By Cal Aboud, SDA Media Relations Student Assistant
BERKELEY, Calif. – Much can be said regarding Bobby Hurley’s squad. Sure they're undersized, but they battle on a game-to-game basis. They fit the mold of their head coach, gritty and resilient.
With their backs against the wall, down 14 at the 12:53 mark, the Sun Devils did exactly what they’ve done repeatedly over the course of the season, mounting a furious comeback, erasing the overwhelming deficit. Big man Eric Jacobsen would make a pair at the charity stripe with 2:25 remaining, putting the game at tie for the first time since the opening minutes.
ANDRE SPIGHT'S DOUBLE-DIGIT SCORING GAMES
15 vs. Belmont (11/16/15)
12 at California (1/21/16)
11 vs. UCSB (11/29/15)
10 vs. Cal-State Bakersfield (12/28/15)
11 at UCLA (1/9/16)
TOP POINT GAMES FOR OBINNA OLEKA
19 vs. Kennesaw State (11/18/15)
17 vs. Arizona (1/3/16)
14 at California (1/22/16)
14 vs. Houston Baptist (12/19/15)
13 vs. Washington (1/16/16)
TWEETABLES ABOUT @SUNDEVILHOOPS...
√ Obi Oleka: 11.0 ppg. in past 9 games and 30-35 (.857) FTs
√ 165-of-226 (.730) from the free throw line in the past 9 games
√ Averaging 41.9 points in second half (33.6 in the first half)
√ 9.9 turnovers per game in the past seven; 13.2 in first 12 tilts
California would ultimately take the game 75-70, by virtue of clutch foul shooting down the stretch. Despite finishing behind, Arizona State showed moxie, managing to hang around and threaten the Bears' hand, and for the fifth time this season overcame a deficit of nine or more while playing on the road.
“We tried to work on our defense this week, and it didn’t work in game play. They (Cal) still shot great percentages first and second half. I thought we had some good looks on offense, but we didn’t make shots when were open" said Bobby Hurley. "That ends up putting more pressure on our defense when we can’t make shots. We dug a hole we couldn’t get out of. The guys fought hard, but we just came up short. We were having a hard time stopping them so we tried zone and they made the breaks they needed to even when we closed off the lane for Rabb to shoot.”
The forward duo of Savon Goodman and Obinna Oleka would combine for 27 points and 13 rebounds. Center Eric Jacobsen also had a standout performance netting 10, while grabbing seven boards.Andre Spight played an integral role in an exceptional outing by the Sun Devil bench, who outperformed California 30-18. The guard would finish with 12 points going three-of-five from beyond the arc.
Arizona State closed a cumulative 37.7 percent (23-61) from the field, 79.2 percent (19-24) from the foul line, and 27.8 percent (5-18) from the perimeter.
California who was led by 20-point, eight-rebound outing from the talented freshman Ivan Rabb, benefited from their length, notching eight blocks, while outrebounding the Sun Devils 35-31. Arizona State however, had the upper hand on the offensive boards, recording 12 en route to 17 second-chance-points.
Both teams struggled to find their identity offensively in the early going. The Sun Devils would manage only two field goals in the opening nine minutes.
Eventually the two teams would catch their stride trading shots for a span of two minutes before the Bears went on a 14-4 run, which would move out to as much as an 11-point lead. At recess the Sun Devils trailed by eight, 30-38.
Not much would change initially in the second half as California seemed poised to pull away early, ahead 14 nearly halfway through the period.
The Sun Devils in need of a surge found it in the form of Oleka and Goodman. The two who each recorded nine points in the period, triggered a 10-0 run, to pull Arizona State, down 14 just four minutes prior, within two, 57-59 at 8:01.
After the Bears would push their lead back out to four at 3:33, Eric Jacobsen would score in two-consecutive processions, tying things up 65-65 with 2:25 remaining.
California would yet again move ahead by four, before Gerry Blakes would connect on a corner three off a baseline-drive, making it a one-point game.
Despite the Sun Devils valiant effort, the Bears capped play at the charity stripe, making their final making their final six foul attempts, finishing ahead 75-70.
