Senior Torian Graham scored 22 points and Shannon Evans II added 21 as the Arizona State men's basketball team (3-1) made 12-of-29 three pointers and topped Tulane 80-71 Friday evening at the HP Field House in Orlando in the Tire Pros Invitational.
ASU led 40-29 at the half and extended the lead to 13 early in the second half, but the Green Wave cut the deficit to 56-54 with just over nine minutes remaining before an Evans II and-one pushed the lead to 59-54. Tulane cut the lead to three twice more, but a Graham jumper and a putback dunk by freshman Ramon Vila put the lead back to five twice before ASU closed the game on a 17-13 run in the final 6:13.
"We regrouped nicely as a unit today from our first game and played better defensively, played with greater energy defensively and the numbers showed that," said Sun Devil head coach Bobby Hurley. "We used our quickness to create some turnovers. Forcing 18 turnovers was big. We were just more determined through 40 minutes. There was more focus on both ends of the floor so it was a great team win."
Graham was outstanding down the stretch. In a stretch just over 5 1/2 minutes when Tulane closed the gap, he had nine points as ASU stretched a three-point lead to 10 with 2:28 remaining. He also had a highlight dunk in the first half followed by a tip dunk minutes later that sparked the Sun Devils. He is now averaging 20.5 points and has made 14-of-27 (.519) from the three-point stripe.
"Torian's been outstanding in preseason. He's been very consistent," noted Hurley. "He does things that are pretty special out there just with how easy he makes it look. It's not as easy as he makes it look sometimes. Our guards can get in the lane and make plays and then kick the ball out as well. I thought Torian's drive and dunk in the first half provided great energy for us. Those are big plays." The Sun Devils were more active than they were on Thursday in a loss to Northern Iowa and it showed in grabbling an 8-1 early lead.
"It was just getting with our teammates and digging deep inside ourselves and we came out and played harder," noted Graham. "Yesterday didn't feel good at all and we played way harder with more intensity. I just did what I was put in situations to do. I thank my teammates for putting me in situations to score."
Freshman Sam Cunliffe had a season-high 10 points, including seven in the first half as ASU trailed 15-13 close to midway through the first half. "We didn't like how we guarded yesterday and there was better energy and more activity at that end," said Hurley. "It (fouls) was nothing that was a major issue. We played some zone when we had those fouls and it was pretty effective for a few minutes. That's interesting how that plays out sometimes.
ASU will now face Davidson on Sunday (Nov. 20) at 2:30 p.m. ET/12:30 p.m. MT on ESPNU. ASU then returns home to face the Citadel on Wednesday (Nov. 23) in a weekday matinee at 2 p.m.
NOTES
THREE-POINT NOTE: Entering 2016-17 ASU had made a three-pointer in 522 straight games. The last time ASU did not make a three-pointer was in an 89-57 win over Washington in Tempe on Feb. 10, 2001. That streak is now up to 528 games.
SHANNON EVANS II 20-POINT GAMES (11)
33 vs. Cornell (1/3/15)
25 at Ball State (2/4/15)
24 at UT-Arlington (11/18/14)
23 at Western Michigan (1/10/15)
23 at Grand Canyon (11/25/14)
21 vs. Tulane (11/18/16)
21 at Kent State (2/28/15)
21 at St. Bonaventure (12/3/14)
20 vs. Niagara (12/19/14)
20 vs. Manhattan (12/21/13)
20 vs. Cal Poly (11/13/16)
20 STRAIGHT: Shannon Evans has made his first 20 free throws. In his 66-game career he has made 204-of-251 (.813). The ASU record for consecutive free throws made is 36 held by Roger Detter in the 1968-69 season.
ASU led 40-29 at the half and extended the lead to 13 early in the second half, but the Green Wave cut the deficit to 56-54 with just over nine minutes remaining before an Evans II and-one pushed the lead to 59-54. Tulane cut the lead to three twice more, but a Graham jumper and a putback dunk by freshman Ramon Vila put the lead back to five twice before ASU closed the game on a 17-13 run in the final 6:13.
"We regrouped nicely as a unit today from our first game and played better defensively, played with greater energy defensively and the numbers showed that," said Sun Devil head coach Bobby Hurley. "We used our quickness to create some turnovers. Forcing 18 turnovers was big. We were just more determined through 40 minutes. There was more focus on both ends of the floor so it was a great team win."
Graham was outstanding down the stretch. In a stretch just over 5 1/2 minutes when Tulane closed the gap, he had nine points as ASU stretched a three-point lead to 10 with 2:28 remaining. He also had a highlight dunk in the first half followed by a tip dunk minutes later that sparked the Sun Devils. He is now averaging 20.5 points and has made 14-of-27 (.519) from the three-point stripe.
"Torian's been outstanding in preseason. He's been very consistent," noted Hurley. "He does things that are pretty special out there just with how easy he makes it look. It's not as easy as he makes it look sometimes. Our guards can get in the lane and make plays and then kick the ball out as well. I thought Torian's drive and dunk in the first half provided great energy for us. Those are big plays." The Sun Devils were more active than they were on Thursday in a loss to Northern Iowa and it showed in grabbling an 8-1 early lead.
"It was just getting with our teammates and digging deep inside ourselves and we came out and played harder," noted Graham. "Yesterday didn't feel good at all and we played way harder with more intensity. I just did what I was put in situations to do. I thank my teammates for putting me in situations to score."
Freshman Sam Cunliffe had a season-high 10 points, including seven in the first half as ASU trailed 15-13 close to midway through the first half. "We didn't like how we guarded yesterday and there was better energy and more activity at that end," said Hurley. "It (fouls) was nothing that was a major issue. We played some zone when we had those fouls and it was pretty effective for a few minutes. That's interesting how that plays out sometimes.
ASU will now face Davidson on Sunday (Nov. 20) at 2:30 p.m. ET/12:30 p.m. MT on ESPNU. ASU then returns home to face the Citadel on Wednesday (Nov. 23) in a weekday matinee at 2 p.m.
NOTES
THREE-POINT NOTE: Entering 2016-17 ASU had made a three-pointer in 522 straight games. The last time ASU did not make a three-pointer was in an 89-57 win over Washington in Tempe on Feb. 10, 2001. That streak is now up to 528 games.
SHANNON EVANS II 20-POINT GAMES (11)
33 vs. Cornell (1/3/15)
25 at Ball State (2/4/15)
24 at UT-Arlington (11/18/14)
23 at Western Michigan (1/10/15)
23 at Grand Canyon (11/25/14)
21 vs. Tulane (11/18/16)
21 at Kent State (2/28/15)
21 at St. Bonaventure (12/3/14)
20 vs. Niagara (12/19/14)
20 vs. Manhattan (12/21/13)
20 vs. Cal Poly (11/13/16)
20 STRAIGHT: Shannon Evans has made his first 20 free throws. In his 66-game career he has made 204-of-251 (.813). The ASU record for consecutive free throws made is 36 held by Roger Detter in the 1968-69 season.