Arizona State runs out of steam, unable to end skid vs. West Virginia

TEMPE — Arizona State ran out of steam as it battled West Virginia in a 75-63 loss on Wednesday, missing a chance to right the ship as the losses stack up.

ASU (10-9, 1-5 Big 12) was coming off a stretch of three top-10 opponents in a span of four games and has now lost seven of its past eight overall.

It had the right approach early, capping off an 11-4 start with a driving dunk from Massamba Diop. The Sun Devils had assists on nine of their first 10 made shots, with Moe Odum dishing four of the eight.

Noah Meeusen said after the Houston loss the Sun Devils needed to start games faster. He was one of the reasons they did on Wednesday, providing two of the eight early assists and pushing tempo in a way the offense fed off.

But a hot 3-point shooting half from West Virginia wing Treysen Eaglestaff (4 for 5 after entering the game 33.3% on the season) helped the Mountaineers (13-6, 4-2) get back into it. He finished with six 3s.

WVU guard Jasper Floyd hit a 3 to end the half off a deflection from Meeusen that made it just a two-point game at the break.

Eaglestaff hit a 3 early in the second half that gave West Virginia its first lead since the opening two minutes of the contest. For the next five minutes, the game stayed within one possession as each team matched the other’s physicality.

But as the Sun Devils’ offense stagnated with poor shot selection, their deficit reached seven and after quick spurts by both teams, it was there again with 7:11 remaining.

ASU was unable to shoot itself out of the hole, going 0 for 5 from 3 in the second half after shooting a much better 5 for 10 in the first half. It was 10 for 26 overall in the second and missed eight free throws in the contest.

Bryce Ford has been unable since returning from injury to get back to his 43.9% 3-point shooting from the first 10 games of the season, shooting 1 for 7 (0 for 4 from 3) in the loss.

In a Big 12 where about half the games settle into Quad 1, it becomes especially important to win the games lower than that. This was a Quad 2 contest.

Saturday’s game against Cincinnati will be Quad 2 as well before two more Quad 1 games are on deck at UCF and against Arizona in Tempe.

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