By Cal Aboud, SDA Media Relations Student Assistant
BROOKLYN, NY. – The Arizona State men’s basketball team (3-2) dropped a hard-fought overtime contest to the Marquette Golden Eagles 78-73, in the Championship round of the Legends Classic, Tuesday night at the Barclays Center.
Arizona State battled for the duration of the game and into overtime despite 28 team fouls.
Bobby Hurley’s squad has now outrebounded opponents 193-129 on the season, and finished with a +9 margin (48-39) on the boards.
Four Sun Devils scored in double-figures, two of which recorded double-doubles. Obina Oleka, who saw extended playing time off the bench by virtue of big man Eric Jacobsen being limited just seven minutes of play due to foul trouble, posted his first career double-double, finishing with 13 points and 14 rebounds. Senior Willie Atwood notched his second double-double of the season adding 11 points and 10 rebounds. Sophomore guard Tra Holder finished with a team-high 15, while Gerry Blakes recorded 13.
In a game best described as a war of attrition, the Sun Devils led for 19 1/2 minutes in comparison to 19 minutes for the Golden Eagles, which culminated in 11 lead changes.
After recording two quick buckets giving Arizona State a 4-2 lead at the 19:13 mark, the Sun Devils were held scoreless for a span of six minutes, allowing Marquette to jump ahead 11-4. With Jacobsen benched due to early foul trouble, Obinna Oleka entered the game helping the Sun Devils go on a 7-0 run. Marquette once again moved ahead retaining the lead until a barrage of scores from Blakes, gave Arizona State a 30-28 lead with 2:05 remaining in the period. Holder reminiscent of Andre Spight from the previous night, calmly crossed a Golden Eagle defender connecting on a deep three at the buzzer to give the Sun Devils a 36-33 lead at half.
The Sun Devils led by as many as eight in the second half and sat ahead 63-55 with just 7:08 to play. Foul trouble became exceptionally problematic late in the game as Jacobsen fouled out at the 6:37 mark. Marquette pulled back into the game courtesy of a 7-0 run. At the end of regulation the teams sat tied 67-67.
In overtime the Golden Eagles opened on a 4-0 run. Goodman responded with an and-1 cutting the deficit to 71-70 with 2:59 remaining. A string of foul calls allotted Marquette seven shots from the charity stripe the remainder of the game, allowing the Golden Eagles to overcome a Sun Devil squad decimated by fouls, with four players at the limit, 78-73.
Up next, the Sun Devils return home to host UCSB Sunday, Nov. 29 at 3 p.m. MST. The game will be televised on the Pac-12 Networks.
UC Santa Barbara posted a 19-14 record during 2014-15, making an appearance in the College Basketball Invitational. The Gauchos led by longtime head coach Bob Williams return three of their top four scorers including sharpshooting senior Michael Bryson (13.9 ppg. 4.8 rpg, 68 3pm). UC Santa Barbara is currently 2-2 on the season.