TEMPE, Ariz. – History was made at Wells Fargo Arena on Sunday afternoon and a sellout crowd was in attendance to watch it.
In front of more than 10,000 fans, No. 5 Arizona State proved it could win a different type of ballgame and secured its best start in program history with a determined 76-64 victory over visiting Vanderbilt.
"Well, I guess we can play a little defense too," said head coach Bobby Hurley after the historic win. "It was such a great feeling to coach that game, see us go on that second half run and hear the crowd roar like I haven't heard since I got here. I'm in amazement of what these guys do."
It was some amazing defense that allowed the Sun Devils (10-0) to stay in this one early despite a cold start offensively.
After trailing 13-0, Arizona State allowed just six points over the next 10 minutes to climb back into it. Ohio State transfer Mickey Mitchell got into the act with a steal and score at the 6:45 mark (marking his first bucket while wearing the maroon and gold), and the Sun Devils pulled within five at 19-14 when Tra Holder knocked down a pair of free throws on the next possession.
SUN DEVIL COMEBACK WINS (2017-18)
Nov. 14 vs. San Diego State, down 9
Nov. 23 vs. Kansas State (Las Vegas), down 9
Nov. 24 vs. #15 Xavier (Las Vegas), down 15
Dec. 10 at #2 Kansas, down 13
Dec. 17 vs. Vanderbilt, down 13
The remaining five and a half minutes were played fairly even, but a 7-0 binge in the final 80 seconds of the stanza - capped by a Holder buzzer-beater - allowed the home team to carry a 30-29 advantage into the locker rooms.
THE 10-GAME WINNING STREAK: So much has been made about the best start in school history that not much has been said about the win streak as it stands alone. ASU has matched fourth-best winning streak in ASU history, last happening in James Harden's freshman season. Below are ASU's top winning streaks:
ASU TOP WINNING STREAKS
18, 1961-62
11, 1980-81
11, 1962-63
10, 2017-18
10, 2007-08
10, 1962-63
10, 1960-61
"I think we just came out a little rusty," Holder said. "We had a long week off but we didn't panic, even when we were down 13-0. We felt that we were getting wide open shots and great looks so coach just kept preaching to keep going at it."
The second half began with a burst of energy and a return to the team's typical three-point shooting form, quickly turning a small lead into a comfortable one.
Three layups in the half's first minute pushed the advantage to 36-31, and it was Shannon Evans II that hit the first triple of the half to put his team up eight. The team was on cruise control from there, going up double digits on a Romello White layup with 17 minutes remaining and 15 on a White dunk less than a minute later.
"The way we closed with a fury in that first half really helped out psyche in the locker room," said Hurley. "We felt great having a lead at the half and from there the guys were determined to come out and play well in the first four minutes."
A margin of 20 marked Arizona State's largest lead, a number they reached twice in the contest's final 14 minutes thanks to a Holder three-pointer and Evans free throw.
Holder finished the afternoon with 14 second half points and 25 for the game, marking his ninth outing of the season that culminated in double figures.
Strong efforts on both ends of the floor kept the Sun Devil lead in double digits down the stretch, allowing the club to ease its way into a 76-64 victory. All but one of the team's 10 wins so far this season have come by at least 10 points.
"Winning is fun but we have a great culture here," Holder said. "We genuinely like each other and just want to win at the end of the day. That's what makes a great team, when everyone comes together as one and plays as hard as they can for each other."
Holder (25), Evans (15) and White (12) all finished the day scoring in double figures, while Mitchell led the team on the boards with 13 rebounds in just his second game since becoming eligible.
"Mickey is a rugged and hard-playing guy," noted Hurley. "He's so physical and fits right in with our personality. I think he is a real blue-collar guy who plays hard, guys respect him, he's unselfish and he passes. He's been off for a while, so I was glad to see him play that way tonight."
Sunday's victory not only allowed clinched the best start in program history but also keeps the Sun Devils on the elite list of undefeated teams still remaining around the country. That list now stands at four, with Villanova, TCU and Miami (Florida) joining Hurley's team.
They will put their perfect record on the line once again on Tuesday night when Longwood pays a visit to Tempe. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. at Wells Fargo Arena, and those not in attendance can view the game on the Pac-12 Networks.
"We have a bullseye on our back now and teams are going to look at us differently than they have in the past," said Hurley. "It's really something to be a part of. You can feel the energy from the fans and the enthusiasm in this area about what we're doing."
