Dort’s record performance leads ASU basketball past Cal State Fullerton

TEMPE, Ariz. — It’s apparent the transition from “Guard U” to “Big Guard U” is a work in progress for the Arizona State men’s basketball team, but a record performance from freshman Luguentz Dort overshadowed those concerns in the season opener.

Dort scored 28 points, a freshman school record for a season opener, in the Sun Devils’ 102-94 double overtime win over Cal State Fullerton at Wells Fargo Arena on Tuesday.

The guard scored 26 of those points after halftime, including seven in the decisive second overtime period.

“I was a little nervous (at the start),” Dort said. “It was my first college game but I talked to coach (Bobby) Hurley and the rest of the staff and they told me to calm down.

“I did and in the second half, everything was good for me.”

Luguentz Dort. As advertised. 😏

The freshman sets the record for points scored in a season opener. pic.twitter.com/tzBsaZ7YBD

— Sun Devil MBB (@SunDevilHoops) November 7, 2018

Dort’s late heroics canceled out a slow start from him and ASU’s other featured guards, redshirt junior Rob Edwards and sophomore Remy Martin.

The trio combined for just seven points at halftime on 3-of-18 shooting.

The struggles weren’t unexpected — Dort and Edwards were playing their first game in a Sun Devil uniform while Martin was battling injuries that limited him in the preseason — but almost costly.

Fullerton, led by former ASU assistant Dedrique Taylor, was coming off a Big West championship and NCAA Tournament appearance.

“I attribute some of (the early struggles) to the first game and jitters,” Hurley said. “Even for the transfers sitting out and young guys as freshmen and other guys coming off injuries.”

As a result, ASU missed its first nine shots before a basket from sophomore forward Romello White almost five minutes in.

It was the Sun Devils’ frontcourt play early that kept them in the game.

Sophomore wing Kimani Lawrence made a pair of 3-pointers, while forwards Zylan Cheatham (8 points, 6 rebounds) and De’Quon Lake (7 points, 5 rebounds) were big first-half contributors.

ASU led, 34-31, at halftime thanks to those performances and eight second-chance points.

“It’s been tough (to get in a rhythm), but guys don’t really have egos,” Lawrence said. “Everyone’s bought into what coach Hurley is preaching and teaching us, so it makes it a lot easier to play with each other.”

ASU’s most effective guard was Dort, who turned it on in the second half.

His best sequence of the second half came when he knocked down back-to-back 3-pointers then drew an offensive foul to give ASU a 49-45 lead with 13 minutes to go.

In the final minutes of the second half, the freshman was involved in almost every offensive series.

TOO STRONG 💪 pic.twitter.com/af7SSvLgmC

— Sun Devil MBB (@SunDevilHoops) November 7, 2018

Some sequences ended well, like the tough layup he made to give ASU the lead with under five minutes to go.

Others, like his travel in the final minute, showed his youth.

In the second overtime period, none of it mattered.

Dort made three free throws before blowing the game open with a three-point play on an offensive rebound, which pushed ASU’s lead to 95-89 with 2:06 to go.

LUGUENTZ DORT ARE YOU KIDDING ME⁉️ pic.twitter.com/hM3mJ7aZ4k

— Sun Devil MBB (@SunDevilHoops) November 7, 2018

“(Dort) has such poise, presence and maturity for a freshman,” Hurley said. “He obviously put out a strong first impression here.”

Fullerton wasn’t able to recover, despite heroic efforts from its guard duo of Kyle Allman (33 points) and Khalil Ahmad (31).

Overall, it was an encouraging first performance from Dort, who ended up carrying the load for the guards.

Edwards finished with 14 points of 4-of-15 shooting in his ASU debut while Martin had 8 points.

ASU will have two days to build on Dort’s performance before taking the court against McNeese State on Saturday at 7 p.m.

“I just went out there and played my game and ended up having a good day, so I’m proud of me,” Dort said.

Follow @DannyShapiro13