Arizona State lets lead slip away in narrow loss to Aggies: By the Numbers

The Arizona State Sun Devils have few chances to earn a signature non-conference road win this season, and they let one slip through their fingers Saturday.

ASU (5-3) led by as many as 13 points at Texas A&M before the host Aggies (6-1) rallied for a 72-71 win. The Devils shot 64 percent from the field in the first half, including 7-of-13 from 3-point range — but they went cold for much of the second half, allowing the Aggies to erase an 11-point halftime deficit.

With the game tied in the final moments, ASU junior forward Eric Jacobsen appeared to have his feet set in the paint, but he was called for a blocking foul. Kourtney Roberson made the second of two free throws to put Texas A&M ahead by one with 5.1 seconds to play.

Out of timeouts, ASU pushed the ball down the court in a hurry, but freshman Tra Holder’s 3-point attempt at the buzzer fell well short.

Seven ASU players made at least one 3-point field goal Saturday, led by senior forward Jonathan Gilling’s 4-of-8 performance from distance.

Texas A&M junior guard Alex Caruso filled up the stat sheet — 23 points, six rebounds, six assists and six steals — against a team that had recruited him.

ASU offered Caruso in high school before he committed to Texas A&M. Now he's having a career game against the Sun Devils.

— ASUDevils.com (@ASUDevilscom) December 6, 2014

Here’s how the Devils’ heartbreaking loss in College Station, Texas, went down Saturday, by the numbers:

3

The Sun Devils are now 0-3 away from Tempe’s Wells Fargo Arena this season. ASU lost to Maryland and Alabama on a neutral court on Nov. 24 and 25, respectively.

7

Holder converted all seven of his free-throw attempts Saturday, including two clutch FTs that tied the game with just over 30 seconds to play. Holder came into the game shooting just 45.5 percent (5-of-11) from the foul line.

12

ASU led for most of the game until the Aggies went on a 12-0 run late in the second half, capped by a 3-pointer by Alex Robinson that gave Texas A&M a 63-62 lead with six minutes remaining.

30

ASU came into Saturday just 202nd in the nation in rebounds per game, but the Devils out-rebounded the Aggies by a 30-22 margin, led by five apiece from Barnes and Jacobsen.

38

The majority of the Sun Devils’ scoring Saturday (38 points) came from the bench. Holder had 14 points, while Gilling and junior guard Bo Barnes added 12 points apiece.

45

The Sun Devils’ 45 points in the first 20 minutes of Saturday’s game were their highest first-half total since they put up 46 at Oregon on Jan. 14, 2010.