The Arizona State Sun Devils ended their losing streak with a decisive 73-60 victory against the Utah Utes on Saturday at Desert Financial Arena in Tempe. This win came as a relief for the Sun Devils, who faced a challenging road trip leading up to the game, bringing their record to 15-14 overall and 6-10 in the Big 12.
Prior to the game, the team dealt with injury concerns, particularly regarding forward Allen Mukeba, who was a game-time decision but was ultimately cleared to play. Meanwhile, the Utes came into the matchup struggling, having secured only one victory in their last five games.
The game started slowly for Arizona State, as Utah jumped to a quick 14-5 lead within the first five minutes, aided by a three-pointer from center Massamba Diop. However, the Sun Devils fought back, narrowing the gap to 17-14 by the under-12 timeout with an impressive performance from Moe Odum. A three-pointer from Bryce Ford allowed Arizona State to reclaim the lead at 23-21 with just over six minutes remaining in the first half.
Arizona State”s momentum built as they extended their lead to 28-21 at the 3:32 mark, ultimately heading into halftime with a 34-24 advantage. The Sun Devils dominated the closing minutes of the half, limiting Utah to no field goals during that stretch.
In the second half, Arizona State continued to build on their lead, going up 43-32 by the under-16 timeout. Although Utah managed a brief 7-0 run to reduce the deficit, the Sun Devils quickly responded, pushing the advantage back to nine points. Throughout the remainder of the game, Arizona State maintained a steady lead, with a powerful dunk from Diop increasing their advantage to 15 points with just 3:52 left on the clock.
Arizona State will conclude their home schedule for the season on Tuesday against Darryn Peterson and the Kansas Jayhawks, followed by a matchup against Iowa State in the season finale next Saturday.
For further insights about head coach Bobby Hurley“s strategic decisions and how this victory may have saved the season, stay tuned to our coverage.
