Comeback Complete: Men's Basketball rallies from 19 points down to beat Santa Clara

Without the services of Head Coach Bobby Hurley after his double technical foul with four seconds left in the first half, Arizona State did not let the circumstances faze them. Assistant coach Nick Irvin took over as the acting head coach and helped lead the Sun Devils to an epic comeback victory. 

It was a second half for the ages that helped Sun Devil Men's Basketball move to 3-0 in games separated by six points or less this season. A total team effort proved to be too much for Santa Clara to handle, with contributions coming from all over the court durign the comeback. Four Sun Devils ended in double figures, led by senior guard Anthony "Pig" Johnson's 15 points, 14 of which came in the second half.

Joining Johnson in double figures is freshman center Massamaba Diop, who finished with 15 points and nine rebounds in a season-high 35 minutes. Senior guard Moe Odum was the leader behind the big comeback effort, adding 12 points and seven assists of his own. Junior forward Andrija Grbovic delivered a season-high 13 points, including huge buckets down the stretch to keep the Sun Devils within striking distance.

During the second half comeback, Arizona State completely dominated Santa Clara. ASU outscored SCU 44-24 over the final 20 minutes, holding them to just 9-of-33 (27.3%) shooting from the field. An overwhelming 22-4 run during the most critical stretch of the game was the difference for the Maroon and Gold. The Sun Devils will return to familiar territory to take on an old Pac-12 rival on Wednesday when they face UCLA in Los Angeles on Dec. 17 at 8:30 p.m MST. Outside of Arizona (109 wins), California (16 wins) is the state that Hurley has the most wins in as the head coach.

Series history
Arizona State continues their success in the series with Santa Clara. In the ninth meeting between the two programs, the Sun Devils captured their seventh victory. They have now won each of the past seven meetings between the two sides. Hurley moves to 2-0 against Herb Sendek at the helm in Tempe.

9-2 start
The Sun Devils have started 9-2 or better for the second consecutive season. It is their fourth 9-2 start or better in the Bobby Hurley era. Five of their wins to start off 2025-26 have come away from home (4 neutral, 1 road). The 9-2 start comes against the nation's 63rd-strongest schedule according to ESPN, who has ASU slotted at 29 in their latest Strength of Record metric with three Quad 1 wins credited (Texas, Oklahoma, Santa Clara).

Sun Devils in Las Vegas
Head Coach Bobby Hurley and Sun Devil Men's Basketball are no stranger to competing in Las Vegas, as the program has had plenty of success in the city during his tenure. Arizona State is now 8-1 in Las Vegas in the regular season under Hurley, picking up victories over Santa Clara (2x), Creighton, Vanderbilt, Utah State, Mississippi State, Xavier, and Kansas State during that span.  In previous years, Coach Hurley has guided ASU to neutral site tournament championships at the 2017 Continental Tire Invitational and the 2018 MGM Resorts Main Event. Here is a look back at some of the program's biggest neutral site regular season triumphs in the Entertainment Capital of the World.  

2025 Jack Jones Classic
ASU 82, Santa Clara 79 - Dec. 13

2024 
ASU 81, Santa Clara 74 - Nov. 8

2023 Vegas Showdown
ASU 82, Vanderbilt 67 - Nov. 24
BYU 77, ASU 49 - Nov. 23

2022 Jack Jones Hoopfest (Michelob ULTRA Arena)
ASU 73, Creighton 71 - Dec. 12

2018 MGM Resorts Main Event (T-Mobile Arena)
ASU 87, Utah State 82 - Nov. 21
ASU 72, #15 Mississippi State 67 - Nov. 20

2017 Continental Tire Invitational (Orleans Arena)
ASU 102, #15 Xavier 86 - Nov. 24
ASU 92, Kansas State 90 - Nov. 23

Sweet Victory 🔱 pic.twitter.com/Gmx4xPWN6P

— Sun Devil MBB (@SunDevilHoops) December 14, 2025

Graduate forward Allen Mukeba led the way with eight points, two rebounds, one steal, and one block in 14 minutes. Redshirt sophomore forward Marcus Adams Jr. was effective for a third straight contest, coming through with seven points and five rebounds in 14 minutes. Sophomore guard Noah Meesuen stuffed the stat sheet, ending with eight points, four rebounds, four assists, two steals, and two blocks.

