ASU 87, Western Illinois 35 box score in PDF Format
Nov. 13, 2009
The new edition of Arizona State looked a lot like the one that won 25 games and made the second round of the NCAA tournament last season.
Jamelle McMillan and freshman Demetrius Walker had 12 points apiece and Rihards Kuksiks and Derek Glasser added 10 each to help balanced Arizona State to an 87-35 victory against overmatched Western Illinois in a season opener Friday night.
Eric Boateng had nine points and nine rebounds, one short of his career high, and Jerren Shipp added eight points to help the Sun Devils record the largest margin of victory in coach Herb Sendek's four seasons at ASU. The previous record under Sendek had been 39.
"I was really pleased with our energy and effort," Sendek said. "They drew charges, they scrambled. They tried to cover for each other.
"In fairness, we were just a more talented team. The opponent aside, I like the effort."
ASU, playing Sendek's favorite 3-2 matchup zone defense, held Western Illinois to 23.1 percent shooting (12 of 52). Matt Lander led the Leathernecks with 14 points.
"That's how we're going to win, because we don't have a superstar to carry us down the stretch," said Glasser, a senior. "We have to make the hustle plays.
"We're not going to run with Washington and score 90, and we're not going to run with Oregon. We're going to want to slow it down."
ASU, 25-10 last year, must replace its two leading scorers from 2008-09, All-American guard James Harden and center Jeff Pendergraph. Harden averaged 20.1 points a game last year and was the third player taken in the NBA draft. Pendergraph averaged 14.3 points and was the first player taken in the second round.
"Their matchup zone is as good as anyone in the country," Western Illinois coach Jim Molinari said. "I knew we'd have a hard time scoring. I want to give them a lot of credit. I have great respect for Herb. That's a tremendous system."
ASU held a 38-28 rebounding edge and shot 56 percent.
McMillan, a junior, scored all his points on three-point baskets, making 4 of 5 from long range. Kuksiks, the leading returning scorer after averaging 10.3 points a game last year, had two three-pointers.
Walker, playing in his first college game, got 22 minutes as Sendek played his reserves most of the second half. Glasser played a team-high 24 minutes.
The game was Sendek's 100th at ASU. The Sun Devils are 55-45 in his tenure. ASU was 66-34 in Ned Wulk's first 100 games. It was 59-41 in Bill Frieder's first 100 and 51-49 in Rob Evans' first 100. It was the first meeting between the schools.