DAYTON, Ohio - Sun Devil Men's Basketball will dance on to Denver after a 98-73 victory in the First Four over the Nevada Wolf Pack.
Arizona State (23-12, 11-9 Pac-12) had one of the most historic shooting performances in both program and NCAA Tournament First Four/Opening Round history. Its 98 points are the most ever in this stage of March Madness and the Maroon and Gold shot its highest percentage - 35-55/.636 - from floor in the eight years that Bobby Hurley has piloted Arizona State.
After Nevada (22-11, 12-6 Mountain West) made a triple that opened scoring, ASU soared to a 13-0 run and did not look back. After Jamiya Neal's three pointer with 12:59 left in the first half to make it 23-12, ASU's lead never fell beneath double-digits.
The Maroon and Gold put Nevada away permanently with a 17-0 run in 6:11 late in the first half. Devan Cambridge hit back-to-back triples followed by a long-range make from Alonzo Gaffney that made it 52-22 with 2:28 remaining in the opening stanza. The Wolf Pack's deficit never shrunk beneath 19 points for the remainder of the contest.
Desmond Cambridge Jr. countered a Nevada triple with a basket at 19:28, making 3-2 Wolfpack. ASU forced an immediate turnover and DJ Horne drilled a triple - ASU's first - at 19:08 and gave the Sun Devils a 5-3 lead.
Off of a foul by Nevada, Cambridge Jr. dropped in a funky layup as the shot clock expired at 18:48. Frankie Collins used stifling on-ball defense to force an immediate foul. Warren Washington snared an offensive rebound and floated in a hook shot at 18:11, making it 9-3 Sun Devils.
Nevada missed a trey and Collins flew to the basket for his first points on a lefty layup at 17:47 and Washington found Horne for another layup at 16:38. ASU was on a 13-0 run over 2:50 featuring three Nevada turnovers and a scoring drought of 3:10.
The Wolfpack snapped the cold-spell with a three pointer at 16:19, but Washington picked up his second assist on a jam to Cambridge Jr.. It made it 15-6 ASU at 16:00.
Both teams went on an offensive barrage, with ASU making four straight baskets and Nevada only missing one in the stretch. Arizona State received a swooping layup from Jamiya Neal from Cambridge Jr. to make it 25-12 at 12:42. Nevada responded with its fifth three.
ASU weathered the storm and continued playing strong defense. Leading 32-20, Neal jumped in for a steal and threw down a boisterous jam at 9:04, making it 34-20.
Leading by 20, Cambridge Jr. nailed another triple 4:01 and made it 45-22. Gaffney erased a Wolfpack shot and gave way to Cambridge nailing back-to-back threes and the rout was on in Dayton.
ASU eventually extended its run to 17-0, leading 51-22 at 2:28, capped by an Alonzo Gaffney three pointer. The run was snapped by two free throws at 1:53 from Nevada.
The Sun Devils went into the break with a staggering 53-26 lead.
Horne knocked in a three pointer on the opening possession of the second half, bringing the lead up to 30, 56-26. Nevada scored the next five points before Horne made two free throws.
Neal snatched a rebound on the defensive end and Cambridge Jr. made another basket, fading away on the baseline to make it 68-64 with 13:06 left in regulation. Nevada continued to fight, ripping off a 16-11 scoring advantage over the next six minutes and prompted an ASU timeout at 6:44 with ASU leading 79-60.
It never got closer than that as Sun Devils Basketball held on for a 98-73 victory and advanced to the First Round of the 2023 NCAA Tournament.
UP NEXT
No. 11 Arizona State will face No. 6 TCU at 7:05 p.m. MST in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament Friday night on TruTV. The game will be held at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado.
Arizona State (23-12, 11-9 Pac-12) had one of the most historic shooting performances in both program and NCAA Tournament First Four/Opening Round history. Its 98 points are the most ever in this stage of March Madness and the Maroon and Gold shot its highest percentage - 35-55/.636 - from floor in the eight years that Bobby Hurley has piloted Arizona State.