Second half shutdown
ASU completely dominated Santa Clara in the second half, thanks in large part to the defensive effort down the stretch. At halftime, Santa Clara was shooting 58.1% (18-of-31) from the field and had a season-best 55 points. Over the final 20 minutes, the Sun Devils outscored the Broncos 44-22, including holding SCU to only 9-of-33 (27.3%) from the field. SCU went from 9-of-15 (60%) shooting from three-point range to 2-of-17 (11.8%) after the break.

The Broncos duo of guard Christian Hammond and forward Elijah Mahi combined to score 31 points on 9-of-12 (75%) from the field with only one turnover in the first half. Arizona State absolutely shut the pair down in the second half, as the two combined for eight points on 3-of-14 (21.4%) shooting overall with three turnovers. The Sun Devils also dominated from the free-throw stripe over the final 20 minutes, finishing 13-of-16 (81.3%) compared to just 4-of-6 (66.7%) for Santa Clara.

Getting defensive
The Sun Devil defense has flipped a switch since coming back from Hawai'i. At the Maui Invitational, opponents shot a combined 93-for-167 (55.69%) from the field and 29-for-68 (42.65%) from deep. In the three games since returning, opponents are combining to shoot just 66-of-178 (37.1%) overall and 26-of-94 (27.7%) from behind the arc.

Sharing the rock
Arizona State's unselfishness was on full display in the win over Santa Clara. The Sun Devils finished with 20 assists as a team, the first time they have accomplished the feat since having 21 in the NCAA Tournament victory over Nevada on March 15, 2022. Moe Odum led the way with seven assists, giving him 5 or more in nine of 11 games this season. Five different Sun Devils finished with two or more assists. 

M.A.J.
Through his first eight games, Marcus Adams Jr. accounted for a combined 16 points, averaging just 2.0 points per contest. In his last three matchups, he has accumulated 26 points, good for 8.7 points per game. After going just 1-of-10 from distance in those first eight games, he is 6-for-10 in his last three games. The Sun Devils are 3-0 with wins over Oklahoma and Santa Clara and an average margin of victory of 14.3 points during Adams Jr.'s resurgence.

Massamba making his mark
Diop was impactful yet again in the win over Santa Clara, tying for the team lead with 15 points. He was extremely efficient from the field, going 6-of-10 and hitting his only three point attempt. He added nine rebounds and two assists in a season-high 35 minutes of action. The seven-footer added to his team-leading block total (now 16) and continues to protect the rim without fouling. Through 11 games, Diop has committed only 19 personal fouls.

When Pigs fly
Senior guard Anthony "Pig" Johnson has emerged as one of the nation's best sixth-man, coming off the bench to provide energy and scoring while living up to his nickname. "Pig" has 10 or more points in nine of 11 games as a reserve. His 15 points in the win over Santa Clara were tied for the team lead. 14 of those points came in the second half, as he took over the game after the break. Johnson went 3-of-3 from the field - and most importantly - a perfect 7-of-7 from the free throw line to spark the comeback. Johnson finished 8-of-9 from the stripe tonight to add to his team-leading free throw attempt total.

