TEMPE – Sun Devil Men's Basketball engineered an incredible comeback in the final minutes, defeating UMass Lowell 71-69 in a Thursday night thriller at Desert Financial Arena.
Frankie Collins scored seven of his 11 points in the final 2:05 of the game, including two layups in the final minute to tie the game and eventually score the game-winner to lead Arizona State (2-1) to victory.
In the final 2:16 of regulation the Sun Devils erased an 11-point deficit, making their final seven field goals, including two threes from behind the arc by Collins and Jamiya Neal to spark the 13-2 run to close the game.
The Sun Devils were paced by Jose Perez, who sunk his first six shots from the floor and finished with 20 points. He paced five players in double figures, with Jamiya Neal (12), Frankie Collins (11), Alonzo Gaffney (10) and Kamari Lands (10) also reaching the mark.
KEY MOMENTS:
NOTABLES:
MOST TURNOVERS FORCED (PAST FOUR SEASONS, STARTING WITH 2020-21)
23 by Houston Baptist (Nov. 29, 2020)
22 at Washington (Jan. 26, 2023)
21 vs. Umass-Lowell (Nov. 16, 2023)
21 by Stanford (Mar. 5, 2022)
21 by San Francisco (Dec. 19, 2021)
21 by Portland (Nov. 9, 2021)
FIRST HALF:
Jamiya Neal cashed in an opening three after Frankie Collins was able to find him on the inbound pass at 19:47. The River Hawks answered right back with a three of their own, whereas they outscored ASU 7-2 forcing an early timeout with 15:26 remaining with the River Hawks ahead 10-5.
UMass Lowell remained ahead at the 11:53 mark in the half 14-6, but two buckets by Jose Perez and Bryant Selebangue cut the deficit to four, 14-10, but an 8-0 run by the River Hawks extended their lead 22-10 before Jose Perez drew a three-point play to end the run cutting the lead to nine with 5:41 remaining.
Alonzo Gaffney drained an open three followed by back-to-back layups by Selebangue and Collins to go on a quick 7-3 span to make it 25-20 going into the final three minutes of the half.
UMass Lowell went into the half ahead 31-22 after a last second putback ended on a 6-2 span.
SECOND HALF:
Jose Perez cashed in two from the stripe then Neal swiftly got to the hoop cutting the lead to seven, 33-26 with 18:43. Following a slam by Gaffney, the River Hawks took advantage from the stripe, extending their lead 38-28 with 17:19 left.
Perez drew another foul, cashing in on the jumper but was unable to complete the three-point play, as another layup by UMass Lowell put them ahead 40-30 at the 15:39 mark. The West Virginia transfer cashed in from deep putting his point total at 14, followed by ASU making three straight from the stripe cutting into the lead 43-37.
UMass Lowell extended their lead to ten, 54-44 with 8:32 left in regulation after Perez notched another bucket forcing a River Hawk timeout which followed with a dunk. A Kamari Lands trey brought the deficit to nine, 56-47 at the 7;54 mark.
Returning from the break, the Sun Devils managed to get within four points with 5:21 remaining in the game, but UMass Lowell made three of their next four field-goals to extend the lead back to 11, but a quick three from Collins forced an ASU timeout.
Following the stoppage, the River Hawks took a 67-57 lead, but a Neal three and two layups by Gaffney and Neal cut the lead to three, including the junior cashing the three-point play cutting the lead to two, 67-65. Another quick turnover by UMass Lowell prompted Collins to tie the game at 67 with a layup with 1:06 remaining.
After a scramble for the ball, Collins forced another River Hawk turnover with 36.6 in regulation. Jose Perez cashed in his seventh bucket of the night to reach the 20 point mark to give ASU a 69-67 lead, their first lead since 3-0 at the 19:47 mark in the first half.
UMass Lowell was fouled on an ensuing layup with 9.2 seconds left whereas they made both to tie the contest at 69-69. But Collins went coast-to-coast with a silky up-and-under to give the Sun Devils a 71-69 lead with 2.1 left as a steal by Collins sealed up the win for the Sun Devils.
UP NEXT:
Sun Devil Men's Basketball will roll the dice and head to Las Vegas to take part in the Vegas Showdown to faceoff against BYU. Tip-off is slated for 10 p.m. MST and can be seen on ESPN2 and can be heard on the radio waves on Arizona Sports 98.7FM with Tim Healey and Kyle Dodd on the call. Tickets for Sun Devil Men's Basketball 2023-24 non-conference games are on sale now. Visit the following link for more information. Conference games will become available on Friday, Nov. 24. Ticket packages start at just $90 and the home schedule features match-ups against top ranked USC, UCLA and Arizona. Season Tickets and Mini Plans are now available.
