Jan. 10, 2013
Box Score | Notes | AP Gallery
The Arizona State men's basketball team went on the road to face Oregon State and came out with a 72-62 victory over the Beavers to improve to 14-2 (3-0) on the season. ASU trailed by eight with just under six minutes left in the first half and then led by 15 with 14:18 remaining before Oregon State made a rally and cut it it to four. Key buckets down the stretch and and a huge rebounding advantage (49-35) solidified the victory for the Sun Devils. ASU is 14-2 for the third time in 33 seasons, as the 1980-81 team went 19-2 but since then only the 2007-08 and 2008-09 teams started 14-2.
Freshman Jahii Carson led the way for the Sun Devils, scoring 20 points on 9-19 shooting. He added four assists.
"This is a difficult place to come and get a win and I was really proud of our guys' effort tonight, especially on the defensive end of the court," said Sun Devil head coach Herb Sendek, who saw his team win its Pac-12 road opener for the third time in the past six seasons. "We have tremendous respect for their transition game, offensive rebounding, the ability of their guards to create shots and shoot the three. I thought our defense, for the most part, was very solid. Offensively we did a good job taking care of the ball and the possessions where we played the right way worked out for us. In a few instances we got away from what we should be doing, but a great win. I thought our guys really competed and did a really nice job."
ASU had four players in double digits, including Carrick Felix, Jonathan Gilling, Jordan Bachynski and Carson. Felix went 7-14 from the field and had a team-high 14 rebounds, grabbing his fifth double-double in past 10 games.
"I don't want to say I told you so, but you could see it coming (with Carrick)," said Coach Sendek. "Just because of his commitment, his approach, and the habits he is forming. I guess nothing is ever predictable, but if anything was, perhaps Carrick's play. So far it is matching up with his daily approach over an extended period of time. All of the qualities that any coach would want a player to ideally posses, he has."
Gilling only shot 1-6 from three, his usual go-to shot, but still finished with 14 points on 6-13 shooting to go along with six rebounds. Bachynski missed a double-double by one rebound, finishing with 10 points and nine rebounds.
"Basketball by nature is a game of runs, we went up by 15 and before we could blink it was down to four," notes Coach Sendek. "Our guys showed a good measure of resiliency, bending but not breaking. "Our approach is very consistent. We had three really hard fought games. Now we will get ready for a quick turnaround with another game Sunday."
ASU has now won nine of the past 10 against the Beavers. It held OSU to just .373 from the field (22-of-59) and just 5-of-22 (.227) from the three-point stripe.
The Sun Devils have now won six straight and have not lost since Dec. 12 when they played DePaul. They continue their stay in Oregon as they next will face the Oregon Ducks for a 6:00 p.m. (PT) tipoff on Jan. 13.
ASU WINS IN FIRST PAC-12 ROAD GAME
ASU 70, Washington 65 (Dec. 8, 1978)
ASU 70, Stanford 64 (Jan. 3, 1980)
#14 ASU 62, Washington State 59 OT (Jan. 8, 1981)
ASU 89, Stanford 74 (Jan. 10, 1985)
ASU 66, Washington State 65 OT (Dec. 20, 1987)
ASU 95, Washington State 86 (Jan. 16, 1992)
ASU 67, Oregon State 47 (Jan. 2, 2003)
#22 ASU 99, California 90 OT (Jan. 17, 2008)
#17 ASU 90, Stanford 60 (Jan. 2, 2009)
ASU 72, Oregon State 62 (Jan. 10, 2013)