Sun Devils' Effort Falls Short at McKale Center Against Wildcats
The Arizona State Sun Devils faced a challenging contest at the McKale Center, ending with a score of 63-52 in favor of the home team, the Wildcats. The Sun Devils now stand with an additional loss to their record, while the Wildcats notch another victory.
From the opening quarter, Arizona State set a competitive tone with 13 points but trailed by one as the Wildcats secured 14 points. The second quarter saw a slight dip in performance from Arizona State as they added only 11 points to their tally compared to Arizona's 17. After halftime, the Sun Devils showed renewed vigor scoring 17 points; however, it was not enough to close the gap as their opponents posted another solid quarter with 14 points. In the final period of play, both teams scored an equal number of points at 11 each.
Arizona State's efforts were highlighted by their tenacity on defense and offense. They managed four blocks and six steals throughout the game. Offensively they were able to contribute eleven assists and capitalized on turnovers by scoring fifteen points off them. Despite shooting at forty percent from two-point range and thirty-six percent overall from field goals, they struggled from beyond the arc and free-throw line with twenty-eight percent three-point shooting and thirty-seven percent free throw accuracy.
The Sun Devils also demonstrated strength under both baskets pulling down thirty-six rebounds – nineteen defensive and ten offensive – supplementing this effort with seven team rebounds. However, personal fouls proved costly for them as they accumulated seventeen over four quarters which may have disrupted their rhythm on court.
On contrast, The Wildcats executed well in key areas that contributed significantly to their win; they shot forty-eight percent for two-pointers and forty-six percent overall field goal percentage which outpaced ASU's efforts. Their prowess in paint was evident where they scored forty-two points against ASU's twenty-eight.
Looking forward after this tough encounter on court, fans can anticipate watching Arizona State Sun Devils next game against USC Trojans scheduled for February 9th at Galen Center located in Los Angeles broadcasted live on Pac-12 Network starting at 8:00 PM Mountain Standard Time (MST).