Sun Devils' Effort Falls Short Against Ranked Utes in First Round Pac-12 Clash
The Arizona State Sun Devils faced a challenging matchup against the 22-ranked Utah Utes, concluding with a score of 60-71. The Sun Devils entered the game unranked and were unable to secure a victory in the first round of the Pac-12 at MGM Grand Garden Arena. The team's record now stands at 0-1, while the Utes improved to 1-0.
Arizona State started strong, outscoring Utah with 17 points to their 15 in the first quarter. However, momentum shifted as the game progressed, with ASU scoring consistently but not enough to keep up with Utah's pace. The Sun Devils put up an additional 13 points in the second quarter and maintained their effort after halftime with two consecutive quarters of 15 points each.
Despite their loss, Arizona State showcased some notable performances on court. They demonstrated tenacity on defense with eight steals and two blocks throughout the game. Offensively, they managed an assists turnover ratio of 1.18 and scored a total of fifteen points off turnovers.
ASU also made an impact inside by scoring twenty-eight points in paint and adding another eight from fast breaks. Their shooting was decent from close range as they hit nineteen out of forty-two two-point attempts for a forty-five percent success rate but struggled beyond the arc making only four out of fifteen three-point attempts which rounds up to twenty-seven percent.
The Sun Devils fought hard on rebounds but were ultimately outmatched by Utah's forty rebounds compared to ASU's twenty-six. Personal fouls were also an area where ASU had difficulty; they committed nineteen personal fouls leading to one player being foulouted.
On Utah's side, their precision from free throw line was impressive as they made thirteen out of fourteen attempts translating into ninety-three percent accuracy which contributed significantly to their win over ASU.
Fans can look forward to seeing how Arizona State will regroup after this defeat when they next take court for another exciting match-up that promises high stakes and intense competition.