Sun Devils end losing skid with decisive win over Colorado

TEMPE, Ariz. — There was no doubt the Arizona State Sun Devils entered the season with success in mind.

But after winning their biggest game of the year, ASU fell on hard times.

Not only did they lose the ensuing game — a crushing one-point lost to Princeton — they failed to rebound in their first conference game of the season, losing to Utah by double digits and making the victory over Kansas seem like a distant memory.

The question quickly shifted from “how far will the team go?” to “how will the Sun Devils garner that success they had early on?”

Bobby Hurley and company answered Saturday night.

Using a tweaked lineup and new-look defense, the Sun Devils took down the Colorado Buffaloes, 83-61, in Tempe.

From the tip, the Sun Devils looked like a team ready to right the ship.

With Luguentz Dort and Remy Martin coming off the bench, it was De’Quon Lake and Rob Edwards who got the start for ASU.

“We have eight guys that can start,” Hurley said after the game about the lineup change. “I think the rotation we kind of settled into now with those eight guys, really any one of them, I would be comfortable putting out on the floor in the starting role.

“I’m not putting a lot of emphasis on who starts. Those guys are going to get the minutes and it’s going to get distributed. … I like how everyone responded, everyone had just the right approach to just attacking this game.”

Adding to the lineup change, Hurley had the team switch up defenses, going from man to a 2-3 zone.

“I think it made sense for the lineup we were starting and we worked on it yesterday in practice,” Hurley said of the zone. “And just with the length, again, and the mobility of our guys, I think it’s something we’re going to take a closer look at going forward and in addition to playing man.

“I think we could be good at either defense. It just depends what your intentions are and how hard you play no matter what defense you’re in.”

Right off the bat, the new-look lineup generated points, going on an 8-0 run to open up the game.

With both Lake and White working down low, ASU dominated near the rim in the first half, winning the points-in-the-paint battle, 22-8.

In addition to the post work, the Sun Devils were also sharing the rock, something that looked absent at times over their last two games.

In the first half alone, ASU recorded nine assists, one more than they had all game against Princeton.

“I think that’s what we needed, the ball movement,” Lake said after the game. “That’s something we practice all the time and it’s something that gets us going and I’m pretty sure people like to watch that so everything’s good.”

But while the first half went in favor of the Sun Devils, could they finish strong with the memory of blowing a big lead against the Utes fresh in their heads?

That question was answered in a hurry as ASU went right back to work.

Using their big men to bully the Buffaloes down low and continuing to share the wealth, the Sun Devils blew by Colorado’s defense with ease.

“We’ve got more length when we’re both out there, rebounding wise too,” Romello White said of the combo of he and Lake on the court. “I feel like we can both finish inside. It’s a disadvantage for them … we just play well together.”

The Buffaloes were stymied offensively as Colorado shot just 32.8 percent from the field. They were dismal from long range too, shooting 5-of-26 (19.2 percent).

After dishing out nine assists in the first half, the Sun Devils passed that mark with ease in the second, racking up an additional 15 in the second as they continued to move the ball.

With 24 assists on Saturday, the team surpassed their previous two games combined (23).

On the other side of the court, Colorado finished with just 10.

White led the way for the Sun Devils, dropping 19 points, tying his season high, and grabbing eight boards. He also had an assist and a steal for ASU.

Off the bench, Martin dished out eight assists and recorded three rebounds, while Dort added 14 points.

“This is the first game I feel like we put 40 minutes together, playing together as a team and just collectively just all engaged in the game,” the big man said of his team’s effort.

“Everyone did their part, everyone played good defense and I feel like we did this together for the whole 40 minutes.”

Up next, the Sun Devils travel to California to take on the Golden Bears on Wednesday.

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