ASU men’s basketball had a major wake-up call last year against San Francisco.
The Sun Devils entered the game right before Christmas sitting at 11-1. They were riding high with a predominantly new team and proceeded to be on the wrong end of 97-60 bludgeoning in a game they never led.
On Saturday, Arizona State went wire-to-wire leading the Dons to an eventual 72-61 win.
A few notes from the game:
In Alonzo Gaffney’s first three years at ASU, he’s hit double-digit scoring six times. This year, he’s accomplished that his last three games and four times total.
The Devils were withouth Shawn Phillips and Zane Meeks in the front-court. Gaffney and Bryant Selebangue battled fould trouble. Guards Frankie Collins, Jamiya Neal and Jose Perez combined for 24 boards along the way. The Devils out-rebounded USF 40-37.
The starting five accounted for all 72 points. Kamari Lands and Barelon Green were a combined 0/7 from the field. Akil Watson and Malachi Davis also played and did not attempt a field goal.
ASU started on a 14-4 run that helped set the tone for the entire game.
Frankie Collins is third in the nation in steals per game (3.5) and tallied three more on Sunday.
The Sun Devils out-paced the Dons in fastbreak points, 22-7.
ASU is back at it on Wednesday against SMU at Desert Financial Arena.
Jordan Hamm
