TEMPE, Ariz. – A strong defensive performance in the second half and Remy Martin's game-winner gave the Arizona State men's basketball team a 66-64 comeback win over the USC Trojans on Saturday night.
The Sun Devils (15-8, 6-4 Pac-12) made only one of their last 16 field goals, but the one make was Martin's jumper that rolled a couple of times around the rim before going in with 16 seconds remaining.
PAST 12 ASU VS. USC GAMES IN TEMPE
(ASU LEADS 11-1)
ASU 66, USC 64/Feb. 8, 2020
ASU 80, USC 77/Feb. 8, 2018
ASU 83, USC 82/Feb. 26, 2017
ASU 74, #23 USC 67/Feb. 12, 2016
ASU 64, USC 59/Feb. 22, 2015
ASU 98, USC 93 (OT)/Jan. 24, 2013
ASU 56, USC 52/Feb. 25, 2012
USC 63, ASU 61/Jan. 27, 2011
ASU 59, USC 54/Mar. 4, 2010
ASU 65, USC 53/Feb. 15, 2009
ASU 80, USC 66/Mar. 1, 2008
ASU 68, #22 USC 58/Feb. 18, 2007
Martin led all Sun Devils with a game-high of 22 points. Alonzo Verge Jr., who accounted for a game-high 26 points off the bench in ASU's win over UCLA on Thursday, came back with 16 more in Saturday's win. Rob Edwards (11 points) also scored in double figures for the Sun Devils.
The Trojans (17-7, 6-5) jumped out to an early lead and stayed in front throughout the first half. The Sun Devils would not let USC run away with the game. After going down by as much as 13 points, Arizona State cut it to an eight-point game, trailing 40-32 at the half. Verge led the team with 13 points after 20 minutes.
Arizona State had a strong start to the second half, pulling within two points of the Trojans. After minutes of trailing by two, a Rob Edwards steal and pull-up three capped a 10-2 run and gave ASU its first lead of the game, 52-51.
It was a defensive battle for the next couple of minutes with ASU holding a four-point lead. USC fought back, taking a four-point lead of its own with four minutes left.
While they had difficulty getting their shots to fall in the second half, the Sun Devils were able to make the most of their opportunities at the free throw line where they made 80 percent (16-20) of their attempts, including a 12-of-15 effort in the second half. Late in the game the Sun Devils were able to erase a five-point deficit in the space of seven seconds thanks to a pair of free throws by Verge Jr. and three by Martin, who would put the finishing touches on ASU's 7-0 run to close out the game with his game-winning jumper.
Arizona State's advantages in both bench (24-2) and fast-break points (21-9) were key factors in Saturday's win. The Sun Devils also forced the Trojans into 24 turnovers, converting 16 of those miscues into 15 points in the second half.
UNDER .350 FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE IN AN ASU WIN (1996-97 TO PRESENT)
.286/16-56 at Arizona (53-47 on Jan. 21, 2009)
.302/19-63 vs. Mercer (59-42 on Dec. 20, 2000)
.313/21-67 vs. USC (66-64 on Feb. 8, 2020)
.328/19-58 vs. USC (64-59 on Feb. 22, 2015)
.333/21-63 at Temple (65-62 on Nov. 30, 2004)
.339/20-59 vs. UCSB (70-68 on Nov. 29, 2015)
.341/15-44 vs. North Dakota State (60-57 on Dec. 10, 2011)
The Sun Devils travel to the Bay Area next week for games at Stanford (Thursday at 8 p.m. PST/9 p.m. MST) and at Cal (Sunday at 3 p.m. PST/4 p.m. MST).
The Sun Devils (15-8, 6-4 Pac-12) made only one of their last 16 field goals, but the one make was Martin's jumper that rolled a couple of times around the rim before going in with 16 seconds remaining.
PAST 12 ASU VS. USC GAMES IN TEMPE
(ASU LEADS 11-1)
ASU 66, USC 64/Feb. 8, 2020
ASU 80, USC 77/Feb. 8, 2018
ASU 83, USC 82/Feb. 26, 2017
ASU 74, #23 USC 67/Feb. 12, 2016
ASU 64, USC 59/Feb. 22, 2015
ASU 98, USC 93 (OT)/Jan. 24, 2013
ASU 56, USC 52/Feb. 25, 2012
USC 63, ASU 61/Jan. 27, 2011
ASU 59, USC 54/Mar. 4, 2010
ASU 65, USC 53/Feb. 15, 2009
ASU 80, USC 66/Mar. 1, 2008
ASU 68, #22 USC 58/Feb. 18, 2007
???????? ????????.
— Sun Devil MBB (@SunDevilHoops) February 9, 2020
GAME WINNER. pic.twitter.com/STseDHPxa1
Martin led all Sun Devils with a game-high of 22 points. Alonzo Verge Jr., who accounted for a game-high 26 points off the bench in ASU's win over UCLA on Thursday, came back with 16 more in Saturday's win. Rob Edwards (11 points) also scored in double figures for the Sun Devils.
The Trojans (17-7, 6-5) jumped out to an early lead and stayed in front throughout the first half. The Sun Devils would not let USC run away with the game. After going down by as much as 13 points, Arizona State cut it to an eight-point game, trailing 40-32 at the half. Verge led the team with 13 points after 20 minutes.
Arizona State had a strong start to the second half, pulling within two points of the Trojans. After minutes of trailing by two, a Rob Edwards steal and pull-up three capped a 10-2 run and gave ASU its first lead of the game, 52-51.
A steal to a stepback three in transition...
— Sun Devil MBB (@SunDevilHoops) February 9, 2020
Rob really is nice with it tho ???? pic.twitter.com/VCZB92XbKn
It was a defensive battle for the next couple of minutes with ASU holding a four-point lead. USC fought back, taking a four-point lead of its own with four minutes left.
While they had difficulty getting their shots to fall in the second half, the Sun Devils were able to make the most of their opportunities at the free throw line where they made 80 percent (16-20) of their attempts, including a 12-of-15 effort in the second half. Late in the game the Sun Devils were able to erase a five-point deficit in the space of seven seconds thanks to a pair of free throws by Verge Jr. and three by Martin, who would put the finishing touches on ASU's 7-0 run to close out the game with his game-winning jumper.
Arizona State's advantages in both bench (24-2) and fast-break points (21-9) were key factors in Saturday's win. The Sun Devils also forced the Trojans into 24 turnovers, converting 16 of those miscues into 15 points in the second half.
UNDER .350 FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE IN AN ASU WIN (1996-97 TO PRESENT)
.286/16-56 at Arizona (53-47 on Jan. 21, 2009)
.302/19-63 vs. Mercer (59-42 on Dec. 20, 2000)
.313/21-67 vs. USC (66-64 on Feb. 8, 2020)
.328/19-58 vs. USC (64-59 on Feb. 22, 2015)
.333/21-63 at Temple (65-62 on Nov. 30, 2004)
.339/20-59 vs. UCSB (70-68 on Nov. 29, 2015)
.341/15-44 vs. North Dakota State (60-57 on Dec. 10, 2011)
The Sun Devils travel to the Bay Area next week for games at Stanford (Thursday at 8 p.m. PST/9 p.m. MST) and at Cal (Sunday at 3 p.m. PST/4 p.m. MST).