SUN DEVILS HEAD COACH BOBBY HURLEY
On the win: "Well, I guess we can play a little defense too. That was great to see. The way we started and what we fought through and I haven't seen us play that type of offense. Credit to Vanderbilt, Bryce Drew did a good job with playing a different type of lineup that I think affected us some early in the game until we figured some things out. In the meantime, I think we relied on our defense, especially the last eight minutes of the half. I don't know how many points they scored but I know that it wasn't many. It was great to see. It was an unbelievable crowd. It was such a great feeling to coach that game and to see us go on that run in the second half and to hear the roar of the crowd like I haven't heard here since I've been here. That would be just unbelievable if we could keep that going, what an advantage it is for our players. The crowd really willed us through you know not playing our very best and certainly Vanderbilt had something to do with that. They're better than their record and they've been in a lot of close games, just haven't been able to win. I think they played pretty desperate knowing that this was almost kind of a must-win for them. I'm glad that we played through all those things.
"I'm in amazement of what these guys do. I really all week was very stressed about this game. I don't like waiting seven days to play after we just had the game we played. I'd prefer to play sooner, and also just the additional weight that we're carrying now. We have a bullseye on our back now and teams are going to look at us differently than they have in the past. It's something. It's something to be a part of. I felt the energy from the crowd, the enthusiasm in this area about what we're doing. I'm glad that the fans were able to show up the way they did and really enjoy that."
On the second-half run: "I think the way we closed with a fury in that first half and carried into the locker room and helped our psyche. We just could''t get anything going for the first 12 or 13 minutes and you could see the guys were getting frustrated because we've never played that way on offense yet. They persevered through that and Tra's three to end the half to get the lead was great. The way we played you had to feel great that we had a lead in the half. From there the guys were determined to come out and play well in the first four minutes."
On Mickey Mitchell: "He's a rugged, hard-playing guy. He's so physical. Mickey fits right in with our personality. He's a blue-collar guy, plays hard, guys respect him, he's unselfish, he passes. He also brings a more physical element to our team. And then even gives me more lineup flexibility, playing him at multiple positions. He's just starting to get really adjusted to playing. He's been off for a while, so I was glad to see him play that way tonight."
In front of more than 10,000 fans, No. 5 Arizona State proved it could win a different type of ballgame and secured its best start in program history with a determined 76-64 victory over visiting Vanderbilt.
"Well, I guess we can play a little defense too," said head coach Bobby Hurley after the historic win. "It was such a great feeling to coach that game, see us go on that second half run and hear the crowd roar like I haven't heard since I got here. I'm in amazement of what these guys do."
It was some amazing defense that allowed the Sun Devils (10-0) to stay in this one early despite a cold start offensively.
After trailing 13-0, Arizona State allowed just six points over the next 10 minutes to climb back into it. Ohio State transfer Mickey Mitchell got into the act with a steal and score at the 6:45 mark (marking his first bucket while wearing the maroon and gold), and the Sun Devils pulled within five at 19-14 when Tra Holder knocked down a pair of free throws on the next possession.
SUN DEVIL COMEBACK WINS (2017-18)
Nov. 14 vs. San Diego State, down 9
Nov. 23 vs. Kansas State (Las Vegas), down 9
Nov. 24 vs. #15 Xavier (Las Vegas), down 15
Dec. 10 at #2 Kansas, down 13
Dec. 17 vs. Vanderbilt, down 13
Devils with the #MaroonMonsoon ??@MickeyMitchell0 with the THUNDER ?? pic.twitter.com/cC2HbQtqBa
— Sun Devil MBB (@SunDevilHoops) December 17, 2017
The remaining five and a half minutes were played fairly even, but a 7-0 binge in the final 80 seconds of the stanza - capped by a Holder buzzer-beater - allowed the home team to carry a 30-29 advantage into the locker rooms.
We on savage time ? pic.twitter.com/1ocOIACydY
— Sun Devil MBB (@SunDevilHoops) December 17, 2017
THE 10-GAME WINNING STREAK: So much has been made about the best start in school history that not much has been said about the win streak as it stands alone. ASU has matched fourth-best winning streak in ASU history, last happening in James Harden's freshman season. Below are ASU's top winning streaks:
ASU TOP WINNING STREAKS
18, 1961-62
11, 1980-81
11, 1962-63
10, 2017-18
10, 2007-08
10, 1962-63
10, 1960-61
"I think we just came out a little rusty," Holder said. "We had a long week off but we didn't panic, even when we were down 13-0. We felt that we were getting wide open shots and great looks so coach just kept preaching to keep going at it."
The second half began with a burst of energy and a return to the team's typical three-point shooting form, quickly turning a small lead into a comfortable one.
Three layups in the half's first minute pushed the advantage to 36-31, and it was Shannon Evans II that hit the first triple of the half to put his team up eight. The team was on cruise control from there, going up double digits on a Romello White layup with 17 minutes remaining and 15 on a White dunk less than a minute later.
"The way we closed with a fury in that first half really helped out psyche in the locker room," said Hurley. "We felt great having a lead at the half and from there the guys were determined to come out and play well in the first four minutes."
