ASU Men's Hoops Tops No. 14 Oregon for Sixth Straight Win; Best Pac-12 Streak Since 1980-81

In an early slugfest with two of the Pac-12's best teams, ASU came out on top over No. 14 Oregon 77-72 in an electric atmosphere Thursday night at Desert Financial Arena. Rob Edwards scored 24 points and Alonzo Verge Jr. had 26, including 17 in the second half. 

Reigning National Player of the Week Remy Martin had 11 points, while hitting timely buckets and dishing out five dimes. Romello White chipped in as well with eight points and 11 boards.

ALONZO VERGE TOP SCORING GAMES
43 vs. St. Mary's (12/18/19)
26 vs. #14 Oregon (2/20/20)
26 vs. UCLA (2/6/20)
23 vs. Texas Southern (12/28/19)
22 at California (2/16/20)
20 vs. Prairie View A&M (12/11/19)

The Sun Devils have now won six straight Pac-12 games -- its best league streak since the 1980-81 won 11 straight -- and eight of their last nine. Alonzo Verge Jr. is averaging over 21 points per game during this win streak. 

MOST SUN DEVIL POINTS OFF BENCH (1996-97 TO PRESENT)
43-Alonzo Verge Jr., 12/18/19 vs. St Mary's (Phoenix)
31-Steve Moore, 2/10/05 at UCLA
30-Torian Graham, 12/30/16 at Stanford
29-Shawn Redhage, 2/8/03 at Washington
26-Alonzo Verge Jr., 2/20/20 vs. #14 Oregon
26-Alonzo Verge Jr., 2/6/20 vs. UCLA
26-Torian Graham, 1/19/17 at #3 UCLA

ASU forced Oregon out of its comfort zone early as they took tough three pointers and coughed up the ball more than usual. Oregon had 11 turnovers in the first half and shot just 18 percent from deep as ASU went into intermission up 34-23. 

Despite Oregon going on an 11-0 run to tie the game at 54 with 7:17 left, Arizona State responded with six straight points and never looked back. After ASU broke Oregon's press in the closing seconds of the game, Alonzo Verge Jr. got the crowd in a frenzy when he dropped a vicious slam to seal the game with 14 seconds left.

ROB EDWARDS 15+ POINTS SUN DEVIL SCORING TILTS (13-2)
28 at Utah (2/16/19)
24 vs. #14 Oregon (2/20/20)
24 vs. Utah (1/18/20)
23 vs. CCSU (11/14/19)
20 vs. Colorado/China (11/9/19)
19 at Washington (2/1/20)
19 vs. Arizona (1/31/19)
18 at Oregon State (1/9/20)
17 vs. Louisiana (12/7/19)
16 vs. California (2/24/19)
16 vs. Stanford (2/20/19)
15 vs. Arizona (1/25/20)
15 vs. Oregon (3/15/19)
15 vs. UCLA (3/14/19)
15 vs. #1 Kansas (12/22/18)

ASU is continuing their mid-season push toward the top of the conference standings. The Sun Devils are trying to make its third straight NCAA tournament appearance for the first time since the 1960's. 
 

UPSET IN THE DESERT! ??

Arizona State knocks off No. 14 Oregon for their 6th-straight win! #ForksUp pic.twitter.com/PY6zpBvdPM

— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) February 21, 2020

ASU hosts Oregon State on Saturday 6 p.m. MT on ESPNU.

DUDE IS EN FUEGO: The Pac-12 has a Sixth Man of the Year Award, and Alonzo Verge Jr. has put himself in discussions. After averaging 6.2 ppg., going 1-of-9 from the three-point stripe and shooting 11-of-45 (.244) from the field in his first five Pac-12 games, Verge has been on fire recently, as after that five-game span he is averaging 18.9 points, is 57-of-111 (.514) from the field, 8-of-18 (.444) from three and 29-of-41 (.707) from the foul line in the past past eight games. In ASU's six-game win streak he is averaging 21.2 ppg., is 46-of-87 (.529) from the field, 6-of-13 (.462) from three and 29-of-40 (.725) from the free throw line.