After Nevada (22-11, 12-6 Mountain West) made a triple that opened scoring, ASU soared to a 13-0 run and did not look back. After Jamiya Neal's three pointer with 12:59 left in the first half to make it 23-12, ASU's lead never fell beneath double-digits.
The Maroon and Gold put Nevada away permanently with a 17-0 run in 6:11 late in the first half. Devan Cambridge hit back-to-back triples followed by a long-range make from Alonzo Gaffney that made it 52-22 with 2:28 remaining in the opening stanza. The Wolf Pack's deficit never shrunk beneath 19 points for the remainder of the contest.
NOTABLESARIZONA STATE IS MOVING ON ??
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 16, 2023
The Sun Devils dominate Nevada 98-73 and will face TCU on Friday! #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/gjzsI6yTRH
- ASU's 98 points were the most in an Opening Round/First Four game in NCAA Tournament history. It is the third most points all-time for ASU in a tournament game and most since scoring 99 against Loyola Marymount in the First Round of the 1980 event.
- The 25-point margin of victory is also the second largest in an NCAA Tournament Opening Round/First Four game. It is the largest margin of victory in an NCAA Tournament game for ASU since 1980.
- ASU shot 64% from the floor. It's the highest shooting percentage a Sun Devil team has had under Head Coach Bobby Hurley and the second highest in an NCAA Tournament Opening Round/First Four game.
- In the 133 NCAA Tournament games played at Dayton Arena, ASU's shooting percentage was the best ever.
- In fact, it is the best shooting percentage for any ASU men's basketball tournament game on record.
- Additionally, it is the best field goal percentage by a Pac-12 team in an NCAA Tournament game since Arizona shot 66.0% against Oklahoma State in the 2005 Sweet 16.
- The Sun Devils have shot over 60% from the floor twice this season, both coming on neutral courts. The Maroon and Gold shot 32-53 (.604) in the early-season win over Michigan at the Barclays Center.
- In fact, ASU shot 11-19 (.524) from three point range. It is the third highest three-point field goal percentage for the Maroon and Gold this season. It is the ninth time this season the Sun Devils have made at least 10 threes.
- ASU's 35 field goals made are the second most this season.
- Arizona State picked up its second win in March Madness under Head Coach Bobby Hurley.
- With the win, the Maroon and Gold are 6-3 against the Mountain West in the Bobby Hurley era, including a 1-1 mark against Nevada.
- Sun Devil Men's Basketball is now 6-7 against Steve Alford led teams including four straight.
- The Sun Devils are 6-1 on a neutral floor this season, including winning its first five. ASU's only loss on a neutral court came against No. 8 Arizona in the 2023 Pac-12 Tournament. The Wildcats won the Conference Championship the following day.
- The six wins on a neutral court are tied for third in the nation.
- ASU has forced double-digit turnovers 33 times in the last 35 games forcing double-digit turnovers, and 60 of 66 dating back to the start of last season.
- On the flip side, ASU committed just seven turnovers. It is the second fewest turnovers in a game this season for the Sun Devils.
- Additionally, it is the fewest turnovers that the ASU offense has committed away from Tempe. Arizona State had a mere five giveaways in its win over Utah on Feb. 18, 2023.
- Desmond Cambridge Jr. has scored in double figures in 24 of ASU's 33 games this season. He had 17 against the Wolf Pack.
- ASU is 11-2 when Cambridge Jr. scores at least 17 points.
- He also has 30 straight games with a made three pointer. It is the longest streak for any Sun Devil since Jonathan Gilling had 29 straight games with a made three pointer in the 2012-13 seasons.
- ASU's golden rule held true; Devan Cambridge scored 15 points in the win, moving the Sun Devils to 14-1 when he scores in double figures. The lone setback was 77-72 road setback at USC that closed the regular season.
- In a pivotal part of the season down the stretch, DJ Horne has turned up his scoring.
