Arizona dominates 2nd half, beats ASU 77-58

The Arizona Wildcats battled back from a 10-point first half deficit, and breezed to a 77-58 victory over Arizona State at Wells Fargo Arena in Tempe.

Sophomore Kyle Fogg had 21 points to lead Arizona, while freshman Derrick Williams added 20. The Wildcats scored 52 points in the second half alone against ASU’s defense, which came into the game allowing just 54.7 points per game.

Arizona State took a 10-point lead with 7:55 to go in the 1st half when Rihards Kuksiks canned a three-pointer to make the score 20-10. It would be their last field goal until Kuksiks got a layup to go :43 into the second half–a span of 8:38. The Sun Devils followed that with another extended drought, this one spanning 6:53 without a point. The drought ended when Ty Abbott sank a three-pointer to cut Arizona’s lead to six at 38-32. But Fogg answered right back with a three of his own :23 later to push the lead back to nine.

With 8:35 to go, and Arizona leading by 12, U of A freshman Kevin Parrom was called for a breakaway foul on Ty Abbott, meaning the Sun Devils would get two shots and the ball. Parrom’s foul was not only his 5th of the game, but it also awakened a groggy Sun Devil crowd. It didn’t have the same effect on the team. Abbott made just one of the two free throws, then missed a jumper on the ensuing possession. Solomon Hill made a layup on the other end, starting another 9-1 run over the next 1:15 that stretched the lead to 16, and basically ended the game.

Arizona’s win snapped a 5-game losing streak to ASU, and knocked the Sun Devils from the top spot in the Pac-10.

Kuksiks had 15 points to lead ASU, who shot a miserable 30.2% from the field in the game. Abbott added 10.

What’s on my mind…

• The Sun Devils may want to change their terminology on free throws and just call them throws, because there was nothing free about them on Saturday night. ASU shot just 17 of 29 (58.6%) from the line, while Arizona feasted on their opportunities, sinking 24 of 28 (85.7%).
• Arizona State’s bigs were dominated in every phase of the game. Eric Boateng, Taylor Rohde and Ruslan Pateev combined for just 4 points and 9 rebounds in 37 minutes. They were just 1 of 5 from the field and 2 of 7 from the free throw line, while committing 3 turnovers.
• After playing defense at such a high level for most of the season, the Sun Devils completely broke down in the 2nd half. Not only did they allow 52 points, but the Wildcats got loose for 12 layups/dunks after halftime. Arizona shot 76% for the half.
• If there was a positive for ASU, I thought it was the performance of Demetrius Walker. The freshman from St. Mary’s High School played 18 minutes off the bench, and scored 9 points. He can consistently attack the rim, which is something lacking in ASU’s offense.
• Derrick Williams is a player. The freshman from La Mirada High School in Los Angeles certainly doesn’t look like a freshman. He’s very fluid offensively, and lives at the free throw line. Williams was 6 of 7 from the stripe on Saturday, giving him 149 free throw attempts on the season, 2nd only to Stanford’s Landry Fields. Oh, and he makes his free tosses at a 70% clip.

ASU Postgame Press Conference following loss to Arizona - January 23, 2010

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Tags: Arizona State Basketball, ASU Basketball, Demetrius Walker, Derek Glasser, Eric Boateng, Herb Sendek, Rihards Kuksiks, Ruslan Pateev, Softball, Taylor Rohde