A margin of 20 marked Arizona State's largest lead, a number they reached twice in the contest's final 14 minutes thanks to a Holder three-pointer and Evans free throw.
Holder finished the afternoon with 14 second half points and 25 for the game, marking his ninth outing of the season that culminated in double figures.
Strong efforts on both ends of the floor kept the Sun Devil lead in double digits down the stretch, allowing the club to ease its way into a 76-64 victory. All but one of the team's 10 wins so far this season have come by at least 10 points.
"Winning is fun but we have a great culture here," Holder said. "We genuinely like each other and just want to win at the end of the day. That's what makes a great team, when everyone comes together as one and plays as hard as they can for each other."
Holder (25), Evans (15) and White (12) all finished the day scoring in double figures, while Mitchell led the team on the boards with 13 rebounds in just his second game since becoming eligible.
"Mickey is a rugged and hard-playing guy," noted Hurley. "He's so physical and fits right in with our personality. I think he is a real blue-collar guy who plays hard, guys respect him, he's unselfish and he passes. He's been off for a while, so I was glad to see him play that way tonight."
Sunday's victory not only allowed clinched the best start in program history but also keeps the Sun Devils on the elite list of undefeated teams still remaining around the country. That list now stands at four, with Villanova, TCU and Miami (Florida) joining Hurley's team.
They will put their perfect record on the line once again on Tuesday night when Longwood pays a visit to Tempe. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. at Wells Fargo Arena, and those not in attendance can view the game on the Pac-12 Networks.
"We have a bullseye on our back now and teams are going to look at us differently than they have in the past," said Hurley. "It's really something to be a part of. You can feel the energy from the fans and the enthusiasm in this area about what we're doing."
SUN DEVILS HEAD COACH BOBBY HURLEY
On the win: "Well, I guess we can play a little defense too. That was great to see. The way we started and what we fought through and I haven't seen us play that type of offense. Credit to Vanderbilt, Bryce Drew did a good job with playing a different type of lineup that I think affected us some early in the game until we figured some things out. In the meantime, I think we relied on our defense, especially the last eight minutes of the half. I don't know how many points they scored but I know that it wasn't many. It was great to see. It was an unbelievable crowd. It was such a great feeling to coach that game and to see us go on that run in the second half and to hear the roar of the crowd like I haven't heard here since I've been here. That would be just unbelievable if we could keep that going, what an advantage it is for our players. The crowd really willed us through you know not playing our very best and certainly Vanderbilt had something to do with that. They're better than their record and they've been in a lot of close games, just haven't been able to win. I think they played pretty desperate knowing that this was almost kind of a must-win for them. I'm glad that we played through all those things.
"I'm in amazement of what these guys do. I really all week was very stressed about this game. I don't like waiting seven days to play after we just had the game we played. I'd prefer to play sooner, and also just the additional weight that we're carrying now. We have a bullseye on our back now and teams are going to look at us differently than they have in the past. It's something. It's something to be a part of. I felt the energy from the crowd, the enthusiasm in this area about what we're doing. I'm glad that the fans were able to show up the way they did and really enjoy that."
On the second-half run: "I think the way we closed with a fury in that first half and carried into the locker room and helped our psyche. We just could''t get anything going for the first 12 or 13 minutes and you could see the guys were getting frustrated because we've never played that way on offense yet. They persevered through that and Tra's three to end the half to get the lead was great. The way we played you had to feel great that we had a lead in the half. From there the guys were determined to come out and play well in the first four minutes."
On Mickey Mitchell: "He's a rugged, hard-playing guy. He's so physical. Mickey fits right in with our personality. He's a blue-collar guy, plays hard, guys respect him, he's unselfish, he passes. He also brings a more physical element to our team. And then even gives me more lineup flexibility, playing him at multiple positions. He's just starting to get really adjusted to playing. He's been off for a while, so I was glad to see him play that way tonight."
QUOTING BRYCE DREW
ON WHAT WAS GOING WELL AT START
"Well we made shots at the beginning. We made three threes in the first minute of the game and got us out to a great start and gave us some great energy. Unfortunately, I think we were 1-for-25 from three after the first five minutes. We calculated probably at mass maybe five shots that we pulled guys out and said we got to get better ones. With that said, you're 1-for-20 with those five out in the last 35 minutes. We're a small team, similar to ASU, we got to make threes."
ON GUARDING ASU GUARDS
"I think their offense, they spread you and can make shots really quick on the perimeter. They shoot some gaps. Again, they played with a lot of intensity and you need to match that intensity all game."
ON SABEN LEE
"I'm really happy for Saben. He's worked really hard, harder than anyone on our team. He's always in the gym working and its great to see it pay off and pay off at home in front of his family and friends."