ASU (11-9, 5-4) took a 5-2 lead just over two minutes into the game, and never saw the lead again. Oregon State (11-9, 3-6) took the lead 49 seconds later and cruised to a dominant victory, 84-71.
The Sun Devils struggled in multiple areas Saturday night, but none more noticeable than their 3-point shooting. ASU shot an abysmal 12% from 3-point territory, and only shot 35% from the field.
On the other hand, ASU’s defense had one of its worst statistical performances of the season. The Beavers shot 56.5% from the field, which was the highest shooting percentage for an opponent against the Sun Devils all season.
Oregon State’s high shooting percentage led to the second-highest point total of its season and the second-most points ASU has allowed this season.
Following the Sun Devils early 5-2 lead, the Beavers went on a 17-0 run to open a 14-point lead less than eight minutes into the game. Oregon State grew its lead to 15 points with nine minutes left in the first half.
Over the next 2:34, ASU went on a 9-0 run to shrink the deficit to six points. Every time the Sun Devils tried to break further into the Beavers lead, Oregon State had a response.
With under four minutes to go in the first half, ASU had kept the deficit to seven points. But the Beavers went on a short 6-0 run to widen the gap to 13 points with 2:24 left in the half.
ASU had shaved Oregon State’s lead to 11 points with six seconds left before halftime. But that left just enough time for the Beaver’s sophomore guard Jordan Pope to hit a buzzer-beating 3-point running jump shot from way downtown. The Beavers led at halftime, 44-29, and Pope led Oregon State with 13 points. Pope was 6-9 from the field in the first half, including three of the Beavers’ first four baskets.
Oregon State went on a 4-0 run followed by an ASU 5-0 run coming out of halftime. But then the second half was very back and forth, with the Beavers gradually building on their lead. The lead stretched to 22 points with 6:15 left in the game, before ASU trimmed it down to 13 points for the final score, 84-71.
The Sun Devils implemented their full-court press defense at various times in the game to try and spark a comeback. But every time they found a little success, it was thwarted by a wide-open shot on the other end once the Beavers broke the press.
The loss completes the road trip with losses to both Oregon schools. The trip was extremely important for the Sun Devils if they wanted to get back on the bubble for the NCAA Tournament.
Despite the loss, ASU had a pair of bright spots. Sophomore center Shawn Phillips Jr., who transferred in from LSU and has missed eight games due to injury, was an efficient 6-7 from the field with 13 points and two blocks in just 13 minutes. In addition, graduate student guard Jose Perez scored 19 points, including a perfect 9-9 from the free throw line.
Looking forward, ASU sits in the middle of the pack in the Pac-12 standings about halfway through the conference schedule. The Sun Devils return home to face Stanford and California.
The Sun Devils need to sweep the homestand to get back in the mix for the top spots in the Pac-12.
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