Nov. 28, 2006
TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) - Christian Polk scored 13 of his 22 points in the first half in leading Arizona State past Northern Colorado 66-51 Tuesday night.
Polk, one of three freshmen in first-year coach Herb Sendek's starting lineup, made five of his first eight shots and finished 9-of-18 including 4-of-9 from 3-point range. He has scored at least 20 points in four of his first six collegiate games.
The Sun Devils (4-2) used 11-0 and 14-0 runs in the first 16 minutes to build a 39-16 lead on the way to their third consecutive victory.
Northern Colorado (1-6) did not have a player reach double figures in scoring as Kirk Archibeque and Sean Taibi each had seven points.
Arizona State made 15 of its first 21 shots and scored 23 points off 11 Bears turnovers to take a 43-23 halftime lead.
Serge Angounou added 12 points and 13 rebounds for the Sun Devils, who finished with a 44-31 rebounding edge.
GAME NOTES:
*Antwi Atuahene also added eight points and 10 boards. With Angounou notching 13 rebounds, it marked the first time two Sun Devils had 10 boards since Ike Diogu (13) and Serge Angounou (10) vs. No. 10 Washington on Jan. 30, 2005.
*Polk's four 20-point games already is the fourth-best by a freshman in ASU history. Ike Diogu (12 in 2002-03), Jamal Faulkner (7 in 1990-91) and Steve Beck (5 in 1983-84) are the top three.
*Polk has now posted back-to-back 20-point games. Only one freshman in ASU history has done it in three straight games, as Steve Beck posted 25 at California (March 1, 1984), 21 at Stanford (March 3, 1984) and 20 at USC (March 6, 1984) in the final three games of his freshman season.