Notables

• The 17-point halftime deficit erased by the Sun Devils matches the largest in program history. ASU also was down by 17 at the break in a 1994 victory over Stanford. It is the fifth time in the Hurley era that Arizona State has trailed by ten or more points and emerged victorious.
• Arizona State trailed by as many as 19 points, with Santa Clara taking a 60-41 lead with 18:17 left in the second half. From that point on, the Sun Devils outscored the Broncos 41-19 to finish the game.
• The comeback effort was sparked by a dominant stretch of defense. ASU held SCU without a point for 6:30 of game time during a critical second half stretch. This allowed the Sun Devils to quickly trim the double-digit deficit. 
• The Sun Devils were too much for the Broncos in transition, outscoring SCU 17-6 in fast break points.
•  The Sun Devils had 20 assists, the first time reaching the mark since their NCAA Tournament win over Nevada on March 15, 2022.
• Arizona State's defense was extremely active, finishing with 10 steals and five blocks. It is the first time they've had 10+ steals and 5+ blocks in the same game this season. They accomplished the feat only one time all of last season (at Oklahoma State on Feb. 9, 2025).
• The Sun Devils completely erased the Broncos lead thanks to an epic 22-4 run over an 8:37 span in the second half. The Santa Clara 19-point lead turned into a one-point lead.
• Arizona State improves to 88-37 (70.4%) in non-conference games under Bobby Hurley. They have won at least nine non-conference games in seven of his 11 seasons.
• Over the past two games, Arizona State is shooting 55-of-105 (52.4%) from the field.
• ASU is 53-6 (.898) when it shoots 50 percent from the field under Bobby Hurley. They are now 3-0 when it has happened this season, with wins over Washington State, NAU, and Santa Clara. They have accomplished the feat in two straight contests.
•  Odum finished with five assists and now has 5+ assists in nine of 11 games this season.
• Santa Clara held a 11-3 advantage in free throw attempts in the first half. The Sun Devils flipped the script in the second half, boasting a 16-6 edge in the category after the break.
• Grbovic contributed a career-best 13 points, one of four Sun Devils in double figures (Odum, Johnson, Diop).
• The 24 points in the second half by Santa Clara are the fewest they have scored in any half this season.
• Meesuen had his second game with 8+ points, 4+ rebounds, and 4+ assists this season.
• Arizona State fouled out a pair of frontcourt players for Santa Clara. Bukky Oboye fouled out in only 14 minutes, while Allen Graves was disqualified after 26 minutes.
• The Maroon and Gold trailed for over 30 minutes, but led for the final 7:40.
  
  

   

   

   

   

   

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  First half
  

  Each team exchanged 5-0 runs to start the half, with Odum connected from deep to get the scoring started for ASU. Consecutive buckets from Grbovic followed, with Santa Clara claiming a 9-7 lead at the first media timeout. Following an 8-0 spurt from the Broncos, Odum answered with another deep triple. He then showed his ability to take it to the basket, finishing through contact with the right hand. Odum than assisted on a Diop dunk, which was backed up by a Grbovic three to cut the Broncos’ lead to 20-17.

  The Sun Devil point guard continued to attack the Santa Clara defense, scoring on consecutive possessions in the paint. ASU’s fast break offense was a key reason why they were able to execute early, scoring six points in transition. The Broncos built on their strong offense start, but energy out of Mukeba helped the Sun Devils keep within striking distance. Odum found him twice for layups and then Mukeba had a chase down block to swing momentum in the half.

  In need of a boost offensively, Diop provided, stepping out from behind the arc and nailed only his third three-point field goal of the season. He then backed that up with a put back dunk, energizing his bench in the process. Santa Clara controlled the remainder of the half, using the free throw line to build a double-digit lead. By the time the dust had settled, Hurley was accessed a double-technical and the Broncos entered the break with a 55-38 deficit.

  RUN THE FLOOR 🔨
  
  📺 @TNTSportsUS pic.twitter.com/nzUvGZ9GvF

  — Sun Devil MBB (@SunDevilHoops) December 14, 2025

  Second half
  Arizona State came out of the break a totally different team. The Sun Devils used the halftime reset to their advantage, making improtant adjsutments that proved to pay dividends. Santa Clara extended their lead to as high as 19 points, going up 60-41 with 18:17 left in the game. It was all Maroon and Gold the rest of the way.
  
  Grbovic got the rally started with a three-point field goal, with the Sun Devil defense also settling in. The Arizona State bench took over the next stretch of action, with an Mukeba bucket inside and a Noah Meeusen three-pointer cutting the lead to 13. Santa Clara scored with 15:10 left to go back up 15, but would not score again until the 8:26 mark. During that span, the Sun Devils turned a 15-point hole into only a one-point deficit.
  
  Adams Jr. had a momentum-changing conversion of a three-point play to kickstart the run. Diop followed with a fast break dunk off of a turnover created by the Sun Devils, as they began to generate defense into offense. Another Broncos turnover led to a triple in the corner by Johnson with 12;15 left, cutting the lead to single digits for the first time since the 1:01 mark of the first half. It was part of a stretch of seven-straight points for Johnson, as he took over offensively in the second half. A layup and a pair of free throws trimmed the Santa Clara lead all the way down to three points with 10:17 left. 
  
