Dec. 23, 2008
Final Stats
Tempe, AZ --- It's hard to overcome an opponent hitting 10 three-pointers. It's really hard when that opponent is ranked #17 and does that in just the first half. Arizona State hit three-pointers from everywhere on the court, with hands in the face, from NBA range, from basically anywhere they wanted, a school-record 17 in all, as the #17 Sun Devils took it to Idaho State 90-55 at Wells Fargo Arena in an odd noon-time game.
The Bengals just had no answer for the hot shooting Sun Devils, who were coming off back-to-back one-point wins for the first time in their school's history. ISU led 8-7, and they were down 28-21 when ASU drained five straight threes near the end of the half to open a 43-28 lead.
Any thoughts of a comeback were quickly dismissed as ASU forced two quick turnovers, igniting a 24-4 run to open the second half, and the result was basically known. All that remained of the drama was whether or not ASU would hit their record for threes, and they did it with 2:53 to go in the contest on a Jarren Shipp three.
"I've been coaching 30 years and I don't know if I've been involved in a game where a team shot the ball that well for an entire game," said head coach Joe O'Brien. "I don't think that game is an indication of how good we are, or how bad we are. We just need to put it behind us."
The Bengals were led by Kal Bay, who was playing in front of friends and family as he is from nearby Chandler, Arizona, as Bay drained four threes and scored 12 points. Matt Stucki hit for 11 and Chron Tatum bounced his way to a very active 10 points.
Future NBAer James Hardin, who ranks third in the nation in scoring, had 18, including three first half threes and a monstrous dunk in the second half. All five starters for ASU hit in double figures, with Rihards Kuksiks getting 15, Ty Abbott getting 14, and Jeff Pendergraph and Derek Glasser each scoring 11.
ASU outrebounded ISU slightly 31-8. Matt Stucki had a team-leading seven rebounds for the Bengals, who suffered from 19 turnovers. ASU had just nine, and they assisted 25 of their 28 baskets.
Idaho State now gets Christmas Eve off before heading to Reno to take on Nevada on Saturday, December 27 before heading back to Holt Arena to take on rival Idaho on Monday, December 29.
NOTES: Prior to the game, Idaho State's non-conference strength of schedule was ranked #3 in the nation ... Arizona State was ranked #17 in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll and #20 in the Associated Press poll ... Sherrod Baldwin scored his first career points in the contest ... the final foul count was a slightly lopsided 20-6 ... former Bengal Corey Bruce was a halftime guest on the radio broadcast, and former 1977 team member Jeff Cook spoke with the team prior to practice on Monday.
