ASU basketball struggled on Super Sunday, losing 86-73 on the road to Oklahoma State.
The Maroon and Gold were in for a challenge in Stillwater. They were without two starters–redshirt senior guard Adam Miller and senior guard/forward BJ Freeman–who were both out due to suspension.
It resulted in a tawdry first half for the visitors, who then trailed by 10 and turned the ball over nine times. Despite finding an offensive rhythm before halftime and into the final 20 minutes, they could not take the lead, trailing throughout the game.
Here are three takeaways from the loss.
Takeaway #1: Shorthanded, taller lineup does not suit Sun Devils
With Freeman and Miller out, ASU basketball head coach Bobby Hurley deployed a taller lineup–two guards, two forwards, and once center: junior Shawn Phillips Jr. While boasting the best players on the team, the formation led to the Cowboys stealing the ball often, and winning jump balls, with freshman Joson Sanon being the only fellow guard to help out ball handling senior Alston Mason.
Hurley’s lineup got thinner as the game went on, with freshman forward Jayden Quaintance exiting the game after nine minutes played. He was also not on the bench during the second half. The five-star recruit finished his shortened day with three points, a block and three steals.
With Oklahoma State head coach Steve Lutz deploying 11 players onto the court, Hurley did the same by sending freshman guard Trevor Best and graduate forward Connor Braun less than six minutes into the game. Both exited after their brief stint, with Braun needing medical attention after going for a loose ball.
Overall, the Sun Devils used 10 players, with senior guard Jordan Williams checking in with 2.7 seconds as senior guard Bobby Hurley fouled out after a career-high 15 minutes. Additionally, freshman guard/forward Amier Ali had a starter-like day, with 12 points, 10 rebounds (his first career double-double) in 35 minutes.
Hurley said after the game that Freeman and Miller will be available for Wednesday’s game against No. 13 Texas Tech. Quaintance is questionable after injuring the same ankle that kept him out of the Colorado game on Jan. 28.
Takeaway #2: Mason, Sanon carry Sun Devil production
With three out of five starters sidelined for most of the game, the Sun Devils needed the back court to step up.
This has been common for ASU basketball, with one guard leading the way with at least 15 points when a key starter is out. On Sunday afternoon, it was two that help the visitors.
Senior guard Alston Mason was the first, leading the way with 25 points. A lack of shooters meant a lot of shots for the Missouri State transfer, who went 7-for-20 from the field, and 4-for-11 from three-point land. With the Sun Devils landing in the bonus early on in both halves, Mason led the team in free-throw attempts, going 7-for-7.
Mason led the charge, helping ASU basketball cut into the deficit in the first half. This was shown seconds before halftime. As Mason was fouled, he let up a half-court shot that went in, much to the benefit of the Cowboys. He then received the next inbound pass and hit a 35-footer off balance to notch a triple, and give his team some energy into halftime.
Much like Mason, Sanon also attempted 20 shots, converting on five of them. He also went 5-for-6 from the free-throw line. He scored 17 points, 13 of which came in the second half. Despite being one of the shorter guys on the team, he used his energy to drive to the basket, getting high enough to dunk the ball a couple of times. He would have had a clean look if he had not been fouled.
This was Sanon’s first start since Nov. 10 against Gonzaga, and his first double-figure performance since Dec. 3 against San Diego. While he may not shoot 20 shots in a game again, Sunday afternoon can give him an opportunity to get back into rhythm after dealing with injuries for most of January.
Takeaway #3: Cowboys overpower opposition in the trenches
While the starters shined brighter, ASU basketball as a whole seemed dull, especially in the biggest problem this season: turnovers. While improving ball security in the second half, it finished with 12 turnovers. 23 games into the season, and this team has still not played a game where it turned the ball over less than 10 times.
In turn, the Cowboys took advantage, with 17 points off turnovers and 15 fast-break points. They also won the matchup on the glass, with 46 total rebounds, with 13 on the offensive end. Additionally, they scored 32 points in the paint, doubling the Sun Devils in that category.
No Pokes were taller than Jihad and Phillips, who started for ASU basketball. But they forced Phillips to foul out with 5:50 remaining. Jihad was not safe from the nagging either. He was held to zero points in the first half, while struggling with his communication. This included missing rebounds and being called for a five-second violation.
Overpowering the Sun Devils also meant spreading the production. Oklahoma State had six players reach double figures, with sophomore guard Jamyron Keller leading the way with 14 points. It was his first double-digit day since Jan. 14 against BYU.
Up next for ASU basketball (12-11, 3-9): at No. 13 Texas Tech (18-5, 9-3) – Feb. 12 at 9 p.m. EST
Up next for Oklahoma State basketball (12-11, 4-8): at TCU (12-11, 5-7) – Feb. 12 at 7 p.m. EST