UP NEXT…
The Sun Devils head to the Maples Pavilion to take on the (10-6) Stanford Cardinal, Sat., Jan. 23 at 8 p.m. PT/9 p.m. MT. You can catch the action on the Pac-12 Network. Tim Healey and Kyle Dodd have the Sun Devil radio call on the Sun Devil Sports Radio Network (620 AM), presented by MidFirst Bank.
Arizona State split last season’s series with the Cardinal 1-1, winning its last meeting 67-62, in Tempe on Mar. 5 of 2015.
ASU VS. CALIFORNIA SERIES (1978-79 TO PRESENT)
@California 75, ASU 70/Jan. 21, 2016
ASU 74, California 70/March 7, 2015
ASU 79, @California 44/Jan. 22, 2015
ASU 78, California 60/March 1, 2014
ASU 89, @California 78 (OT)/January 29, 2014
ASU 66, California 62/February 7, 2013
@California 68, ASU 44/February 4, 2012
@California 66, ASU 62/February 3, 2011
California 65, ASU 61/January 8, 2011
@California 62, ASU 46/February 27, 2010
California 78, ASU 70/January 28, 2010
ASU 83, California 66/March 7, 2009
@California 81, ASU 71/January 4, 2009
California 76, ASU 73/February 16, 2008
ASU 99, @California 90 (2OT)/January 17, 2008
ASU 42, @California 41/March 3, 2007
California 66, ASU 62 (OT)/December 30, 2006
ASU 65, @California 64 (2OT)/February 18, 2006
California 88, ASU 58/January 19, 2006
California 84, ASU 82/February 5, 2005
ASU 79, @California 70/January 8, 2005
@California 85, ASU 83/February 7, 2004
California 74, ASU 62/January 10, 2004
@California 80, ASU 72/March 2, 2003
ASU 75, California 70/January 30, 2003
California 91, ASU 80/February 28, 2002
@California 67, ASU 59/February 2, 2002
@California 86, ASU 67/March 8, 2001
California 82, ASU 67/January 6, 2001
ASU 85, California 76/March 9, 2000
ASU 111, @California 108(2OT)/January 8, 2000
@California 78, ASU 73/ February 27, 1999
ASU 69, California 66/January 28, 1999
ASU 99, California 80/February 28, 1998
@California 82, ASU 77/January 29, 1998
@California 84, ASU 66/March 6, 1997
ASU 64, California 60/January 4, 1997
ASU 56, California 53/March 7, 1996
@California 97, ASU 82/January 6, 1996
ASU 100, California 81/February 9, 1995
ASU 73, @California 68/January 14, 1995
@California 95, ASU 78/February 10, 1994
ASU 63, California 60/January 15, 1994
@California 91, ASU 67/March 6, 1993
ASU 90, California 83/February 4, 1993
ASU 74, California 71/March 7, 1992
@California 68, ASU 61/February 6, 1992
ASU 87, California 78/February 24, 1991
@California 76, ASU 65/January 24, 1991
@California 69, ASU 60/February 23, 1990
California 68, ASU 66/January 25, 1990
California 73, ASU 63/February 4, 1989
@California 84, ASU 60/January 5, 1989
ASU 88, @California 80/February 4, 1988
ASU 82, California 60/January 9, 1988
@California 71, ASU 65/February 26, 1987
ASU 61, California 53/January 24,1987
@California 83, ASU 61/February 8, 1986
ASU 69, California 67/January 9, 1986
ASU 61, California 60/February 7,1985
ASU 77, @California 70/January 12, 1985
ASU 59, @California 54/March 1, 1984
ASU 75, California 60/February 4, 1984
ASU 79, California 69/March 3, 1983
ASU 72, @California 65/February 3, 1983
@California 70, ASU 65/February 27, 1982
ASU 70, California 57/January 29, 1982
ASU 81, California 68/February 28, 1981
ASU 84, @California 81 (2OT)/February 2, 1981
ASU 69, California 56/January 31, 1980
ASU 74 @California 63/January 5, 1980
ASU 91, @California 55/February 3, 1979
California 70, ASU 59/January 4, 1979