Arizona State’s Kodi Justice starts fast against UCLA, finishes strong
Feb 10, 2018, 7:23 PM | Updated: 7:36 pm
Arizona State guard Kodi Justice reacts after scoring against UCLA in the first half during an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Feb. 10, 2018, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Arizona State senior guard Kodi Justice quickly found a rhythm against the visiting UCLA Bruins on Saturday, and never looked back.
Justice has struggled as of late, eclipsing the double-digit mark for points just one time since the Sun Devils’ Jan. 17 contest against Stanford.
That changed against UCLA, as Justice started the game on fire, hitting a big three-pointer to give the Sun Devils the lead early in the first half.
Daggers @kodijustice44 pic.twitter.com/XUzOMVeVh7
— Sun Devil MBB (@SunDevilHoops) February 11, 2018
On the next possession, Justice would again connect from long-range to further extend the lead.
WOKE THE BEAST 😤@kodijustice44 pic.twitter.com/3FLj8iOwnB
— Sun Devil MBB (@SunDevilHoops) February 11, 2018
Justice hit all of his first four shots, quickly reaching the 10-point mark in the first half.
Despite a slow finish to the first half, Justice once again found a rhythm out of the locker room.
With just over eight minutes remaining in the game, Justice drove to the basket and surrounded by defenders, managed to bank it off the glass with his left hand.
It was a circus-like shot that had all 14,025 in attendance on their feet.
📣 MY LEFT STROKE JUST WENT VIRAL @kodijustice44 pic.twitter.com/q5DQCju0y6
— Sun Devil MBB (@SunDevilHoops) February 11, 2018
Justice finished the game 7-for-11 with 17 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists, the third leading scorer behind only Shannon Evans II with 23 points and Tra Holder with 22 points.
The Sun Devils defeated UCLA 88-79, sweeping the conference weekend after defeating USC on Thursday night.
Arizona State improves to 19-6 overall and 7-6 in Pac-12 play.
