Sun Devils shut down Sooners in Jerry Colangelo Classic

It was a total team effort that allowed the Sun Devils to control the action from start to finish. Reigning Big 12 Newcomer of the Week senior guard Moe Odum once again came through offensively for the Maroon and Gold, finishing with a team-high 17 points on 4-of-7 shooting while adding six assists. That included a 3-of-6 effort from beyond the arc, as he continues his hot stretch from deep.

Senior guard Anthony "Pig" Johnson continues to thrive off the bench, as he finished the night with 16 points, shooting 5-of-8 from the field. Sophomore guard Noah Meeusen operated the offense at a high level, setting a new career high with eight assists. The 43 points by the Sun Devil reserve unit were a new season-high, as they move to 7-0 when having the advantage in bench points.

This is the second consecutive season the Sun Devils have won at the Jerry Colangelo Classic. In 2024, Coach Hurley picked up his 200th career win in a 87-76 triumph over GCU. He earns a double-digit neutral site victory in the Valley on the home court of the Phoenix Suns against a marquee opponent for the second straight season. Arizona State will return to Desert Financial Arena for the first time in nearly a month when they face Northern Arizona on Dec. 9 at 7 p.m MST.

Series history
Arizona State picks up their second win over Oklahoma to take the 2-1 advtange in the series with the Sooners. It was the first meeting between the two sides since 1980. For the first time in program history, the Sun Devils have earned victories over both Texas and Oklahoma in the same season.

History at the Jerry Colangelo Classic
For the second consecutive season, Arizona State has an impressive showing at the Jerry Colangelo Classic, hosted by the Hall of Fame Series. A season ago, the Sun Devils secured a 87-76 win over future NCAA Tournament team Grand Canyon in this same event. Coach Hurley takes home yet another resume-building win in the event honoring one of the Valley's iconic sports figures.

7-2 start
The Sun Devils have started 7-2 or better for the second consecutive season. It is their fifth 7-2 start or better in the Bobby Hurley era. Four of their wins to start off 2025-26 have come away from home (3 neutral, 1 road).

Goodnight from Phoenix 🔱 pic.twitter.com/Jw6kiqnh1o

— Sun Devil MBB (@SunDevilHoops) December 7, 2025

Neutralizing the opponent
Arizona State has been fantastic under Bobby Hurley in regular season games at neutral sites. They move to 3-1 to start the 2025-26 campaign in a neutral setting and are now 8-2 over the past two seasons in such games after going 5-1 during the 2024-25. The five neutral site wins during the regular season last year were a new program record.

The Sun Devils defeated four teams that won 20+ games in neutral settings in 2024-25 (Saint Mary's, Grand Canyon, Santa Clara, New Mexico). Three were 2025 NCAA Tournament participants. They have already knocked off three 2025 Postseason teams (Oklahoma, Texas, Washington State) under those same circumstances this season. ASU has won 21 games overall under Hurley in neutral site regular season games. That includes past wins over Oklahoma, Texas, NC State, Kansas State, St. John's, Mississippi State, Xavier, Michigan, Utah State, New Mexico, Saint Mary's, Creighton, Washington State, Santa Clara, VCU, and UMass.

2025-26 (3-1)
ASU 86, Oklahoma 70 (Dec. 6, 2025) - Jerry Colangelo Classic; Hall of Fame Series (Phoenix, AZ)
USC 88, ASU 75 (Nov. 26, 2025) - Maui Invitational First Round (Maui, HI)
ASU 100, Washington State 94 (Nov. 25, 2025) - Maui Invitational First Round (Maui, HI)
ASU 87, Texas 86 (Nov. 24, 2025) - Maui Invitational First Round (Maui, HI)

2024-25 (5-1)
ASU 78, Umass 62 (Dec. 21, 2024) - Hall of Fame Classic (Springfield, MA)
#9 Florida 83, ASU 66 (Dec. 14, 2024 - Holiday Hoopsgiving (Atlanta, GA)
ASU 68, Saint Mary's 64 (Nov. 29, 2024) - Acrisure Series (Palm Desert, CA)
ASU 85, New Mexico 82 (Nov. 28, 2024) - Acrisure Series (Palm Desert, CA)
ASU 87 vs. Grand Canyon 76 (Nov. 14, 2024) - Hall off Fame Series at Footprint Center (Phoenix, AZ)
ASU 81, Santa Clara 74 (Nov. 8, 2024) - Hoopfest at Lee's Family Forum (Las Vegas, NV)

Bench boost
Arizona State's bench had the advantage yet again. After a 43-36 edge in bench points tonight, the Sun Devils now hold a 249-188 (+61) advantage in bench points this season. The 43 bench points is a new season high. They have outscored their opponent in the category in seven of nine games (all seven wins). Johnson (16 points) led the way with his sixth double-digit scoring output this season, putting together an efficent 20 minutes. Noah Meesuen added a season-high eight assists to go along with six points and six rebounds. Allen Mukeba finished with nine points and four rebounds in 14 minutes.

