By Cal Aboud, SDA Media Relations Student Assistant
Tempe, Ariz. – Senior big man Eric Jacobsen played hero Sunday afternoon, putting back a jumper from Kodi Justice at the end of regulation to give the Arizona State men’s basketball team (4-2) a 70-68 victory over UCSB. Three Sun Devils including Jacobsen (who recorded ten points along with eight rebounds) scored in double-figures. Forward Savon Goodman posted a team-high 14 points, while Andre Spight added 11 off the bench.
“I’m just really proud of the team and the way they have responded in late game situations,” said head coach Bobby Hurley. “They found a way to win the game down the stretch, getting stops at both ends of the court and making some key plays. Hopefully this is a momentum booster for our team. We have a tough stretch ahead of us so we are just going to move on.”
ASU won the game at the free throw line, going 23-of-26 (.885), as its .339 shooting was third-lowest in a win in past 10 seasons. But it didn't matter as the Sun Devils got the one when they needed it.
--------------------------- SUN DEVIL BEST FREE THROW PERCENTAGE (MINIMUM 25 ATTEMPTS)24-26/.923 vs. Cal State-Los Angeles--Dec. 19, 1981
23-26/.885 vs. UCSB--Nov. 29, 2015 SUN DEVIL LOWEST SHOOTING PERCENTAGE IN ASU WIN (2006-07 TO PRESENT)
ASU 53 (16-56/.286), @Arizona 47 (14-47/.298)--Jan. 21, 2009
ASU 64 (19-58/.328), USC 59 (25-55/.455)—Feb. 22, 2015
ASU 70 (20-59/.339), UCSB 68 (26-52/.500)—Nov. 29, 2015 ---------------------------
Despite the 33.9 percent (20-59) shooting and trailing for nearly 30 minutes of the contest, Arizona State benefitted from 28 bench points, while tallying 23 points off 16 turnovers. Winning the battle on the boards 35-32, the Sun Devils managed 25 second-chance points in comparison to just four from UCSB.
The Sun Devils were slow out of the gate in the first half shooting just 28.6 percent (8-28) from the field, while finishing 18.2 percent (2-11) from beyond the arc. The Gauchos opened on a 14-5 run, by virtue of a barrage of baskets from guard Michael Bryson who finished with a game-high 23. The Sun Devils responded, going on what would accumulate to a 12-2 run, jumping out to 17-16 lead with 7:25 remaining in the half. Both teams battled for the remainder of the half, but a pair of buckets in the final minute of the period gave UCSB a 29-27 lead at half.
Jacobsen and Spight who were limited to just two and three points respectively in the first half, played crucial roles in the final period, each recording eight points. The Sun Devils improved offensively shooting 38.7 percent (12-31) from the field while going 93.3 percent (14-15) from the charity stripe.
Both teams battled for a majority of the half, but a 7-2 run midway through garnered the Gauchos their largest lead of the period, 57-50. The Sun Devils rallied from behind.
Trailing by four with 1:05 remaining Jacobsen hit a pair of foul shots, cutting the deficit to three. The Sun Devils regained procession courtesy a turnover by UCSB, and responded as Spight hit an ever timely three to pull the contest to a tie 68-68, with just .34 ticks remaining. Needing a stop, Jacobsen climbed the ladder to block a shot attempt by UCSB’s Eric Childress, which was rebounded by Kodi Justice, allotting Hurley’s squad possession with just 11 seconds remaining.
After Justice failed to connect an a turnaround jumper, Jacobsen managed to secure the rebound and score as the clock fell to zero, giving the Sun Devils a two-point advantage and their fourth win of the season.
Up next, the Sun Devils travel to Omaha to take on the 5-1 Creighton Blue Jays on Wed. Dec., 2 at 8 p.m. CT/7 p.m. MST.. The game will be televised on the CBS Sports Network. Tim Healey and Kyle Dodd will have the call on ESPN Arizona 620 am.
The Sun Devils will become just the second Pac-12 team since 1979 to travel to Creighton.
Despite having a down year in 2014-15 posting a 14-19 record, the Blue Jays are coming off the third-winningest four-year span in Creighton history. The Sun Devils last met-up with Creighton during the 2013-14 season in the Wooden Legacy with the Blue Jays winning 88-60. The two programs have split the all-time series at four.