SUN DEVILS ON SOCIAL:
For exclusive content, the latest updates, and more information on the Sun Devil Men's Basketball program, follow our Twitter/Instagram accounts (@SunDevilHoops), like our Facebook page (facebook.com/SunDevilHoops/), and visit our website (thesundevils.com). Make sure you are following Coach Hurley on Twitter @BobbyHurley11.
Arizona State Head Coach Bobby Hurley
On not choosing to take a timeout on the final play:
"I like those scenarios. Kind of, I wouldn't call it a broken play but, you don't give your opponent, a chance to get set, get their defense set. We got Frankie (Collins) downhill, we wanted to set a ball screen somewhere near half court. Bryant set a good screen which kind of turned him loose and we wanted to attack the basket, get something going to the basket."
On starting ASU Guard Jose Perez :
"There's a reason, we saw so much in him. Not only watching this film before he came to us, but also watching him practice the impact that he could have. That's why he's in the starting lineup as quick as he is just because he's a unique player and he could score, you get to the free throw line and he's a willing passer. He needs to have the ball and other guys will too. We're still learning to trust each other and share the ball the right way and play the right way on the offensive end."
On generating turnovers and utilizing the press:
"I thought overall it was effective in the second half when we went to it, we really had no choice again because of just how inefficient we were. In all phases, really, not only on offense in the first half, we felt like we needed a spark again and it paid off. I think sometimes when you're as many games as they've won over the last year, plus that team, you get some game pressure on. One turnover could snowball and now someone else has it and they're a little unsure and, we do have good length and athleticism. I think it paid off in that situation. (Alonzo) Gaffney, for me, was the play of the game, with the way he just laid out for the loose ball. It was something we needed for the first 20 minutes of the game that we just didn't see like almost any examples of. Finally, the last eight minutes of the game we played with, I thought, good desperation."
On coming back from deficits:
"I just think there were a lot of blank expressions in the first half that we didn't have anybody playing well. So everyone was kind of glassy. We were just trying to really infuse life into our players, in huddles and trying to convince them that we're still in this. We got a chance. The players became vocal and sort of believed more in it. I don't wanna put anything more into it from a coaching standpoint than there is. I thought the guys stepped up. Kamari Lands had a good second half on offense. Jose made his plays, Frankie showed why he's a winning point guard to close the game out."
Arizona State Forward Alonzo Gaffney:
On energy in second half:
"I would say we felt that the last two games we haven't been shooting the ball well, so I guess a lot of guys were really thinking about the offense too much. So that played a part in it."
On the team's chemistry:
"It's a new group. We have had new groups for almost the last three years. We had a new group. We've been trying to get that chemistry together and I mean, it's early on right now, so we're not gonna be the same team at the end of the year."
Arizona State Guard Jose Perez:
On coming back from the deficit:
"I told them in the huddle this is our save our season type of game cause this is one of the games down in March that could kill you in the net and whatnot. I feel like the leadership between Zo, Jamiya, Frankie, myself, Kamari, we didn't want to lose at home. We wanted to give the fans something to go home to and I felt like we came out with the win and that's all that mattered. It didn't matter who scored or in a matter of those two minutes."
On the team's energy:
"When you get positive energy among the whole team, it just rubs off positive energy it rubs off on the next guy and I feel like my positive energy rubs on Alonzo rubs positive energy off on the next guy to make big plays down the stretch. It's not about how you start but how you finish."
Frankie Collins scored seven of his 11 points in the final 2:05 of the game, including two layups in the final minute to tie the game and eventually score the game-winner to lead Arizona State (2-1) to victory.
DEVILS BACK ON TOP ??
— Sun Devil MBB (@SunDevilHoops) November 17, 2023
What a play by @Frankiecollins0 ??
?? @Pac12Network
?? https://t.co/rXzIzrXuDm pic.twitter.com/Te06GUx6WQ
In the final 2:16 of regulation the Sun Devils erased an 11-point deficit, making their final seven field goals, including two threes from behind the arc by Collins and Jamiya Neal to spark the 13-2 run to close the game.
The Sun Devils were paced by Jose Perez, who sunk his first six shots from the floor and finished with 20 points. He paced five players in double figures, with Jamiya Neal (12), Frankie Collins (11), Alonzo Gaffney (10) and Kamari Lands (10) also reaching the mark.
KEY MOMENTS:
- Over a stretch of 4:04 from 11:27-7:23 in the second half, ASU went 5-8 from the floor. ASU only made up four points, outsourcing UMass Lowell 12-8.
- The Sun Devils made it 67-64 at 1:18 on a layup by Neal is the smallest it had been since 8-5 at 16:21 in the first half, when UMass took the lead. A
- Collins' layup cashed with 2.1 seconds left in the game, giving ASU a 71-69 game-winning lead.