The Moe Show
Moe Odum is on an incredible offensive tear right now. He finished with 17 points, five rebounds, and six assists in 31 minutes of action.  Odum is averaging 22.5 points over his past six games, shooting 21-of-45 (46.7%) from three. He has registered three of his top-six highest career scoring performances.

Getting to the line
The Sun Devils attempted 34 free throws, the fifth consecutive game they have finished with 27+ attempts from the stripe. ASU had only five instances in which they attempted 27 or more free throws in 33 games last year and have already accomplished the feat five times through only nine games this year. Last season, the Sun Devils had only two games where they attempted 34 or more free throws (in 33 games). They have already accomplished this MORE TIMES this season (3) through nine games. 

Moe Odum has been the driving force behind the increased free throw frequency. Over his past five games, he is 36-for-39 at the line, after finishing 6-for-6 tonight.

First half firepower
Arizona State scored 47 points in the first half against Oklahoma. They are averaging 41 points in the first half in their past five games (4-1 record) and have eclipsed 40 points in three of the five. On the season, the Sun Devils have scored 45 or more points in the first half three times this season.

Dialed in from deep
Arizona State's starting backcourt has been extremely effective from three-point range this season. Moe Odum and Bryce Ford are a combined 49-for-107 (45.8%) from deep through nine games. Ford leads the team shooting 46.2% (18-of-39) while Odum is at 45.6% (31-of-68). Both rank Top-10 in the Big 12 in three-point shooting.

Oklahoma held Wake Forest to 8-of-30 (26.7%) 3 PT shooting in their last game. However, the Sun Devils were able to exploit the Sooners from downtown, shooting 13-of-24 (54.2%).

Notables

• After Oklahoma took a 4-0 lead to start off the night, ASU held them to zero points for 5:32.
• Standout Sooner guard Nigel Pack came into the game averaging 18.5 points on 51% shooting from the field. Tonight the Sun Devils held him to seven points, shooting 3-of-8 (37.5%) from the field. ASU also forced four turnovers out of the guard, who only averages 1.6 turnovers per game.
• Tae Davis and Derrion Reid for OU combined for 36 points on 12-of-20 shooting in the win over Wake.They combined for 14 points on 4-of-16 shooting tonight. 
• Oklahoma came into the match nationally ranked 21st for fewest turnovers per game, 9.5. The Sun Devils forced 13 turnovers out of the Sooners, marking the second-highest turnover game for OU this season.
• Oklahoma’s 16-point loss to Arizona State is the largest losing margin they have had to a non-conference opponent since December 9th, 2020 where they lost by 22 points to Xavier. 
• Coach Hurley's squad has scored at least 80 points in six of their nine games
• ASU turned 13 Washington State turnovers in 14 points
• Arizona State moves to 2-0 against SEC teams this season. Coach Hurley now has eight wins over programs currently in the SEC.
• The Sun Devils had the advantage in rebounds (40-38) and assists (17-15) 
• Massamba Diop made a major impact on both ends of the court, matching a career-high with three blocks while also adding a steal. He has at least one block in seven of nine games and at least one steal in seven contest as well.
  

  Victory mood 😈 pic.twitter.com/Mw462MXlRl

  — Sun Devil MBB (@SunDevilHoops) December 7, 2025

  First half
  Allen Mukeba got the Sun Devil’s night going in downtown Phoenix finishing on a floater in the paint. The Sun Devils quickly erased an early deficit going on an 11-0 run and a perfect 3-for-3 start from beyond the arc. Sophomore Noah Meeusen created for his teammates earning four assists on each of the team’s initial made baskets. The score stood 11-4 by the first media timeout at 15:19.
  
