Arizona State basketball looks to keep its unbeaten streak alive against No. 6 Gonzaga.
This season includes some interesting non-conference games for the Sun Devils (2-0), and it continues with a trip to Spokane to face the Bulldogs (1-0). It will be the first ever meeting between the two sides.
General Information
Teams: Arizona State (2-0) and Gonzaga (1-0)
Tip Time: 3 p.m. MST (5 p.m. EST)
Watch: ESPN
Listen: KTAR News 92.3 FM
What to know about Gonzaga
The Bulldogs came into the season as a national title contender, ranked No. 6 in the AP Preseason Poll. They have upheld that ranking, which includes one No. 1 vote, with a 101-63 beatdown of No. 7 Baylor on Monday.
Five players reached double-digit point totals in the game. Senior guard Nolan Hickman led the way with 17 points. Redshirt senior forward Graham Ike followed with 15. Redshirt sophomore forward Braden Huff scored 14 off the bench.
Ryan Nembhard also started the game. The senior guard has been a mainstay since starting his collegiate career, making an impact with Creighton before transferring to Gonzaga last season.
Nembhard and Ike to the Wooden Award Preseason Watch List. The list comprises of 50 student-athletes who could possibly make the Wooden Award All-American Team and the Most Outstanding Player Award, the most prestigious honor in college basketball. They are also on the Naismith Player of the Year Preseason Watch List.
Latest on Arizona State basketball
The Sun Devils are coming off an 81-74 win over Santa Clara at Lee’s Family Forum in Henderson, NV. It was their second win in Sin City in the past two seasons, with a 1-1 showing in the 2023 Las Vegas Showdown last year.
Arizona State shot 45.3% from the field and 41.7% from behind the three-point line. While the team had 15 turnovers, it also out rebounded Santa Clara 40-35.
Four backcourt players got into double-digit point totals. Senior guard/forward BJ Freeman led the way with 17 points, including a crucial triple in the last two minutes to give the Sun Devils a comfortable lead. Redshirt senior guard Adam Miller got into rhythm with 16.
The freshmen also got involved, with guard/forward Amier Ali with 13 points off the bench and guard Joson Sanon with 11.
“I thought the quality of our shots was very good,” Arizona State head coach Bobby Hurley said in his postgame interview on FloSports after the win. “We got some stuff going to the basket. We were able to spray the ball to the perimeter for the shooters.”
[…] Arizona State’s showing against Gonzaga was its best against a Top 10 opponent since Feb. 26, 2023, an 89-88 win over No. 7 Arizona courtesy of a buzzer-beater by Desmond Cambridge Jr. It was the first time the Maroon and Gold had a single-digit loss on the road to a Top 10 opponent (not including Arizona) since Jan. 11, 2020, with a 78-69 loss to No. 9 Oregon. […]