POSTGAME NOTES: ASU 77, UNLV 55

YOU CAN CALL IT A COMEBACK: ASU's 77-55 win on Dec. 3 vs. UNLV featured ASU's best comeback since the Sun Devils came back from 16 down on Dec. 14, 2008, to beat IUPUI in Phoenix 59-58. It is the third-best comeback in Coach Sendek's nine seasons at ASU, as the only other better comeback was another 16-point comeback in Tucson on Feb. 10, 2008 in a 59-54 win over Arizona. Last year's best comeback was a nine-point deficit on Jan. 23, 2014, when ASU topped Utah 79-75. ASU trailed UNLV 21-6 with 13:06 remaining in the first half.

BIGGEST COMEBACKS IN HERB SENDEK ERA (12+ POINT DEFICITS) 16 vs. IUPUI (ASU 59, ASU 58/Dec. 14, 2008 at Phoenix) 16 at Arizona (ASU 59, Arizona 54/Feb. 10, 2008) 15 vs. UNLV (ASU 77, UNLV 55/Dec. 3, 2014) 14 vs. Stanford (ASU 72, Stanford 68, OT/Feb. 14, 2008) 13 vs. Colorado (ASU 65, Colorado 56/Jan. 6, 2013) 13 at San Diego State (ASU 59, San Diego State 52/Nov. 8, 2008) 12 vs. North Carolina A&T (ASU 56, North Carolina A&T 50/Dec. 23, 2010) 12 vs. Arizona (ASU 64, Arizona 59, OT/Jan. 9, 2008) 12 vs. Iowa (ASU 67, Iowa 64/Nov. 25, 2006)

--Junior college newcomer Gerry Blakes has led the way in the past four games averaging 17.3 points while shooting .519 (28-of-54) from the floor and is perfect in eight free throw attempts in that time. The southpaw also is averaging 7.3 rebounds in that time.

--The 18 second-half points by UNLV is the fewest in the second half by an ASU opponent since Nov. 27, 2009, when ASU outscored LSU 44-18 in the second half at Madison Square Garden. It is the fewest second-half points by ASU opponent in the past 164 games.

--ASU has now won 13 straight at home for the first time since it won 13 straight with victories in the final seven home games of 1979-80 and then first six of 1980-81.

--ASU has gone 39-5 in its past 44 home games and has won 21 of its past 22 in Wells Fargo Arena.

--ASU is holding opponents to 281-of-733 (.383) from the field and 59.6 points per game in its 13-game home win streak.

SUN DEVIL 13-GAME HOME WIN STREAK ASU 77, UNLV 55 (Dec. 3, 2014) ASU 78, Colgate 71 (Nov. 29, 2014) ASU 68, LMU 44 (Nov. 20, 2014) ASU 49, Bethune-Cookman 39 (Nov. 17, 2014) ASU 86, Chicago State 50 (Nov. 14, 2014) ASU 78, California 60 (Mar. 1, 2014) ASU 76, Stanford 64 (Feb. 26, 2014) ASU 69, #2 Arizona 66, 2 OT (Feb. 14, 2014) ASU 74, Oregon 72 (Feb. 8, 2014) ASU 86, Oregon State 82, OT (Feb. 6, 2014) ASU 72, Colorado 51 (Jan. 25, 2014) ASU 79, Utah 75 (Jan. 23, 2014) ASU 66, Washington State 47 (Jan. 5, 2014)
ERIC IMPROVEMENTS: Entering this year, junior Eric Jacobsen had played in 64 games and averaged 8.8 minutes, 2.1 points and 1.8 rebounds. He is averaging 11.3 points, 8.3 boards and is 26-of-40 (.650) from the field. After posting 16 blocks in his first two seasons, Eric has 14 blocks in seven games this year.

BALANCED SCORING: ASU has had five players lead it in scoring in its first six games: Shaq McKissic (20 vs. Chicago State), Eric Jacobsen (13 vs. Bethune Cookman and 16 vs. UNLV), Chance Murray (12 vs. LMU) and Jon Gilling (21 vs. Maryland) all did it prior to Gerry Blakes scoring 21 vs. Alabama and 23 vs. Colgate.

OFF THE BENCH: Last year after 71 consecutive Jon Gilling starts Coach Sendek made a move to shake up the lineup and had him  come off the bench against Utah. ASU won eight of next  11, and Jon hasn’t looked back since. In the 71 consecutive starts Jon was 162-of-414 (.391) from the three-point stripe. In the past 20 games off the bench, he is 54-of-108 (.500) from the three-point stripe.

THREE STAT: ASU has made a three-pointer in 424 straight games. The last time ASU did not make a three-pointer was Feb. 15, 2001, and as strange as it was it was an 89-57 win over Washington.

SERIES (ASU LEADS 4-2) ASU 77, UNLV 55 (Dec. 3, 2014) ASU 86, @UNLV 80 (Nov. 19, 2013) @UNLV 89, ASU 78 (March 17, 2005/NIT) @UNLV 96, ASU 91 (March 12, 2002/NIT) ASU 79, UNLV 70 (Dec. 5, 1998 @Phoenix) ASU 84, UNLV 81 (March 20, 1975/NCAA at Portland)