Can the Sun Devils' Paint Domination and Fast Breaks Foreshadow Victory at McKale Center?
The Arizona State Sun Devils, with a resounding 79-61 victory over the Oregon State Beavers, showcased their dominance on home turf at Desert Financial Arena. Both teams entered the game without any rank distinction. The Sun Devils and Beavers were neck-and-neck in the first half, each securing 33 points. However, a second-half surge saw the Sun Devils outscore their opponents by a significant margin.
The home team's performance was nothing short of impressive as they managed to convert an astounding 72 percent of their two-point attempts while maintaining an overall field goal percentage of 58. This offensive efficiency was complemented by a solid defensive effort that included four blocks and seven steals. The fast break points told the story of the game's tempo, with Arizona State capitalizing on quick transitions to rack up 23 points.
Arizona State's ability to control both ends of the court was evident in their rebounding numbers; they out-rebounded Oregon State with a total of 31 rebounds compared to Oregon State's 28. Of these, Arizona State secured three offensive rebounds which contributed to six second-chance points – equaling that of Oregon State despite fewer opportunities.
The Beavers fought valiantly but struggled from beyond the arc, hitting only five out of eighteen three-point attempts for a modest three-point percentage of 28. They also left some points on the table with free throws, making just six out of ten for a free throw percentage rounded off to 60 percent.
A pivotal aspect for Arizona State was their ball distribution which resulted in seventeen assists leading to an assist-to-turnover ratio slightly better than that of Oregon State at approximately one point one versus one point zero seven respectively. The discipline shown by Arizona state is reflected in fewer personal fouls committed (17) and no flagrant fouls or ejections compared to Oregon state’s fifteen personal fouls including one flagrant foul and one coach technical foul.
As fans look ahead eagerly, they can mark their calendars for when Arizona state will face off against rivals –the Arizona Wildcats– at McKale Center in Tuscon on February seventeenth at seven-thirty PM Mountain Time Zone (MT). This encounter promises another exciting chapter in this storied rivalry and will be broadcasted live on Pac-12 Network for fans unable to attend.