May 25, 2001
Cairns, Australia--The Arizona State men's basketball team finished its Australian Tour 5-0 with a wild 96-92 win over the Cairns Marlins on Friday night, as ASU watched Cairns go to the free throw line 56 times, including 38 times in the first half. ASU, playing in front of a loud crowd in a tiny and humid gymnasium, had some questionable calls go against it early, irritating head coach Rob Evans so much he was ejected with 4:33 remaining in the first half after receiving his second technical foul.
ASU had four fouls called against it in the first 1:53 of the game, including a third on Chad Prewitt. ASU had 38 fouls, while Cairns was whistled for just 22 fouls, including a few that were called late as the Marlins were attempting to foul.
Awvee Storey led ASU with 19 points and 18 rebounds, while Shawn Redhage came off the bench to post 15 points on 7-of-10 shooting and added seven boards. Redhage had nine points in the second half as the ASU bench outscored the Marlin bench 38-7. ASU also had 24 points off of Cairns turnovers.
ASU held Cairns to just 22-of-70 (.314) from the field, including 9-of-31 (.290) from the three-point stripe.
Tommy Smith added 12 points on 6-of-13 shooting, including eight in the first half before fouling out. He also posted three blocks.
Tanner Shell continued his solid play, notching 14 points, including two three-pointers. Justin Allen also contributed 10 points, including two three-pointers. Brad Nahra added nine points.
Some questionable calls were late in the game. At the end of the third quarter, ASU forced the Marlins into a shot-clock violation yet the referees called a jump ball even though no one explained the rule to ASU assistant coaches Russ Pennell, Dan O'Dowd and Ron DuBois. Then, with ASU leading by five with under two minutes remaining, the referees issued Tanner Shell a technical when he told his teammates while a Marlin was shooting a free-throw that the shot was "coming off short, box out."
Cairns outscored ASU by 30 points at the free throw line, as it was 39-of-56 (.696) and ASU was 9-of-17 (.529). Despite the game was played in 12-minute quarters, ASU had just 10 turnovers.
Donnell Knight came off the bench and had a key bucket late, shaking off the effects of a mild concussion suffered in ASU's fourth game. Knight had five points.
Cairns led after the first period 28-23 but ASU had a 49-45 lead at the half. Cairns was aided by two players, Aaron Grabau and 7-0 center Tony Rampton, who joined their team for the game despite they play for the Cairns top level team, the National Basketball League's Cairns Tapains. Rampton, who had 25 points, played at Iowa State.
ASU returns to Phoenix on Saturday, May 26. And if anyone thinks they have a long day ahead of them think of Kyle Dodd, who after going through a 26-hour travel day will get off the plane in Los Angeles and go directly to his sister's wedding.
ASU 96, Cairns Marlins 92
ASU Box Score
G-Kyle Dodd, 2-6 FGs, 4 assists, no turnovers, 4 points
G-Tanner Shell, 5-14 FGs, 2-8 3-Pters, 2-2 FTs, 14 points
F-Tommy Smith, 6-13 FGs, 3 rebounds, 3 blocks, 12 points
F-Awvee Storey, 9-16 FGs, 1-5 FTs, 18 rebounds, 19 points
C-Chad Prewitt, 3-6 FGs, 5 rebounds, 6 points
Donnell Knight, 2-8 FGs, 1-2 FTs, 5 points
Brad Nahra, 2-6 FGs, 1-3 3-Pters, 4-4 FTs, 9 points
Tyson Johnston, 0-1 FGs
Jonathan Howard, 1-2 FGs, 2 rebounds, 2 points
Justin Allen, 4-9 FGs, 2-6 3-Pters, 3 rebounds, 10 points
Shawn Redhage, 7-10 FGs, 1-2 FTs, 7 rebound, 3 blocks, 15 points