The 5: ASU basketball’s most memorable wins of the 2021-22 season
Mar 12, 2022, 7:01 PM
Jalen Graham #2 of the Arizona State Sun Devils shoots over Gabe Madsen #55, Rollie Worster #25, and Lahat Thioune #0 of the Utah Utes during the first half of their game February 26, 2022 at the Jon M Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
(Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
Arizona State’s season was on the upward swing when it abruptly concluded last Wednesday.
The Sun Devils’ four-game winning streak was snapped in the opening round of the Pac-12 Tournament when Stanford’s James Keefe banked in the game-winning shot at the buzzer.
ASU had won seven of eight games entering the postseason, which was a dramatic turnaround from early-season struggles.
The Sun Devils started the year 2-6 with a mostly new roster consisting of freshmen and transfers.
ASU had a rude awakening of a finish, but it also put together some key victories with late-game heroics.
Let’s look at the top five in chronological order:
ASU at Oregon, Dec. 5
The Sun Devils entered Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene on a five-game losing streak. They scored only 29 points in their most recent loss to Washington State.
ASU played Oregon tight throughout the game, and freshman guard DJ Horne hit a catch-and-shoot three pointer in the final five seconds to force overtime.
Sophomore Jay Heath then drilled the game-winning three with 11 seconds left in overtime.
The victory sparked a three-game winning streak for ASU.
ASU vs. UCLA, Feb. 5
The Sun Devils were on another slide when the No. 3 Bruins came to Tempe. ASU had lost four straight, but it outlasted a top-ranked opponent in a triple overtime win that changed the course of the season.
The underdogs were up 34-32 at halftime and jumped in front by 11 after the break. UCLA clawed back into the game and took a two-point lead with 2:43 remaining.
ASU hung in and forced overtime after Marreon Jackson hit game-tying free throws with 36 seconds left.
Two overtimes were not enough to separate the two. The Sun Devils went up 86-80 with 31 seconds left in the third overtime and held on to win 87-84 in an energetic Desert Financial Arena.
The Sun Devils went 7-3 to close the regular season.
ASU vs. Oregon, Feb. 17
The Sun Devils blew away the Ducks in the second half for an 81-57 win in their second matchup.
ASU went on a 17-5 run after the break and then a 13-3 run later in the half. It hit nine threes and assisted on 19 fields, third-most of the season.
Four Sun Devils scored at least 16 points with center Jalen Graham leading the way with 18 and nine rebounds.
ASU at Utah, Feb. 26
ASU put together a strong 32 minutes to go up 52-38 with 11:53 remaining. The Utes came storming back, though, and tied the game with 1:14 remaining.
Jackson drove hard to his left after receiving a screen from Kimani Lawrence in the final 10 seconds, and he laid the ball in with six ticks left. A floater at the buzzer rimmed out on the other end, and ASU held on for a 63-61 victory.
Heath led with 20 points.
ASU vs. Stanford, March 5
The Sun Devils overcame a nine-point first-half deficit and went into the break down two. The second half was a back-and-fourth battle until the 6:13 mark. Arizona State went on a 10-0 run to put the game out of reach.
It was an impressive stretch, one that bred confidence going into the Pac-12 Tournament. Jackson scored 18 points, his third-highest output of the season.
