Can Arizona State Sun Devils Maintain Momentum After Narrow Victory at Haas Pavilion?
In a closely contested battle at Haas Pavilion, the Arizona State Sun Devils edged out the California Golden Bears with a final score of 71-69. The Sun Devils now hold an impressive record, while the Golden Bears fall to a less favorable standing.
The game was marked by its intensity and frequent shifts in momentum, as evidenced by six lead changes and three instances where the score was tied. The Sun Devils' performance in the second half was pivotal, scoring 46 points compared to their first-half tally of 25. This surge proved crucial in overcoming the Golden Bears' consistent scoring across both halves.
Arizona State's defense played a significant role in their victory, amassing six blocks and nine steals over the course of the game. These defensive efforts contributed to 18 points off turnovers for the team. On offense, they managed to put up 26 points in paint and capitalized on fast-break opportunities with 13 fast-break points.
Despite being outrebounded by California's total of 45 rebounds to their own 35, Arizona State showed efficiency from beyond the arc and at the free-throw line. They hit ten three-pointers at a rate of 32 percent and excelled with free throws making eleven out of fourteen attempts for an impressive accuracy rate of approximately 79 percent.
One area where Arizona State could seek improvement is their assists-to-turnover ratio; they recorded only three assists against twelve turnovers throughout this matchup. However, they were able to mitigate this aspect with strong individual performances that included securing both offensive (5) and defensive (28) rebounds.
The Golden Bears showcased resilience as well; despite turning over possession fifteen times themselves, they maintained high shooting accuracy within two-point range at approximately 54 percent. Their free throw performance was also noteworthy as they made eighteen out of twenty-two attempts which translates into roughly an 82 percent success rate.
As fans look ahead after this nail-biter contest, attention turns towards future matchups for both teams involved. The next challenge for Arizona State will be hosting Utah Utes on January fourth at Desert Financial Arena located in Tempe under zip code:85281 . Fans can catch all live action broadcasted nationally on ESPN2 channel number two hundred nine starting from nine o'clock PM Mountain Standard Time.