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ASU Falls In First Round Of NIT Tournament

ASU Falls In First Round Of NIT TournamentASU Falls In First Round Of NIT Tournament

Box Score

March 17, 2005

LAS VEGAS (AP) - Ricky Morgan scored 21 points to lead UNLV past Arizona State 89-78 in the first round of the NIT on Thursday night.

Morgan had 15 points in the first half and was 6-of-9 from the field overall, including 3-for-3 from 3-point range. He was averaging 3.4 points per game coming in the game.

The Rebels (17-13) advanced to play at South Carolina in the second round Tuesday night.

Ike Diogu had game-highs of 29 points and 11 rebounds for the Sun Devils (18-14).

Diogu was 10-of-16 from the field and 8-of-11 from the free throw line.

Odartey Blankson had 19 points for the Rebels, and Jerel Blassingame and Michael Umeh each added 11.

UNLV shot 59 percent from the floor (34-of-58), including 11-for-22 from 3-point range.

Arizona State made 45 percent of its shots.

UNLV, which led just about the entire game, built its largest lead of the first half at 30-21. The Sun Devils then went on an 8-0 run, but the Rebels pulled away late in the half and led 48-40 at intermission.

The Sun Devils scored the first five points of the second half, but came no closer the rest of the way.

UNLV eventually built a 77-61 lead with 7:11 left, their largest lead of the game.

UNLV first-year coach Lon Kruger went against his son, ASU sophomore guard Kevin Kruger, for the first time. Kevin was 3-of-10 from the field for eight points.