Sun Devils' Battle for Victory in a Close Contest

What Went Right

Rebounding was a significant strength for the Sun Devils. They finished with a remarkable 44 - 24 advantage on the boards, showcasing a considerable improvement in this area. Jayden Quaintance led the way with 12 rebounds, bringing his total to 26 in just two games this week. Basheer Jihad followed closely with 7 rebounds, and Freeman contributed 6. This rebounding edge was a crucial positive that coach Bobby Hurley highlighted.

Inside play by Quaintance was outstanding. The freshman phenom had an impressive 4 blocks, bringing his season total to 22. He started the night second in the country with 18 blocks, just 2 behind the leader, Amarion Dickerson of Robert Morris. Despite a relatively slow start on the offensive end with 11 points on 4 - for - 11 shooting, he also had a steal and an assist. His presence inside was a game-changer.

Scoring was not a problem for the Sun Devils this time around. After a struggling last season where it was difficult to exceed 65 points, they have now scored more than 80 points in five straight games. Joson Sanon led the team with 22 points, followed by Adam Miller with 16. Sanon was 7 - for - 13 from the field, and Miller was efficient at 4 for 6, including 4 for 5 from 3 - point range. Alston Mason added 14 points, and Freeman contributed 13. The team shot a respectable 48.3% (28 for 58), with 41.7% (10 for 24) from long distance.

What Went Wrong

Defense was a concern as the Sun Devils gave up 89 points to Cal Poly. The Mustangs shot an impressive 51.6% (33 for 64), with 13 for 37 (35.1%) coming from long distance. Jarred Hyder led Cal Poly with 27 points, including 7 3 - pointers. Isaac Jessup added 17 points with 4 3 - pointers. The Sun Devils need to tighten up their defense in future games.

Free throws also presented a challenge. The Sun Devils went 27 for 41 (65.9%), which isn't terrible. They were 5 for 6 in the last minute, preventing the final number from being worse. Miller was 4 for 4, but Quaintance was only 3 for 7. However, with better shooters on the team this season, coach Hurley isn't overly concerned.

Despite leading by as many as 13 points in the first half and 12 points in the second half, the Sun Devils couldn't pull away. The Mustangs kept creeping back into the game every time the Sun Devils started to extend their lead. This shows the need for better consistency and focus in maintaining a lead.

Personnel Notes

Coach Bobby Hurley used just seven players in the game. Junior guard Austin Nunez missed his second straight game due to an ankle/foot injury, and junior forward Shawn Phillips, who had been averaging 13.2 minutes, did not play due to a calf strain suffered in Sunday's game. Hurley started a lineup of guards Miller, Mason, Freeman and forwards Jihad and Quaintance. This was the third straight game using this starting lineup. Joson Sanon had started the first three games in place of Freeman.

They Said It

ASU guard Adam Miller said, "With teams like that, it's easy to underestimate them. Our effort should have picked up a little bit, our urgency. They may not be a big - time name like Gonzaga, but at the end of the day, it doesn't matter. We have to go out there and do what we do each night. On the defensive end, we didn't do our job."

Up Next

The Sun Devils are back on the road for a neutral court tournament, the Acrisure Classic from November 28 - 29 in Palm Springs, California. Their first opponent will be New Mexico (4 - 1). The second game will be against either USC or St. Mary's. The next home game is on December 3 against the University of San Diego.