ARIZONA STATE BASKETBALL

ASU’s Holder scores career-high 40 in statement win over No. 15 Xavier

Nov 24, 2017, 6:00 PM | Updated: 6:16 pm

Arizona State's Tra Holder reacts after a play against Xavier during the first period of an NCAA co...

Arizona State's Tra Holder reacts after a play against Xavier during the first period of an NCAA college basketball game Friday, Nov. 24, 2017, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

(AP Photo/John Locher)

The Arizona State men’s basketball team is for real this season.

At least, that’s the impression they put off after a 102-86 statement win in Las Vegas over No. 15 Xavier Friday that moved them to 6-0 on the season and made them the champions of the Las Vegas Invitational.

After senior guard Kodi Justice scored a career-high 28 points in Thursday night’s win over Kansas State, senior guard Tra Holder topped him with a career-high 40 Friday.

Facing some inferior competition early in the season, there were concerns that ASU’s high-powered offense might not be legitimate and there was a desire to see them against better teams.

Well, the Sun Devils have maintained its streak of scoring at least 90 points in every game this season after the two games in Las Vegas.

With Justice, Holder, senior Shannon Evans II and freshman Remy Martin in the backcourt, ASU has consistent shot creation and perimeter scoring while keeping the tempo high.

Evans added 22, Justice had 16 and the senior trio combined to shoot 13-of-24 from 3-point range.

Any of the four is a threat for 20-plus points a night and that makes Bobby Hurley’s team a dangerous one to come up against in the Pac-12 this season.

Perhaps the most impressive aspect of the win was them doing so without much of a contribution from their interior power duo of redshirt freshman Romello White and JUCO transfer De’Quon Lake.

After the two got off to terrific starts on the offensive boards, finishing inside and protecting the rim this season, White had four points and five rebounds while Lake had seven points and eight rebounds off the bench. Neither blocked a shot.

With redshirt sophomore forward Mickey Mitchell back in early December and freshman forward Kimani Lawrence hopefully back by the start of conference play, ASU will have even more firepower to add to an offense that could see them as threats to not only make the NCAA Tournament but be ranked in the top-25 as well.

Arizona State Basketball

Jadrian Tracey...

Associated Press

Oregon captures final Pac-12 Tournament championship with win over Colorado

Oregon secured an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament by defeating Colorado 75-68 on Saturday night, ending the Pac-12 basketball era.

2 days ago

Arizona State basketball coach Bobby Hurley...

Jesse Morrison

State of the Sun Devils podcast: What is the future of Bobby Hurley at Arizona State

On the latest edition of the State of the Sun Devils podcast, the guys discuss the future of ASU men's basketball coach Bobby Hurley.

2 days ago

...

Arizona Sports Video

Video: What is Bobby Hurley’s future at Arizona State?

On the latest State of the Sun Devil podcast the guys react to the end of men's basketball season, and wonder what the future of the program will be and how the offseason will unfold. Plus, reactions to football's pro day.

3 days ago

ASU football field...

Dan Bickley

Arizona State reaches rock bottom at end of Pac-12 stay

Rock bottom is mostly a metaphor, a cliché for sports teams that have fallen and can’t get up. But you can find it on the map at ASU.

4 days ago

Michael Crow, Arizona State University president...

Kevin Zimmerman

Now would be a good time for Arizona State to hire an athletic director

Who's to make a decision on Arizona State coach Bobby Hurley without an athletic director? Michael Crow must make a decision soon.

4 days ago

Utah guard Gabe Madsen (55) fouls Arizona State center Shawn Phillips Jr. (9) during the first half...

Arizona Sports

Bobby Hurley: ‘I failed miserably’ in Arizona State’s Pac-12 Tournament loss to Utah

Arizona State's basketball season ended in the first round of the Pac-12 Tournament in Las Vegas after the team started 4-0 in conference play this year.

5 days ago

ASU’s Holder scores career-high 40 in statement win over No. 15 Xavier