Arizona State Triumphs Over Utah
In an electrifying contest on Wednesday evening, Arizona State emerged victorious against Utah with a final score of 71-63. The game highlighted a standout performance from 7-foot-1 freshman Massamba Diop, who notched 15 points, grabbed eight rebounds, and made three crucial blocks. Diop continues to demonstrate impressive defensive skills, having achieved more blocks (48) than fouls (41) this season. Supporting Diop, Anthony Johnson contributed 14 points, while Moe Odum added 13 points to the Sun Devils’ tally.
Utah’s Struggles
Utah, on the other hand, faced a challenging match despite a commendable effort from Don McHenry, who scored 23 points, and Seydou Traore, who contributed 16. The Utes, now with a record of 9 wins and 13 losses, have struggled in their last four games, setting them at 1-8 in the Big 12 Conference.
Game Highlights
Right from the start, Arizona State established a solid lead, going up by as many as 18 points in the first half before heading into halftime with a 41-25 advantage. However, Utah came out strong after the break, scoring 11 of the first 13 points and narrowing the gap to just seven points with 15 minutes remaining in the game. Despite Utah’s efforts to stage a comeback, highlighted by a 3-pointer from Traore and a fast-break layup by McHenry that cut the lead to four points in the final moments, the Sun Devils managed to maintain their composure. Odum responded with a key basket in the lane, and Arizona State sealed their victory, going a perfect 4-for-4 at the free-throw line in the closing seconds.
Looking Ahead
This win marks Arizona State’s consistent ability to prevail when limiting opponents to 70 points or less, as they remain undefeated in such scenarios this season. Looking ahead, Arizona State will face a tough challenge on Saturday against Colorado, while Utah prepares to take on highly ranked No. 11 Kansas on the same day.
