Sun Devils Outpaced by Golden Bears in Desert Financial Arena Showdown
In a conference game that saw the Arizona State Sun Devils fall to the California Golden Bears with a final score of 81-66, both teams demonstrated their competitive spirit. The Sun Devils now stand with an unaltered record, while the Golden Bears improved theirs. The home team's effort was not enough to secure victory despite a more aggressive second half.
The Sun Devils, playing at their home venue Desert Financial Arena in Tempe, Arizona, were unable to capitalize on their home-court advantage against the visiting Golden Bears. Despite an energetic crowd of 7,901 fans cheering them on, the Sun Devils struggled to find their rhythm early in the game and trailed at halftime with only 26 points compared to California's 38.
Arizona State showed tenacity after halftime by scoring 40 points in the second half but could not overcome California's consistent performance which added another 43 points to their tally. The Sun Devils' offense was led by determined efforts that resulted in eight three-pointers and a total field goal percentage of 39 percent. However, they were outmatched by California's sharpshooting which boasted an impressive field goal percentage of 50 percent including eleven successful three-point attempts.
Defensively, Arizona State managed eight steals and one block but this was overshadowed by California's six steals and three blocks. Moreover, while both teams grabbed four team rebounds each, it was clear that rebounding overall favored California who collected four more than Arizona State’s total of thirty-five rebounds.
The offensive rebounding efforts for the Sun Devils did shine through as they amassed thirteen offensive boards leading to twenty-three second-chance points – a notable achievement despite falling short on the scoreboard. Their ability to convert turnovers into points also stood out with eleven points off turnovers compared to California’s eight.
Arizona State displayed resilience throughout but ultimately could not match up against California’s robust offense which saw them hit fifty percent from both inside and outside the arc as well as eighty-four percent from the free-throw line – significantly higher than Arizona State’s fifty-seven percent free-throw accuracy.
Looking ahead for Arizona State fans eager for redemption: The next challenge awaits as ASU will face off against Colorado Buffaloes at CU Events Center located in Boulder on February 8th at 6:00 PM Mountain Time Zone (MT). This upcoming game can be watched nationally on Fox Sports 1 channel two hundred nineteen ensuring fans won’t miss any action from this anticipated matchup.