  The Sun Devils were rolling on both ends in the first half. A pair of layups from graduate forward Allen Mukeba grew the ASU lead,16-4, before Oklahoma called for a timeout. The Sooners ran into offensive trouble through the first 7 minutes of the game, shooting just 2-for-9 (22%) from the field. Arizona State continued to take charge of the half pouring on 15 more before the game’s second media timeout at 10:20 with a score of 25-6.
  
  ASU continued to have all the answers for Oklahoma. The Sun Devils held steady up through the halfway mark of the first, holding the Sooners to just two made field goals and a 32-14 score going into the third media timeout at 7:39.
  
  The Sun Devils put on a resounding first half performance on the hardwood. Converting on half of their attempts, they shot the ball at a 55.2/70/61.5 clip and held the Sooners to 28.1/17.6/63.6 percent through the halfway mark.
  
  A boost from ASU’s bench helped propel them to a 20-point with just over two minutes left before the half. Anthony “Pig” Johnson and Allen Mukeba were amongst the team’s top scorers each notching eight of the team’s 24 bench points respectively. Noah Meeusen controlled the pace in the opening frame, posting a career-high seven assists along with three points, three rebounds and a steal. Arizona State captured a 19-point lead with a 47-28 score to end the half.
  
  

 

 

 

 

 

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Second half
Andrija Grbović got things rolling to start the second, knocking down a pair of threes for the Sun Devils who improved to 8-11 from deep. ASU held on to a 21-point lead, 56-35, after five minutes of play in the half.

ASU and OU started a back-and-fourth affair coming out of the media timeout. Redshirt Sophomore Marcus Adams Jr. displayed his three point ability after knocking down consecutive three-point attempts. Additionally, Meeusen was able to land one from downtown to build upon an impressive outing. Both sides went stride-for-stride in scoring with a score of 68-47 entering the media timeout at the 11:04 mark.

Seniors Moe Odum and Anthony Johnson delivered key plays to steady the offense, helping the Sun Devils maintain control. ASU carried a 74-60 advantage as the last media timeout was issued at 4:46. The Sun Devils continued to execute down the stretch and finished the night with a 86-70 win over the Oklahoma Sooners.

Quotables
Arizona State Head Coach Bobby Hurley
On the defensive effort tonight
“I think I said most of it in Maui. Moe (Odum) practices really hard and because he practices hard, he's prepared. We had very specific things that we worked on defensively that needed to change and we needed to get back to getting stops, protecting the rim, and rebounding. We won the paint battle. We held them to a very low number relative to their ability that they've shown in other games to getting to the basket. The guys were really dialed into the scouting report. So I'm very pleased with how the guys responded to points of emphasis in practice defensively and rebounding. And then seeing a carryover effect into the game.”

On the hockey line substitution early in the game
“I didn't know what was gonna happen. All I knew was that we talked about rebounding. We had specific drills where they would tell you that a shot went up and whoever got the rebound played offense, or every guard and every player had to run to the paint to get a rebound. Just so we avoided standing around and watching the flight of the ball and not going after the basketball. And my thought was if I don't do anything about this after giving up two offensive rebounds right away, then what I'm saying is meaningless. So that was my point.”

Senior guard Moe Odum
On pushing his teammate Marcus Adams Jr. in practice
“He ran 17’s every day this week, ran another drill for 2 minutes, and then I made him shoot free throws after. We did that every day this week. And then on our off days I made him come in the morning… I'm back on him on Monday and he's back running the 17’s.”

On the offense sharing the ball and playing off each other
“It should’ve been happening earlier. We didn’t make shots, we made shots tonight. (Meeusen) swung the ball tonight. I swung the ball tonight. We were just playing team basketball and made shots. Basketball is all about if the ball is going to go in or not. If we can find good shots, make them, this will be the result.”

Sophomore guard Noah Meeusen
On his success finding his teammates
“I know more now what the strengths of different players are. Like Pig (Anthony Johnson), he's incredible in transition, so you get to get the ball up ahead. The pick and pop for Marcus (Adams Jr.) was working very well. So it's just working to our strengths, I think it's made it easy for us.”

Up next
Sun Devil Men's Basketball returns to Desert Financial Arena on Tuesday, playing their first home game in nearly a month. Arizona State will take on in-state foe Northern Arizona on Dec. 9 at 7 p.m. MST. The broadcast can be found on ESPN+ with the game also available on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM (KMVP). 

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Head coach Bobby Hurley (X: @BobbyHurley11)