  Still trailing in the game, but with all the momentum on their side, the Sun Devil faithful in attendance came to life. Arizona State's fanbase ignited another push for their side, with the Maroon and Gold avoiding the fatigue that can sometimes come in major comeback efforts. Adams Jr. converted on his first three-pointer of the day, tying the game at 66 with 8:16. Four consecutive made free throws by the ASU front court, two by Mukeba and two by Diop, evenutally gave the Sun Devils their first lead of the entire contest (68-66) with 7:40 to go. 
  
  Arizona State did not rest on their laurels with the lead now in hand, as they continued to dominate the action in the most important part of the game. Diop and Trouet each had finishes on the fast break, making it 72-68 ASU with 5:34 left. The lead grew to as many as seven (80-73), with the Sun Devils making the important plays late in the game to seal the victory. Seven points in a 90 second stretch by Johnson put the game away, as he was a pefect 5-of-5 from the free throw line in the waning moments. A pair of Broncos triples late in the half snapped what was an 0-of-14 start in the period and pulled SCU within one point again. However, a perfectly-executed inbounds play drawn up by Nick Irvin allowed Odum to find Meeusen for a massive bucket with 13 seconds left. ASU was able to get a stop on the final possesion of the game, forcing a pair of missed three-pointers, the final of which was blocked by Meeusen. Arizona State came away with a 82-79 win behind a historical comeback.
  
  Quotables

  Arizona State Head Coach Bobby Hurley
  On the resilency of his group
  “The first half spoke for itself. We were outplayed and outhustled and it was very frustrating. At the end of the half, we felt a couple calls went against us. That was the end of the day for me, but time for everyone else to step up. The guys really rallied together. There were some hard conversations at halftime with all of our coaching staff. Really proud of how hard that we fought to get back into the game. They fought for each other."
  
  On Nick Irvin taking over in the second half
  “We are a family as a staff. This is not my show. We work together and do this collectively. To see him have that moment and to lead us the way he did was so impressive. It was one of the better wins that I have had and I wasn't even a part of it. That is because of what Nick Irvin means to me and what my staff and players did in that second half."
  
  Senior guard Pig Johnson
  On what changed from the first to second half
  “Coach was on us. I had two fouls in the first half and had to sit. In the second half, I had to bring my energy for my brothers."
  
  On getting his first start as a Sun Devil
  “It felt great. I don't really worry about starting. I just want to win."
  
  On the impact Coach Hurley's ejection had on the team
  “It felt like he was still there. He had a lot of energy for us in the locker room. He said to keep fighting, this game means something to him. We have to find a way to win."
  
  On Coach Irvin and Coach Howard stepping in to head coaching duties
  “Coach Irvin and Coach Howard are on us every single day. All of our assistant coaches feel like head coaches and deserve a lot of credit for this."
  
  Senior point guard Moe Odum
  On the message in the locker room at halftime
  “Control your effort. I feel like we didn't match their effort in the first half. I told them, if we play harder than them in the second half, we are going to win the game."
  
  On the gameplan coming into the matchup
  “It was about getting stops. They are a great three-point shooting team and they were hitting in the first half. We just talked about getting stops and playing harder than them."
  
  On playing for Coach Hurley
  “We wanted to have Coach's back. He got ejected standing up for us. We just tried to have his back."
  
  On cheering on his teammates
  “That is my job. To help push us to the finish line. Whether I can contribute scoring, assisting, or just using my voice; that is something I pride myself on whether I am playing good or bad."
  
  On the defensive adjustments in the second half
  “Credit to Coach Irvin, Coach Howard, Coach Amundsen, and Coach Larson. They really helped us with the adjustments at the half."
  
  
  
  Up next
  Sun Devil Men’s Basketball remains on the road, as they meet on old Pac-12 rival in familiar territory. Arizona State will take on No. 25 UCLA on Dec. 17 at 8:30 p.m. MST in their return to Pauley Pavillion. The broadcast can be found on FS1, with the game also available on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM (KMVP). 
  

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Head coach Bobby Hurley (X: @BobbyHurley11)