- He dropped in 20 points for the Sun Devils, leading all scorers. It is the fourth time this season Horne has notched at least points. ASU is 3-1 in those contests.
- In fact, the 20 points from Horne are the third most points in an NCAA Tournament game for a player under coach Hurley.
- Sun Devil Men's Basketball is 9-2 when Horne makes at least three three-pointers. He was 4-5 from long distance against Nevada.
- He is averaging 14.9 points per game over his last 12 contests with all but two outputs in double digits.
- Arizona State has had 13 games this season with at least a 60% A/FGM ratio. It is the most in a single season since ASU had 13 such-games in the 2015-16 campaign.
- In ASU's 12 quad one games, they have had five contests with at least a 60% A/FGM ratio. Four of those five quad one games were away from home.
- ASU's 21 assists mark the seventh time this season that the Maroon and Gold have had at least 20+ assists in a single game. It is the most since Arizona State had seven in the 2008-09 campaign, when they went to the Pac-12 Championship Game and were led by James Harden.
- In fact, 505 of ASU's 885 field goals this season have come on assisted baskets. That's good for 57.06%. It is tracking to be the highest percentage of assists to made field goals in a season since 471 out of 836 field goals were assisted on in the 2013-14 season (56.34%).
- Additionally, ASU has had at least a 60% A/FGM ratio in four consecutive games. It happened in all three Sun Devil games in the Pac-12 Tournament and in the First Four contest against Nevada.
- It is the longest streak this season since five games that included the early-season conference matchups at Colorado and vs. Stanford.
- In the history of the Opening Round/First Four, only five more teams have had more than ASU's 21 assists.
- Cambridge Jr. paced ASU in assists for the fifth time this season. His six are the second most in his career.
- The 21 dimes was the most assists for ASU in an NCAA Tournament game since the First Round in 1995 when it had 23.
- ASU has 23 wins, it's tied for the most under coach Hurley that includes tournament games.
- Coach Hurley is the first ASU coach since Bill Frieder (1989-90 - 1996-97) to win multiple NCAA Tournament games in his coaching tenure at ASU
- In fact, Sun Devil Men's Basketball has now won 20 games for the fourth time in the last six years.
- The Sun Devils have outscored their opponents on the fastbreak in four of the last five games. They outscored Nevada 15-7.
- ASU has outscored its opponent on the fastbreak in 24 of 35 games this season.
- Jamiya Neal had a career high 16 points in the winning effort, third best among ASU scorers on the evening. His previous best was 14 in ASU's home victory against the Washington Huskies this season on Jan. 8, 2023.
- The Sun Devils are 3-0 when Neal scores at least 12 points.
- ASU's 53 points in the first half were its most since it scored 65 on 11/29/20 against Houston.
- It was also the most first half points Nevada has allowed all season.
- ASU had a decisive 36 points in the paint against Nevada. It is tied for the second highest total all season. In fact, ASU had 18 paint points before Nevada had its first.
- The Maroon and Gold played key defense when it mattered most, holding Wolf Pack leading scorer Jarod Lucas to seven points. It was his second lowest scoring output of the season. He averaged 17.3 points per game entering the contest.
- After a Wolf Pack three pointer opened the contest, ASU raced to a 13-0 run over 3:09 from 19:48-16:39. Four difference Sun Devils scored in the effort. Nevada committed three turnovers and went 0-2 from the floor in that span.
- Following a scoring barrage by both squads, the Sun Devils scored seven straight points over 2:11 from 8:39-6:28 in the first half, extending the lead to 19 at 41-22.
- Nevada missed 11 of its last 12 shots in the first half as ASU went on a 17-0 run over 6:11 from 8:39-2:28 during the opening stanza. It ended with ASU leading 51-22.
- The Wolfpack tried to get back in it, going oin an 8-0 run over 3:12 early in the second half. However, Cambridge Jr. hit six free throws in :36 and extended the ASU lead back to 25, 64-39.
