By Jordan Parry, ASU Media Relations Student Assistant
The Arizona State men's basketball team escaped with a 60-57 win in Saturday afternoon's matchup against North Dakota State University at Wells Fargo Arena after junior Carrick Felix drained a buzzer-beating three pointer.
Click below to watch Carrick Felix's game-winning shot...
The Sun Devils led for most of the second half before Bison guard Mike Felt hit a highly-contested desperation three to tie the game at 57 with 1.8 seconds left. Felt was 1 for 9 from the perimeter before nailing the tying bucket.
"He's our best shooter," said NDSU coach Saul Phillips. "He can miss 15 in a row and I want him to shoot the next one. Felt will be just fine. He made a play."
ASU called a timeout and used former high school quarterback Chanse Creekmur to inbound the ball, who passed it to junior Trent Lockett who unselfishly gave the ball up to an open Felix, who hit nothing but net before his teammates proceeded to pile onto him in celebration.
"We had plenty of time to go over it because we called time out and went through it on the board. Then, they called time out again. So, we kind of adjusted it a little bit. But, KC and I exchanged at half court. Chanse was a high school quarterback, so he threw a pinpoint pass to me. I went and got it, and got it into Carrick's spot. No doubt, that was the play to define one of our wings, cutting down the side, spot it up and put it right in the hoop," said Lockett after the game.
Asked if they had gone over the play in practice, Felix responded, "All the time. Every day. It worked today."
Felix led the team with 15 points, but was only 2 for 10 from beyond the arc before hitting the game-winning three.
Arizona State survived despite sub-par offensive performances from their two leading scorers coming into the game, Lockett and sophomore Keala King. However, Lockett made his presence known by grabbing 12 rebounds and still managing 10 points. King had only three points, coming late in the second half with a three point play the possession after Felix completed a four-point play.
The Sun Devils had a slow first half, starting 2 for 8 from the field, but stayed in the game through relentless work on the offensive boards. The team brought down 12 offensive rebounds in the first half out of their total 14. ASU outrebounded NDSU 45-32 for the game.
The Sun Devils shot 34.1 percent, but were 25-35 from the free throw line, going 18-23 in the second half alone. The Bison went 12-18 for the game, which proved a decisive stat for the eventual outcome.
Arizona State improves to 4-5 and gives NDSU only their second loss of the season, dropping them to 7-2. ASU takes a week off for finals and will be back in action next Saturday, Dec. 17 at 4:00 (MT) against Northern Arizona.
SUN DEVIL LOWEST SHOOTING PERCENTAGE IN ASU WIN UNDER COACH SENDEK
ASU 53 (16-56/.286), @Arizona 47 (14-47/.298)--Jan. 21, 2009
ASU 60 (15-44/.341), North Dakota State 57 (21-58/.362)--Dec. 10, 2011
ASU 56 (20-57/.351), North Carolina A&T 50 (20-57/.351)--Dec. 23, 2010
ASU 56 (16-45/.356), Oregon State 46 (14-57/.246)--Feb. 11, 2010
ASU 55 (18-49/.367), San Diego State 52 (18-44/.409)--Dec. 19, 2009
ASU 68 (15-40/.375), #24 Washington 51 (18-50/.360)-Jan. 8, 2010
ASU 49 (16-42/.381), @Oregon State 38 (15-46/.326)--Feb. 7, 2009
ASU 61 (21-54)/.389), South Carolina Upstate 52 (18-46/.391)--Dec. 23, 2009
ASU 61 (21-53/.391), Pepperdine 40 (12-45/.267)--Nov. 23, 2008
ASU 64 (21-53/.396), Arizona 59 (21-54/.389)--Jan. 9, 2008 (OT)
Updated: Dec. 10, 2011