until Harris fouled out on a three-point play by Braxton with 3:08 left, good for a 77-69 lead.
Diogu had 15 points at halftime, leading the Sun Devils to a 30-15 lead when he dunked off a spin move with 7:56 left in the first period. He ended the night 14-of-15 (.933) from the free throw line as he leads the nation in free throws made (75) and attempted (84). It was the eighth 30-point game of his career.
But the Knights got their wind with the insertion of Harris into the lineup.
Harris, who had a career-high 16 points at Cal, scored eight points in a 2:13 span, and Fairleigh Dickinson got within 36-32 on a 3-pointer by Peeples with 2:59 to go.
ASU shot 81.3 percent from the free throw line. The Sun Devils shot 73.5 percent last year, fifth-best in school history.