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Sun Devils Stumble at Footprint Center Against Wildcats in Men's Basketball Showdown

In a recent men's basketball game at the Footprint Center, the Arizona State Sun Devils faced off against the Northwestern Wildcats. The Sun Devils entered the game with an overall record of 0-0, while the Wildcats also held a record of 0-0. By the end of this encounter, it was clear that only one team could emerge victorious. The final score read 65-46 in favor of the visiting team.


Dec 20, 2023; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Northwestern Wildcats guard Brooks Barnhizer (13) shoots the ball against Arizona State Sun Devils forward Bryant Selebangue (24) during the first half during the Hall of Series at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The Arizona State Sun Devils struggled to find their rhythm early on, scoring just 13 points in the first half compared to Northwestern's commanding 36 points. Despite a significant improvement after halftime where they added another 33 points to their tally, it wasn't enough to close down their opponents who scored an additional 29 points in the second half.


The Wildcats showcased superior shooting accuracy throughout the game with a field goal percentage of approximately 47 and were particularly effective from beyond the arc hitting nearly 41 percent from three-point range. Their two-point attempts were successful over half of their tries as well.


Dec 20, 2023; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Northwestern Wildcats guard Ryan Langborg (5) drives to the basket against Arizona State Sun Devils guard Frankie Collins (1) during the first half during the Hall of Series at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Defensively, Northwestern dominated with a total rebound count of 41 compared to Arizona State's 31 rebounds. The home side managed six steals but failed to block any shots whereas Northwestern recorded two blocks and five steals contributing to their defensive efforts.


Arizona State did manage some positives despite their loss; they converted eight fast break points and capitalized on turnovers by scoring nine points off them. However, they shot only around sixteen percent from three-point land which significantly hampered their ability to keep pace with Northwestern’s scoring.


Dec 20, 2023; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Northwestern Wildcats guard Ryan Langborg (5) drives to the basket against Arizona State Sun Devils guard Frankie Collins (1) during the first half during the Hall of Series at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The Sun Devils' free throw performance stood at approximately sixty-one percent success rate which was higher than that of Northwestern who made just forty-four percent from the charity stripe but this silver lining was not enough for them on this occasion.


Looking ahead for Arizona State fans, there is an opportunity for redemption as they prepare for an away game against Stanford Cardinal at Maples Pavilion located in Stanford, California. This upcoming contest is scheduled for December twenty-ninth at eight PM Mountain Time and will be broadcast nationally on ESPN2 channel two hundred nine ensuring fans won't miss any action as their team looks to bounce back.

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