Nov. 19, 1997
Batiste Feasts on Wagner
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| Mike Batiste scored 36 points Wednesday night. (file photo) |
TEMPE, Ariz. -- Arizona State's Mike Batiste rolled out one of the most dominating games in Sun Devil history in the Sun Devils 107-88 win over Wagner in the first round of the Chase Preseason NIT. Batiste racked up 36 points, 20 rebounds, four blocks and four steals to chart territory in the Sun Devil record book. His 36-point effort is the fifth-highest point total and his 20 rebounds is the fourth-highest total in ASU history.
The 6-8 Batiste dominated a Wagner team the sported just one player taller than 6-6. He connected on 13 of 15 field goal attempts, mostly dunks, and 10 of 13 free throws.
"That's the Mike Batiste I know," said ASU head coach Don Newman, who has guided the Sun Devils to a 2-0 start and a second-round matchup at Cincinnati.
Batiste wasn't the only Sun Devil recording a record-book night. ASU point guard Ahlon Lewis dished out 13 assists, one short of tying an ASU record. Bobby Lazor, Batiste's pair in the post, followed a 22-point effort in ASU's season-opener with 26 points on 9 of 14 shooting against Wagner. Lazor is 18 of 24 from the field in ASU's first two games. Eddie House, Jeremy Veal and Urit Kelly also scored in double figures with 16, 10 and 10, respectively.
"We accomplished our mission," said Newman. "We got victory number two."
The Sun Devils could earn a trip to New York with victory number three. ASU travels to Cincinnati for Friday's second-round game that can be seen live on ESPN, at 10 p.m. MST. The winner advances to the "Final Four," played in Madison Square Garden.