Desmond Cambridge Jr. countered a Nevada triple with a basket at 19:28, making 3-2 Wolfpack. ASU forced an immediate turnover and DJ Horne drilled a triple - ASU's first - at 19:08 and gave the Sun Devils a 5-3 lead.
Off of a foul by Nevada, Cambridge Jr. dropped in a funky layup as the shot clock expired at 18:48. Frankie Collins used stifling on-ball defense to force an immediate foul. Warren Washington snared an offensive rebound and floated in a hook shot at 18:11, making it 9-3 Sun Devils.
Nevada missed a trey and Collins flew to the basket for his first points on a lefty layup at 17:47 and Washington found Horne for another layup at 16:38. ASU was on a 13-0 run over 2:50 featuring three Nevada turnovers and a scoring drought of 3:10.
Arizona State responds with a big 13-0 run to jump out to a 10 point lead ??#MarchMadness @SunDevilHoops pic.twitter.com/SO2q17Cwum
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 16, 2023
The Wolfpack snapped the cold-spell with a three pointer at 16:19, but Washington picked up his second assist on a jam to Cambridge Jr.. It made it 15-6 ASU at 16:00.
Both teams went on an offensive barrage, with ASU making four straight baskets and Nevada only missing one in the stretch. Arizona State received a swooping layup from Jamiya Neal from Cambridge Jr. to make it 25-12 at 12:42. Nevada responded with its fifth three.
The Wolpack got it going offensively and went on an 8-4 scoring advantage, making it 29-20 Sun Devils at 10:21. Alonzo Gaffney found his way into the scorebook and re-earned ASU a double-digit lead, 31-20 at 10:09.Jamiya Neal with a filthy step back three ??#MarchMadness @SunDevilHoops pic.twitter.com/EsWPPpjchd
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 16, 2023
ASU weathered the storm and continued playing strong defense. Leading 32-20, Neal jumped in for a steal and threw down a boisterous jam at 9:04, making it 34-20.
Horne banged his third three on an assist from Devan Cambridge at 7:11 and forced Nevada to take a timeout. The Sun Devils held a game-high 17 point lead, 39-22.This dunk was vicious ??#MarchMadness @SunDevilHoops pic.twitter.com/EahYpJrtYB
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 16, 2023
Leading by 20, Cambridge Jr. nailed another triple 4:01 and made it 45-22. Gaffney erased a Wolfpack shot and gave way to Cambridge nailing back-to-back threes and the rout was on in Dayton.
ASU eventually extended its run to 17-0, leading 51-22 at 2:28, capped by an Alonzo Gaffney three pointer. The run was snapped by two free throws at 1:53 from Nevada.
The Sun Devils went into the break with a staggering 53-26 lead.
SECOND HALFWhat a first half from Arizona State ??
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 16, 2023
They shot 68% from the field and take a 53-26 lead into the break ??#MarchMadness @SunDevilHoops pic.twitter.com/BuxdVx8Y37
Horne knocked in a three pointer on the opening possession of the second half, bringing the lead up to 30, 56-26. Nevada scored the next five points before Horne made two free throws.
Nevada went on an 8-0, making it 58-39. Cambridge Jr. hit three straight free throws at 14:57, snapping the run and making 61-39 ASU. Nevada cut its deficit to 20 with a triple at 14:05, but ASU responded as Luther Muhammad nailed a basket at 13:48 from Cambridge Jr.The @SunDevilHoops lead has grown to 30 ??#MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/UCwdl6uoeT
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 16, 2023
Neal snatched a rebound on the defensive end and Cambridge Jr. made another basket, fading away on the baseline to make it 68-64 with 13:06 left in regulation. Nevada continued to fight, ripping off a 16-11 scoring advantage over the next six minutes and prompted an ASU timeout at 6:44 with ASU leading 79-60.
It never got closer than that as Sun Devils Basketball held on for a 98-73 victory and advanced to the First Round of the 2023 NCAA Tournament.
UP NEXT
No. 11 Arizona State will face No. 6 TCU at 7:05 p.m. MST in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament Friday night on TruTV. The game will be held at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado.