Rocky Mountain Road Trip for Men's Basketball starts with Utah

How to follow
Arizona State will make their 17th appearance on a national broadcast as they appear on CBS Sports Network for the third time this season when they take on Utah on Wednesday at 7 p.m. MST. Andrew Catalon (play-by-play), Steve Lappas (analyst), and Evan Washburn (sideline) will be on the call. This is the third of five times an ASU game will air on CBS Sports Network this season. The Sun Devils are 2-0 in games on CBSSN this season, previously defeating Oklahoma and Cincinnati on the channel. Make sure to listen to Tim Healey and Kyle Dodd on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM (KMVP). The action can also be tracked via live stats.

Last time out
Sun Devil Men's Basketball found themsleves even with the nation's No. 1 team at halftime, but eventually fell to rival Arizona 87-74 on Saturday afternoon. The top-ranked Wildcats have been tied or trailing at the half in only three games this season. Two have been against Arizona State. The Sun Devils were competitive against yet another Top-10 team. Noah Meeusen led the way with a career-best 16 points while adding five assists and three steals. Moe Odum registered his 19th double-digit scoring game, scoring 15 points and recording four steals. Massamba Diop continued his effective two-way play, finishing with 13 points and three blocks. 

Comfortable when it is close
Arizona State has 48 wins in games decided by six points or less since the start of the 2019-20 season, including four wins this season (wins over Texas, Washington State, Santa Clara, and Kansas State). The 48 wins by the Sun Devils in such circumstances are tied for the second most in college basketball during that span. Head Coach Bobby Hurley’s team is 48-30 (62.3%) overall in games decided by six points or less since 2019-20. Taking it a step further, ASU is 10-4 in one-possession games over the past three seasons.

Most wins by 6 pts or less since start of 2019-20
T1. Northern Colorado, 49 wins (49-34)
T1. Kansas, 49 wins (49-19)
3. Arizona State, 48 wins (48-30)
T4. SE Louisiana, 47 wins (47-35)
T4. Drake, 47 wins (47-26)
T4. Wisconsin, 47 wins (47-34)
T4. Xavier, 47 wins (47-40)
T4. Western Kentucky, 47 wins (47-40)
9. Boise State, 46 wins (46-23)
10. Oregon, 44 wins (44-25)

2025-26 (4-3)
UCF 79, ASU 76 (Jan. 27, 2026)
ASU 87, Kansas State 84 (Jan. 10, 2026)
Colorado 95, ASU 89 (Jan. 3, 2026)
ASU 82, Santa Clara 79 (Dec. 13, 2025/Las Vegas)
ASU 100, Washington State 94 (Nov. 25, 2025/Maui)
ASU 87, Texas 86 (Nov. 24, 2025/Maui)
Oregon State 78, ASU 75 (Dec. 21, 2025)

Don't count us out
The Sun Devils have come back to win a game when trailing at halftime 52 times during the Bobby Hurley era. It has happened five times this season. In fact, Arizona State has trailed at some point in the second half in six of its 11 wins this season. Since 2015-16, Hurley’s 52 wins when trailing at halftime are the third-most by a DI men’s coach since 2015-16. 27 of those comeback have come in conference play. Here is the full list of comebacks.

Most halftime comeback wins since 2015-16
Bill Self, 55
Eric Musselman, 53
Bobby Hurley, 52
Wes Miller, 51
Kevin Willard, 51
Chris Beard, 51
Kevin Baggett, 50

2025-26 (5)
(-2) Kansas State 38, Arizona State 36/Jan. 10, 2026/ASU 87, Kansas State 84
(-17) Santa Clara 55, Arizona State 38/Dec. 13, 2025 (Las Vegas, NV)/ASU 82, Santa Clara 79
(-6) Washington State 48, ASU 42/Nov. 25, 2025 (Maui)/ASU 100, Washington State 94
(-1) @Hawaii 35, ASU 34/Nov. 20, 2025/ASU 83, Georgia State 76
(-5) Georgia State 39, ASU 34/Nov. 17, 2025/ASU 75, Georgia State 62

The Moe Show
Sun Devil point guard Moe Odum is one of the elite passers in college basketball. He is currently 18th nationally and third in the Big 12 with 140 assists on the season. His 6.4 assists per game are 17th nationally and third in the Big 12. Odum has 5+ assists in 18 of 22 games this season. He now sits with 140 assists through 22 games, which puts him on pace for 204 assists over a 32-game season. This would be the third-highest in program history.

Single-season assists record
294 – Ahlon Lewis, 1998
233 – Marcell Capers, 1995
204 – Moe Odum, 2025* (140 through 22 games)
200 – Marcell Capers, 1993
185 – Mike Redhair, 1990
177 – Jahii Carson, 2013
*32-game pace

Mo(r)e assists, less games
Odum is putting together one of the most productive passing careers in recent memory. Among active NCAA players at the Division I level, Odum's 658 assists are the THIRD most. He is just the third active Division I player to reach 650 career assists. He is the only active NCAA Division I player to have been credited with 600+ assists and have played in 120 games or less.

Active NCAA Division I players with 500+ career assists
1. Braden Smith, Purdue - 954 assists in 132 games
2. Themus Fulks, UCF - 726 assists in 132 games
3. Moe Odum, Arizona State - 658 assists in 120 games
4. Donavan Dent, UCLA - 636 assists in 125 games 
5. Boopie Miller, SMU - 571 assists in 117 games

Sun Devil fans will be tracking Braden Smith’s total, as he is attempting to catch Arizona State Head Coach Bobby Hurley as the all-time NCAA assists leader. Hurley finished with 1,076 in 140 games. Smith needs 122 assists to pass Hurley. If he were to play the maximum amount of games (40), Smith would need to average at least 6.8 assists per game the remainder of the season to pass Hurley. Keep in mind, Smith would finish with 10 more games played than Hurley did in his career.

Proven passer
Odum ranks near the top nationally in several significant career passing statistics, an indication of the successful career he has had. Here is a closer look at where he stands nationally in several important categories:

• 2.54 career assist/turnover ratio - 9th nationally
• 658 career assists - 3rd
• 5.48 career assists/game - 8th

In the game against Colorado, Odum dished out a season-high 12 assists. It is the most assists by a Sun Devil since Jahii Carson had 12 against Stanford on Feb. 27, 2014. Odum is one of only six Big 12 players to have 12 or more assists in a game this season.

Mo(e)mentum
Known nationally for his passing, Moe Odum is proving he can be one of the best all-around players in the Big 12 as well. Odum is one of only three players in the nation averaging 17.1+ points, 6.4+ assists, 3.0+ rebounds, and 1.5+ steals per game (Boopie Miller, SMU; Christian Anderson, Texas Tech). He is Top-15 in the Big 12 in points (377), assists (140), three-pointers made (59), free throws made (84), FT% (82.4%), and minutes per game (33.3). 

Odum has two career 30-point performances, both of which have come this season (36 vs Texas; 33 vs Cincinnati). He has at least 10+ points in 19 of 22 games this season and a team-best seven 20+-point performances. Through 22 games, he has already registered seven of his ten-best career scoring performances. His 36 points against Texas on Nov. 24 were the most points by a Sun Devil in a win since Tra Holder had 40 vs #15 Xavier on Nov. 24, 2017.

Most points by a Sun Devil away from Tempe
61, Eddie House at California (2 OT), Jan. 8, 2000
45, Paul Williams at USC, Mar. 10, 1983
43, Alonzo Verge Jr. vs. Saint Mary’s (Phoenix), Dec. 18, 2019
40, Tra Holder vs. #15 Xavier (Las Vegas), Nov. 24, 2017
40, Jahii Carson at UNLV, Nov. 19, 2013
40, James Harden vs. UTEP (Anaheim), Nov. 30, 2008
37, Mario Bennett at Washington, Mar. 2, 1995
36, Moe Odum vs. Texas, Nov. 24, 2025
36, James Harden at Oregon, Feb. 5, 2009

Moe Odum’s highest career scoring games

Getting to the line
As a team, Arizona State ranks 62nd nationally and 3rd in the Big 12 averaging 23.7 free throw attempts per game. Their 17.5 free throws made per game are 60th nationally and 3rd in the conference. In 33 games last season, ASU had only five instances in which they attempted 27 or more free throws. They have already accomplished the feat seven times through 22 games this year. In 2024-25, 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 22 games.

Moe Odum has been the driving force behind the increased free-throw frequency. Odum is shooting 84-of-102 (82.4%) on the year, the tenth-highest mark in the Big 12. 

Earlier in the season, Arizona State enjoyed historic success from the free-throw line against UCLA. The Sun Devils finished 25-of-26 (96.2%) from the stripe, including connecting on their first 25 attempts of the game. It is the second-best free-throw shooting performance in program history and the best in a game in which the Sun Devils attempted 20 or more free throws. 

Sun Devil best FT% (min. 15 att.)
1.000 (19-of-19) vs. Arizona, Feb. 4, 1978
.962 (25-of-26) at UCLA, Dec. 17, 2025
.950 (19-of-20) vs. UCLA, Feb. 12, 2004
.941 (16-of-17) at Oregon, Feb. 5, 2009
.938 (15-of-16) vs. Southern Illinois, Mar. 20, 2008
.938 (15-of-16) at Oregon, Jan. 24, 1998
.938 (15-of-16) vs. New Mexico, Jan. 5, 1973
.933 (14-of-15) at California, Jan. 6, 1996
.929 (26-of-28) vs. Grand Canyon, Dec. 9, 2021
.923 (24-of-26) vs. CS -L.A., Dec 19, 1981

ASU’s performance at the line was tied for the tenth-best at the NCAA Division I level this season.

Top Team FT% NCAA Division I 2025-26 season
30-of-30 (100%) - Tulane (vs Texas State, 11/8/25)
22-of-22 (100%) - Florida Atlantic (vs Saint Leo, 12/10/25)
21-of-21 (100%) - Yale (vs Akron, 11/24/25)
20-of-20 (100%) - Saint Mary's (vs Washington State, 1/10/26)
19-of-19 (100%) - Penn (vs Princeton, 1/5/25)
16-of-16 (100%) - Indiana (vs Alabama A&M, 11/5/25)
15-of-15 (100%) - Wright State (vs Oakland, 1/11/26)
15-of-15 (100%) - Holy Cross (vs Hampton, 11/16/25)
31-of-32 (96.9%) - San Diego (vs Grambling, 11/18/25)
25-of-26 (96.2%) - Arizona State (at UCLA, 12/17/25)
25-of-26 (96.2%) - Sacred Heart (Central Connecticut State, 11/24/25)

Season snapshot
Arizona State's 11-11 start comes against the nation’s 9th-strongest schedule (23rd in non-conference) according to ESPN, which has ASU slotted at 73 in their latest Strength of Record metric with two Quad 1 wins credited (Santa Clara, Texas). The average NET of a Sun Devil opponent this season is 96, tied for the 6th-best figure in the nation. Arizona State's NET strength of schedule is 11th in the nation, making this arguably one of the toughest slates in program history. Five of their wins to start off 2025-26 have come away from home (4 neutral, 1 road).
 
Massamba making his mark
Freshman center Massamba Diop has established himself as one of the top newcomers in college basketball. He is second among freshman nationally, shooting 61.0% from the field (114-of-187). That figure is good for 21st in the country regardless of class and is second in the Big 12.

Diop is second on the team in points (13.5) and first in rebounds (5.7), producing at that level in only 28.7 minutes per game. He also has a team-high 45 blocks and is fourth on the team with 17 steals, doing all this while committing only 40 personal fouls through 22 games. He has 13 games with at least one steal and 18 games with at least one block. 

Stop, Diop, and roll
Diop is establishing himself as one of the premier defenders in the entire conference. For the third consecutive game, Diop had three or more blocks. Through nine conference games, he already has four 4+ block performances. His 26 blocks in Big 12 play are the second-most of any Big 12 player (Flory Bidunga, Kansas).

Earlier in the year, he finished with seven blocks against Colorado, the most by a Sun Devil since Jordan Bachynski had eight vs. Arizona on Feb. 14, 2014. He is one of only two Big 12 players to record seven blocks in a game this season, joining BYU's Keba Keita. He is the only one to accomplish the feat in a Big 12 Conference game. Diop is one of four freshman nationally and one of only two at the Power 5 conference level (Johann Grünloh, Virginia) with seven or more blocks in a single game.

Diop now has 45 blocks on the season, which puts him 24th nationally and 3rd in the Big 12 in the category. He ranks 3rd among freshmen nationally in blocks, meaning he is top-5 in both field goal shooting and blocks for freshmen. He is the only player who can make that claim.

Record chasing
Diop is in the Top-10 among freshmen in program history with three 20-point performances.

Sun Devil freshman 20-point games (1972-73 to present)
18, Jahii Carson, 2012-13
16, James Harden, 2007-08
12, Ike Diogu, 2002-03
9, Luguentz Dort, 2018-19
7, Jamal Faulkner, 1990-91
5, Steve Beck, 1983-84
4, Christian Polk, 2006-07
3, Massamba Diop, 2025-26
3, Joson Sanon, 2024-25
3, Josh Christopher, 2020-21
3, Eddie House, 1996-97
3, Ron Riley, 1992-93
3, Byron Scott, 1979-80
3, Gary Jackson, 1972-73

Diop is already third among freshmen in program history with 45 blocks this season.

Single-season blocks by a Sun Devil freshmen
63, Jayden Quaintance, 2024-25
55, Mario Bennett, 1991-92
45, Massamba Diop, 2025-26
33, Jamal Faulkner, 1990-91
31, Ike Diogu, 2002-03
29, Jalen Graham, 2019-20
24, Shawn Redhage, 1999-2000
23, Romello White, 2017-18
23, Jeff Pendergraph, 2005-06

Diop is currently having the second-best shooting season by a freshman in program history, making 61.0% of his field goals.

Single-season FG% by a Sun Devil freshman (min. 100 attempts)
.652, Romello White, 2017-18 (120-of-184)
.610, Massamba Diop, 2025-26 (114-of-187)
.608, Ike Diogu, 2002-03 (209-of-344)
.574, Mario Bennett, 1991-92 (159-of-277)
.570, Dwayne Fontana, 1990-91 (102-of-179)
.568, Eric Holloway, 1983-84 (79-of-139)
.545, Kyle Cain, 2010-11 (78-of-143)
.527, James Harden, 2007-08 (196-of-372)
.525, Jayden Quaintance, 2024-25 (93-of-177)

Diop is currently averaging 13.5 points per game, the eighth-most by a freshman in program history.

Single-season points per game by Sun Devil freshmen
19.0, Ike Diogu, 2002-03
18.5, Jahii Carson, 2012-13
17.8, James Harden, 2007-08
16.1, Luguentz Dort, 2018-19
15.4, Jamal Faulkner, 1990-91
14.3, Josh Christopher, 2020-21
13.6, Byron Scott, 1979-80
13.5, Massamba Diop, 2025-26
13.0, Ron Riley, 1992-93
12.6, Eddie House, 1996-97
12.5, Mario Bennett, 1991-92
12.0, Christian Polk, 2006-07
11.9, Joson Sanon, 2024-25

Diop is currently averaging 5.7 rebounds per game, the ninth-most by a freshman in program history.

Single-season rebounds per game by a Sun Devil freshman
7.9, Jayden Quaintance, 2024-25
7.8, Ike Diogu, 2002-03
7.1, Romello White, 2017-18
6.8, Mario Bennett, 1991-92
6.2, Marcus Bagley, 2020-21
6.2, Jamal Faulkner, 1990-91
6.1, Jeff Pendergraph, 2005-06
5.8, Johnny Nash, 1976-77
5.7, Massamba Diop, 2025-26
5.4, Kyle Cain, 2010-11
5.3, James Harden, 2007-08
5.2, Chris Sandle, 1984-85

Pushing the pace
A big factor in Arizona State’s success this season is their play in transition. The Sun Devils have finished with 17 or more fast-break points nine times this season. ASU ranks 26th nationally and 2nd in the Big 12, averaging 15.3 fast break points per game.

Bench boost
A key to Arizona State’s season has been the success of its bench unit. They have outscored or tied their opponent off the bench in 15 of 22 games (10-5 record). Three of the five losses when winning the battle were to Top-10 teams (No. 1 Arizona & No. 7 Houston). ASU’s bench won the battle over Arizona 25-12 and now holds a 528-435 (+93) advantage in points this season.

T-Allen-ted
Graduate transfer forward Allen Mukeba continues to solidify his reputation as one of the premier rim protectors in all of college basketball. He is one of only 28 NCAA Division I players nationally with over 120 career blocks in 109 career games or fewer. He has six games with two or more blocks. He has played in over 100 career games (109) and scored over 1,000 career points (1,052). Mukeba is the second Sun Devil to reach the two career milestones this year, joining Moe Odum.

Telling the Troueth
Redshirt sophomore Sun Devil forward Santiago Trouet has fit in seamlessly since transferring in from San Diego. In the matchup with Top-10 Gonzaga and a formidable frontline, Trouet had 10 points and 11 rebounds while adding two blocks. Trouet had two consecutive double-doubles earlier in the year, becoming the first Sun Devil since Kimani Lawrence in 2021 to accomplish the feat. Only two Sun Devils finished with two or more double-doubles all of last year, and Trouet accomplished the feat in only three games.

In the win over Kansas State, he registered his eighth career double-double and third of the season (10 points and 10 rebounds). He is currently second on the team in rebounds per game (5.5) and has had the most rebounds in a team-best 11 of the 21 games he has appeared in. He is the first Sun Devil with three or more double-doubles since Devan Cambridge accomplished the feat in the 2022-2023 season.

Empty the notebook

Jeff Pendergraph in the Hall of Fame
A cornerstone of the Sun Devil Men’s Basketball program from 2005 to 2009, Ayres left an indelible mark on ASU Basketball. He was part of the 2025 Sun Devil Athletics Hall of Fame class. Over 126 games, he averaged 12.6 points, 7.5 rebounds, and shot an impressive 58 percent from the field. His senior season was his finest, as he led the nation in field goal percentage at 66 percent, averaged 14.5 points and 8.2 rebounds per game, and earned First-Team All-Pac-10 honors. Notably, he delivered a 31-point, 11-rebound performance in a decisive win over Stanford in January 2009.

Ayres ranks sixth all-time in scoring (1,588 points), second in rebounds (942), and his 2008-09 field goal percentage is the school record. He is the only player in program history to lead the team in rebounding four consecutive seasons and helped guide ASU to a 25-win campaign and NCAA Tournament berth in his senior year.

Following his collegiate career, Ayres was selected in the 2009 NBA Draft and went on to play six seasons in the NBA, including a championship run with the San Antonio Spurs in 2014, before continuing his career overseas.

His consistency, leadership, and inside dominance made him a pillar during a pivotal era of transition for ASU basketball.

Linking the program 

• Healey’s Highlights: Sun Devil moments that define 28 seasons
• Sun Devil Men's Basketball solidifies staff
• Lu Dort wins the 2025 NBA Championship
• Jeff Ayres (Pendergraph) named to 2025 ASU Hall of Fame Class
  
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