NOTABLES:
- Five donning the Maroon & Gold scored in double figures, a mark that was last achieved by ASU on March 15, 2023 against No. 11 Nevada in the First Four of the NCAA Tournament.
- After trailing at the half 31-22, Bobby Hurley engineered his 40th halftime comeback at the helm of Sun Devil Men's Basketball. The nine point deficit is the fifth largest in his tenure.
- Jose Perez's 20 points is the most since March 8, 2022 when he was at Manhattan and netted 21 points against Rider in the MAAC conference tournament. He made his first six shots from the floor.
- It's his 28th collegiate game with 20 or more points.
- Frankie Collins finished with eight steals, eclipsing a previous career high of five that the junior achieved in the season opener against Mississippi State.
- The Sun Devils' 49-point second half is the most in a second half since Dec. 18, 2022 against San Diego where the team posted 50-points against the Toros.
- It's the second game this season where Collins has had five or more steals in a game.
- The eight steals also tied a school record.
- Alonzo Gaffney's four steals is his second straight game reaching the mark.
- The Sun Devils 27 points off of turnovers are more than any game they had the entire 2022 season.
- On the defensive end, the team's 13 steals marks the first time since Dec. 1 against Colorado and Dec. 4 against Stanford that they registered double-digit steals in back-to-back games.
- The Maroon & Gold forced 21 UMass Lowell turnovers which is the most they've committed since Dec. 8, 2022 where they committed 20 against Massachusetts.
- The 24 steals are the
- The teams' 24 steals are the most in a two-game span since the Sun Devils swiped 25 against Colorado (14) and Stanford (11).
MOST TURNOVERS FORCED (PAST FOUR SEASONS, STARTING WITH 2020-21)
23 by Houston Baptist (Nov. 29, 2020)
22 at Washington (Jan. 26, 2023)
21 vs. Umass-Lowell (Nov. 16, 2023)
21 by Stanford (Mar. 5, 2022)
21 by San Francisco (Dec. 19, 2021)
21 by Portland (Nov. 9, 2021)
FIRST HALF:
Jamiya Neal cashed in an opening three after Frankie Collins was able to find him on the inbound pass at 19:47. The River Hawks answered right back with a three of their own, whereas they outscored ASU 7-2 forcing an early timeout with 15:26 remaining with the River Hawks ahead 10-5.
UMass Lowell remained ahead at the 11:53 mark in the half 14-6, but two buckets by Jose Perez and Bryant Selebangue cut the deficit to four, 14-10, but an 8-0 run by the River Hawks extended their lead 22-10 before Jose Perez drew a three-point play to end the run cutting the lead to nine with 5:41 remaining.
Alonzo Gaffney drained an open three followed by back-to-back layups by Selebangue and Collins to go on a quick 7-3 span to make it 25-20 going into the final three minutes of the half.
UMass Lowell went into the half ahead 31-22 after a last second putback ended on a 6-2 span.
SECOND HALF:
Jose Perez cashed in two from the stripe then Neal swiftly got to the hoop cutting the lead to seven, 33-26 with 18:43. Following a slam by Gaffney, the River Hawks took advantage from the stripe, extending their lead 38-28 with 17:19 left.
Perez drew another foul, cashing in on the jumper but was unable to complete the three-point play, as another layup by UMass Lowell put them ahead 40-30 at the 15:39 mark. The West Virginia transfer cashed in from deep putting his point total at 14, followed by ASU making three straight from the stripe cutting into the lead 43-37.
UMass Lowell extended their lead to ten, 54-44 with 8:32 left in regulation after Perez notched another bucket forcing a River Hawk timeout which followed with a dunk. A Kamari Lands trey brought the deficit to nine, 56-47 at the 7;54 mark.
Returning from the break, the Sun Devils managed to get within four points with 5:21 remaining in the game, but UMass Lowell made three of their next four field-goals to extend the lead back to 11, but a quick three from Collins forced an ASU timeout.
Following the stoppage, the River Hawks took a 67-57 lead, but a Neal three and two layups by Gaffney and Neal cut the lead to three, including the junior cashing the three-point play cutting the lead to two, 67-65. Another quick turnover by UMass Lowell prompted Collins to tie the game at 67 with a layup with 1:06 remaining.
Through Contact ??@jamiyaneal_ with a huge AND 1??
— Sun Devil MBB (@SunDevilHoops) November 17, 2023
?? @Pac12Network
?? https://t.co/rXzIzrXuDm pic.twitter.com/bWT923dCi9
After a scramble for the ball, Collins forced another River Hawk turnover with 36.6 in regulation. Jose Perez cashed in his seventh bucket of the night to reach the 20 point mark to give ASU a 69-67 lead, their first lead since 3-0 at the 19:47 mark in the first half.
