No. 25 ASU’s slide in Pac-12 play continues with loss to Washington

SEATTLE — Noah Dickerson scored 21 points and grabbed 16 rebounds, David Crisp had three key baskets in the final five minutes, and Washington knocked off No. 25 Arizona State 68-64 on Thursday night.

If there was question about Washington’s validity in the Pac-12 race, some of those were answered by a gutty performance from the Huskies. Dickerson dominated on the interior in the first half as Washington built a 10-point lead at the break, only to hold on in the closing minutes after Arizona State rallied.

Dickerson had 13 points and 11 rebounds in the first half, while Crisp finished with 12 points. The duo combined for 12 of Washington’s final 16 points. Jaylen Nowell added 15 points and nine rebounds, and Dominic Green hit a pair of free throws with 10 seconds left to seal the victory. Washington (16-6, 6-3 Pac-12) has won three straight.

Kodi Justice led Arizona State (16-6, 4-6) with 16 points, but the Sun Devils were just 5 of 19 on 3-point shooting. The 64 points were a season-low for the Sun Devils. Shannon Evans II added 13 points but was 1 of 7 on 3-pointers. Tra Holder finished with 12.

After a miserable first half, the Sun Devils quickly made it a game in the opening moments of the second half. A 12-2 run pulled Arizona State even at 39-all, but the Sun Devils didn’t take their first lead until Justice’s 3-pointer with 7:28 remaining to take a 51-50 lead.

Consecutive baskets by Crisp and Dickerson put the Huskies back in front, but Romello White scored in the lane to tie the game at 56-all with 4 minutes left.

Nowell and Dickerson both made a pair of free throws sandwiched around a runner from Evans. Crisp scored a pair of consecutive tough baskets in the lane and Dickerson scored underneath, but Holder’s driving shot with 59 seconds left pulled the Sun Devils within 66-64. Nowell was called for an offensive foul with 36.5 seconds left giving the ball back to the Sun Devils. But Arizona State never got a shot up, as Mickey Mitchell’s pass was deflected by Sam Timmins. Green was fouled and his free throws clinched the victory.

BIG PICTURE

Arizona State: It was the fifth straight week the Sun Devils have lost the first game of a two-game weekend set in conference play. Arizona State previously lost at Colorado, at home to Oregon, at Stanford and home against to Utah.

Washington: Matisse Thybulle moved into first place on the school’s single-season steals record after grabbing six steals. He now has 70 on the season, topping the previous record of 67 held by Bryant Boston.

UP NEXT

Arizona State: The Sun Devils are at Washington State on Sunday.

Washington: The Huskies host No. 9 Arizona on Saturday.