Sun Devils take season opener over Portland behind Lawrence’s big night

Nov 9, 2021, 7:42 PM | Updated: 7:43 pm

Arizona State's Kimani Lawrence (4) celebrates after scoring against Washington State during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the first round of the Pac-12 men's tournament Wednesday, March 10, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

(AP Photo/John Locher)

BY ASSOCIATED PRESS

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Kimani Lawrence scored 19 points to lead five players in double figures — adding 10 rebounds — to spark Arizona State to a 76-60 victory over Portland and new head coach Shantay Legans in a season opener on Tuesday night.

Lawrence buried 7 of 11 shots from the floor and added three steals for the Sun Devils. Alonzo Gaffney finished with 15 points on 7-of-9 shooting, while Marcus Bagley scored 12. Reserve DJ Horne hit three 3-points and scored 11, while Luther Muhammad pitched in with 10 points and seven boards. Marreon Jackson, a graduate transfer from the University of Toledo, was held to two points on 1-of-7 shooting in his debut for ASU.

Chris Austin topped the Pilots with 22 points. Mike Meadows added 16 points and seven rebounds, while Moses Wood scored 12.

Legans, who was lured away from Eastern Washington University in March after leading the Eagles to the NCAA Tournament where they nearly upset Kansas in the first round, boasts one of the youngest coaching staffs in the country with all three assistant coaches age 33 or younger. The Pilots returned just three players from last season, while adding seven transfers and seven true freshmen.

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