With the first basket of the season coming from a Jonathan Gilling put-back after cleaning up on the offensive boards, the Arizona State men’s basketball season was off and running—and once it started, the Sun Devils never looked back. The Devils shook off a relatively slow start in their season opener against UMBC, but handled the Retrievers with ease, going on to capture the victory, 96-61.
Immediately the Sun Devils welcomed new faces in seniors Shaquielle McKissic and Jermaine Marshall, who quickly displayed their athletic ability, as well as talent, on the court. McKissic hoisted up a three-pointer from the corner on his first shot in an ASU uniform, which found nothing but net.
For Marshall, he attacked the rim early, while grabbing a steal away from the Retrievers on the defensive side, leading to a deep Jahii Carson three from the top of the key. Carson showed no hesitancy with his shot early on, displaying confidence and bounce with his first two three-pointers from the top of the key. He began the game shooting 2-3 for seven points, as the Sun Devils led 26-20 with 6:42 to play in the first half.
Carson and Marshall both finished the game sharing a team-high 19 points. Carson shot 6-12 from the field, while Marshall was 5-11. Carson dished out five assists and Marshall forced four steals.
McKissic finished with 11 points on 3-6 shooting, with six rebounds and two steals. Five Sun Devils finished with double-digit scoring.
The six point lead quickly turned into 15 in just over two minutes of play after ASU rattled off 12-straight points, as it began to click and find its rhythm. A team who entered the game with a plethora of newcomers needed time to mesh in a real-time situation, which proved to be a non-factor. They led comfortably at halftime, 45-28.
The second half began paralleling the first half, with UMBC going on a quick 7-3 run before back-to-back three-pointers from Marshall and Gilling ended the momentum. The Devils re-gathered their healthy lead, 54-35.
Jordan Bachynski, one of the few familiar faces wearing a Sun Devil uniform, picked up exactly where he left off last year by dominating the paint. His tall, lengthy build, aided by his physicality inside, helped him to obtain his first double-double of the year, and the sixth of his career, with 13:50 remaining. Bachynski finished with 12 points to go along with 15 big rebounds.
The Retrievers cut the lead to 12 in the second half, but the scare was only minimal. With 7:30 left in the contest, Arizona State possessed a 24-point lead, 73-49. The lead extended to 40 at one point in the second half, and ASU finished out the win in comfortable fashion.
ASU concluded its opening game of the season shooting 47.4 percent (27-57) from the field. It got to the free throw line a jaw-dropping 44 times, sinking 33 of them (75 percent). Nine different Sun Devils scored points.
Arizona State will be back in action for its second-straight home game to open the season when Miami (Ohio) comes to town on Tuesday, Nov. 12. The game is slated for a 7:00 p.m. (MT) tip from Wells Fargo Arena.
MOST POINTS BY ASU UNDER COACH SENDEK: The 96 points vs. UMBC marked the fifth-most points scored by ASU under Coach Sendek, and the third-most in an game that didn't go into overtime. The 35-point win also marked the biggest scoring margin since a Dec. 12, 2009 42-point win over Delaware State (76-34).
ASU 104, San Francisco 65 (Nov. 20, 2009)
ASU 99, @California 90, 2 OT (Jan. 17, 2008)
ASU 98, USC 93, OT (Jan. 24, 2013)
ASU 97, Florida A&M 70 (Nov. 18, 2012)
ASU 96, UMBC 61 (Nov. 8, 2013)
BIGGEST VICTORY MARGIN BY ASU UNDER COACH SENDEK
52 (87-35) vs. Western Illinois (Nov. 13, 2009)
42 (76-34) vs. Delaware State (Dec. 12, 2009)
39 (104-65) vs. San Francisco (Nov. 20, 2009)
39 (95-56) vs. Saint Francis (Pa.) (Dec. 29, 2007)
39 (77-38) vs. Delaware State (Dec. 5, 2007)
37 (84-47) vs. Central Connecticut State (Dec. 29, 2008)
35 (96-61) vs. UMBC (Nov. 8, 2013)
--ASU is now 17-4 at home in the past two seasons.
--Tonight marked the 20th time in 36 career games Jahii Carson either led or shared team lead in scoring, as he and Jermaine Marshall both had 19 points. Jahii has led ASU in assists 28 times in 36 career games.
--Jordan Bachynski matched a career-high with 15 rebounds and had his sixth career double-double. He has now led ASU in rebounding 15 times in his career. He had three blocks, and needs just one more tie Dan Gadzuric of UCLA for the tenth spot in Pac-12 history. He needs just eight more blocks to break the school career record held by Mario Bennett of 191 set from 1991-95.
JORDAN’S CAREER 10-REBOUND GAMES (6)
15 vs. UMBC (11/8/13)
15 vs. UCLA (1/26/13)
13 vs. Arkansas @Las Vegas (11/23/12)
13 vs. Washington (1/26/12)
12 vs. Central Arkansas (11/10/12)
12 vs. Utah (2/9/12)
JORDAN’S CAREER DOUBLE-DOUBLES (5)
12/15 vs. UMBC (11/8/13)
22/15 vs. UCLA (1/26/13)
13/12/12 vs. Cal State Northridge (12/8/12)
14/13 vs. Arkansas @Las Vegas (11/23/12)
17/12/9 vs. Central Arkansas (11/10/12)
11/12 vs. Utah (2/9/12)
PAC-12 CAREER BLOCKED SHOTS
1. 278 – Anthony Cook (Arizona), ’85-89
2. 253 – Taj Gibson (USC), ’06-09
3. 258 – Channing Frey (Arizona), ’01-05
4. 207 – Michael Stewart (California), ’93-97
5. 196 – Sam Clancy (USC), ’98-02
6. 191 – Mario Bennett (Arizona State), ’91-95
7. 188 – Jelani McCoy (UCLA), ’95-98
8. 186 – Chris Welp (Washington), ’83-87
8. 196 – Loren Woods (Arizona), ’99-00
10. 185 – Dan Gadzuric (UCLA), ’98-02
11. 184 – Jordan Bachynski (Arizona State), ’10-14