Dec. 7, 2008
*The Sun Devils are 7-1 for just the second time in 18 seasons (1991-92 to present). ASU was 11-1 in 2004-05.
*ASU held Nebraska to 18 first-half points, the second-best first-half defensive effort in the past six years. ASU led Colgate 20-12 at the half on Dec. 19, 2006, in Herb Sendek's first season. The 18 points given up in the first half today is the second-best first-half effort in the past 186 games.
Fewest Points at halftime since 1989-90 by ASU Opponent:
ASU 20, Colgate 12 (Dec. 19, 2006)
ASU 36, Old Dominion 12 (Jan. 7, 1995)
ASU 33, Oregon State 13 (Feb. 25, 1995)
ASU 24, Stanford 14 (Jan. 27, 1991 at Stanford)
ASU 26, Coppin State 17 (Dec. 8, 2007)
ASU 48, Lafayette 17 (Nov. 20, 2002)
ASU 46, Belmont 17 (Dec. 22, 2000)
ASU 30, Nebraska 18 (Dec. 8, 2008)
ASU 50, Cal Poly SLO 18 (Dec. 20, 1994)
*Sophomore Rihards Kuksiks posted a career-high in points (18) for the second straight game, as he had a then-career high 16 points vs. Jackson State on Thursday (Dec. 4). He also had a career-high six boards against Nebraska. He is averaging 9.2 points in his past 20 games dating to last season with 45 three-pointers in that time.
*James Harden is now averaging 27.0 points and 8.3 rebounds in the past six games, while shooting 57.5 percent from the field (50-of-87), 56.7 percent from the three-point stripe (17-of-30) and 83.3 percent from the free throw line (83.3).
*Jeff Pendergraph is 34-of-51 (.667) from the field and 28-of-35 (.800) from the free throw line on the year. He posted his third double-figure rebounding game with 10 boards vs. Nebraska and now has 708 career rebounds, good for eighth on the ASU career list. Next up on the list is Art Becker (1961-64) with 724.
*After starting the season 2-of-14 (.143) from the three-point stripe in the first four games, James Harden is 16-of-22 (.727) from the three-point stripe in the past four games.
*James Harden has 106 points in his past 105 minutes played.
*The Nebraska game marked the 93rd start for Pendergraph, sixth on the ASU career list. Next up is Steve Beck, who started 96 games from 1983-87. Eddie House is the ASU career leader with 114 (1996-2000). Pendergraph has played in 100 career games.
*Through 42 career games, Harden has led ASU in scoring 32 times, led it in rebounding 15 times and led it in assists in 17 games. He has 22 career 20-point games (ASU is 18-4).
*The Sun Devils are giving up 61.4 points per game in Coach Sendek's 72 games.
*After going 8-22 (.267) in Coach Sendek's first year, they are 28-14 (.667) since.
*ASU is shooting .771 (138-of-179) from the free throw line. Last year ASU shot .739, the fifth-best mark in ASU history and second-best in past 21 seasons.
*ASU is 19-5 (.792) at home in the past two seasons.