Missed free throws bury ASU basketball vs. Kansas State
Feb 4, 2025, 10:18 PM | Updated: Feb 5, 2025, 9:57 am
In a frantic finish against Kansas State, Arizona State freshman Jayden Quaintance stood at the free-throw line down 71-70 with three seconds remaining at Desert Financial Arena on Tuesday.
After a broken fast break attempt, Quaintance corralled the basketball on a scramble and went up for an open, potentially game-winning dunk. Kansas State’s David N’Guessan made arguably the play of the game by fouling Quaintance to avoid surrendering the lead, and the 17-year-old missed both free throws to lose the game, 71-70.
The freshman entered Tuesday shooting 51.6% from the charity stripe, worse than his 53.2% clip from the field. He was disruptive on Tuesday with 10 rebounds, six on the offensive glass, and a couple blocks, but he struggled mightily to put the ball in the net. He shot 1-for-7 from the field, 0-for-3 from deep and 1-for-6 from the line.
Perhaps the game-deciding moment will be a learning opportunity for a young player in a big moment, but the ASU loss was a painful one considering how this game started and their recent stumbles.
The Sun Devils (12-10, 3-8 Big 12) appeared to be off to a controlling win early, as they led 15-0 nearly seven minutes into the first half.
ASU, however, did not bury its opponent, which roared back to take a 35-32 lead at halftime after a 16-3 run.
Kansas State (11-11, 5-6) took a 13-point lead in the second half, but the Sun Devils mounted their own comeback to regain the lead with 3:38 remaining on a Quaintance dunk.
The two sides went back and forth down the stretch before an Alston Mason and-one cut the deficit to one, and a stop set up the Sun Devils to win on the other end.
Instead, ASU has now lost five straight home games.
Arizona State also lost guard Adam Miller with 7:54 left after a flagrant 2, pushing an already shorthanded Sun Devil squad. Center Shawn Phillips Jr. did not play due to an illness.
The Sun Devils hit the road to face Oklahoma State on Sunday and Texas Tech next week.