FOR THE LEAD ??@showout_zayy0 doing what he does best ??
— Sun Devil MBB (@SunDevilHoops) November 17, 2023
?? @Pac12Network
?? https://t.co/rXzIzrXuDm pic.twitter.com/OGfpagRAdy
UMass Lowell was fouled on an ensuing layup with 9.2 seconds left whereas they made both to tie the contest at 69-69. But Collins went coast-to-coast with a silky up-and-under to give the Sun Devils a 71-69 lead with 2.1 left as a steal by Collins sealed up the win for the Sun Devils.
UP NEXT:
Sun Devil Men's Basketball will roll the dice and head to Las Vegas to take part in the Vegas Showdown to faceoff against BYU. Tip-off is slated for 10 p.m. MST and can be seen on ESPN2 and can be heard on the radio waves on Arizona Sports 98.7FM with Tim Healey and Kyle Dodd on the call. Tickets for Sun Devil Men's Basketball 2023-24 non-conference games are on sale now. Visit the following link for more information. Conference games will become available on Friday, Nov. 24. Ticket packages start at just $90 and the home schedule features match-ups against top ranked USC, UCLA and Arizona. Season Tickets and Mini Plans are now available.
SUN DEVILS ON SOCIAL:
For exclusive content, the latest updates, and more information on the Sun Devil Men's Basketball program, follow our Twitter/Instagram accounts (@SunDevilHoops), like our Facebook page (facebook.com/SunDevilHoops/), and visit our website (thesundevils.com). Make sure you are following Coach Hurley on Twitter @BobbyHurley11.
Arizona State Head Coach Bobby Hurley
On not choosing to take a timeout on the final play:
"I like those scenarios. Kind of, I wouldn't call it a broken play but, you don't give your opponent, a chance to get set, get their defense set. We got Frankie (Collins) downhill, we wanted to set a ball screen somewhere near half court. Bryant set a good screen which kind of turned him loose and we wanted to attack the basket, get something going to the basket."
On starting ASU Guard Jose Perez :
"There's a reason, we saw so much in him. Not only watching this film before he came to us, but also watching him practice the impact that he could have. That's why he's in the starting lineup as quick as he is just because he's a unique player and he could score, you get to the free throw line and he's a willing passer. He needs to have the ball and other guys will too. We're still learning to trust each other and share the ball the right way and play the right way on the offensive end."
On generating turnovers and utilizing the press:
"I thought overall it was effective in the second half when we went to it, we really had no choice again because of just how inefficient we were. In all phases, really, not only on offense in the first half, we felt like we needed a spark again and it paid off. I think sometimes when you're as many games as they've won over the last year, plus that team, you get some game pressure on. One turnover could snowball and now someone else has it and they're a little unsure and, we do have good length and athleticism. I think it paid off in that situation. (Alonzo) Gaffney, for me, was the play of the game, with the way he just laid out for the loose ball. It was something we needed for the first 20 minutes of the game that we just didn't see like almost any examples of. Finally, the last eight minutes of the game we played with, I thought, good desperation."
On coming back from deficits:
"I just think there were a lot of blank expressions in the first half that we didn't have anybody playing well. So everyone was kind of glassy. We were just trying to really infuse life into our players, in huddles and trying to convince them that we're still in this. We got a chance. The players became vocal and sort of believed more in it. I don't wanna put anything more into it from a coaching standpoint than there is. I thought the guys stepped up. Kamari Lands had a good second half on offense. Jose made his plays, Frankie showed why he's a winning point guard to close the game out."
Arizona State Forward Alonzo Gaffney:
On energy in second half:
"I would say we felt that the last two games we haven't been shooting the ball well, so I guess a lot of guys were really thinking about the offense too much. So that played a part in it."
On the team's chemistry:
"It's a new group. We have had new groups for almost the last three years. We had a new group. We've been trying to get that chemistry together and I mean, it's early on right now, so we're not gonna be the same team at the end of the year."
Arizona State Guard Jose Perez:
On coming back from the deficit:
"I told them in the huddle this is our save our season type of game cause this is one of the games down in March that could kill you in the net and whatnot. I feel like the leadership between Zo, Jamiya, Frankie, myself, Kamari, we didn't want to lose at home. We wanted to give the fans something to go home to and I felt like we came out with the win and that's all that mattered. It didn't matter who scored or in a matter of those two minutes."
On the team's energy:
"When you get positive energy among the whole team, it just rubs off positive energy it rubs off on the next guy and I feel like my positive energy rubs on Alonzo rubs positive energy off on the next guy to make big plays down the stretch. It's not about how you start but how you finish."