Entering Tuesday’s contest between the University of Central Florida (12-4, 3-2 Big 12) and Arizona State (10-6, 1-4 Big 12), it seemed like a must-win game for the Sun Devils, who were eager to back on track in Big 12 play after dropping there previous two.
At times, the Sun Devils looked poised to take over, notably when senior guard Adam Miller knocked down a three to tie the game at 69 with just over nine minutes left .
However, junior guard Keyshawn Hall and the Knights were too much for the Sun Devils to handle, as they dropped their third consecutive game, 95-89.
Hall was the heart and soul of this Knights team, notching 40 points, which was a season-high for the talented sharp-shooter.
“(Hall) put on a performance. I’ve been doing this here for a while, I’m not sure that I’ve seen a kid play that well against me in one half of the game,” Hurley said. “Hats off to Hall, he was unbelievable.”
Because of Hall’s performance, the Sun Devils also gave up a season-high 95 points to UCF. ASU has hovered around a top-30 defense all season long. On Tuesday, that was certainly not the case.
“I knew they scored 80 versus Arizona, and they’ve had other games like this,” Hurley said. “They could really put points on the board if they get going. It’s just frustrating because we’ve been a top-30 defense most of the year, and I feel like a dam that has holes in it.”
While the defense wasn’t up to par with how they’ve played throughout the season, the offense wasn’t a problem. Strong performances from senior guard BJ Freeman and freshman forward Jayden Quaintance kept Hurley’s team in the game.
“I felt like we could get almost any shot we wanted if we just were patient enough,” Hurley said. “The offense was not the problem. It was really just our lack or inability to keep them off the free-throw line late in the game. You know, we didn’t come over and help the guards as they drove it. That was the problem.”
Freeman had a career-high 26 points on 8-14 from the field and 5-6 from 3-point range. This surpassed his season high of 22 points he set in Saturday’s OT loss to Baylor.
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“I liked what (Freeman’s) doing scoring,” Hurley said. “He’s really coming into his own that way. He’s put more time in. I’ve noticed him working since before Colorado, just getting extra reps, working on a shot, doing different things.”
Quaintance, still only 17 years old, also had a career night, recording 20 points on 8-11 from the field and 4-7 from the free throw line. He also added five blocks, adding to his impressive defensive stats.
“[Quaintance] was fantastic, too,” Hurley said. “Tonight, just as you know what he did offensively, the efficiency, his physicality in certain matchups to score around the basket and guarding multiple guys, he had to guard like multiple positions. Like usual, five blocks and everything, so fantastic for him today.”
While Freeman and Quaintance had great nights, they also worked with a seven-man rotation. Freshman guard Joson Sanon continues rehabbing an ankle injury and has arguably been ASU’s best player all season. This placed more trust and responsibility on players like Quaintance to perform.
“I’m just trying to trust myself a little bit more, be a little more aggressive,” Quaintance said. “I feel like again, slowly but surely, I’m trying to get a little better and showing off what I can do on offense.”
Hurley said he hopes to have Sanon back within the coming days and could play Saturday against Cinncinati University.
While the outcome wasn’t what the revived student section had hoped coming back from winter break, the Sun Devils have a chance to snap the skid in Cincinnati this weekend and start to make some noise in the Big 12.
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