ASU Basketball: Sun Devils stun No. 1 Kansas in Tempe

It wasn’t pretty, but a 13-2 run in the final 4:13 led ASU basketball to a marquee victory over top-ranked Kansas, 80-76.

In a game defined by broken plays, erratic offense and missed free throws, it was only right that Arizona State’s upset over No. 1 Kansas was decided by rectification.

First – the broken play. With 1:11 remaining, Remy Martin advanced the ball to the frontcourt, looking to break a 76-76 tie. He took a screen from Rob Edwards, squared up above the free-throw line, and fired an attempt that looked more like a heave than a jumpshot.

It didn’t matter. It still went in.

Two plays later, the Jayhawks, down two, controlled a final possession. After an unsuccessful attempt to feed Dedric Lawson, a ball reversal from Lagerald Vick zipped over the fingertips of Devon Dotson and into the arms of ASU’s Edwards – a rare mistake from the veteran opponent.

Third – after getting fouled, Edwards went to the charity stripe. At that point, the Sun Devils blanked on 12 of their 30 free throw attempts – a mark even below their season average of 68 percent.

The first one swished through the net, putting ASU up three. Like many others, the second bounced off the front of the rim and the back iron, but this time, it fell through – securing a four-point lead and the Sun Devils’ first victory over a top-ranked opponent since 1981.

“That was one of the great sports moments of my life,” said ASU coach Bobby Hurley. “That’s really the best way I can put it.

For a while, the run seemed unachievable. The Sun Devils trailed for all but the final two-and-a-half minutes. For every spurt they’d make, a Jayhawk rally would seemingly answer.

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But ASU kept fighting. On five occasions in the second half, the Sun Devils cut Kansas’ lead to one possession. Eventually, an Edwards 3-pointer broke the guard, building a two-point lead with 2:23 to go.

While two free throws from Lawson evened the count, ASU wouldn’t surrender its advantage. Five of Edwards’ 15 points came down the stretch, helping ASU secure the win.

“I feel like I’m getting back into my rhythm,” he said. “[I’m] just happy being back with each other.”

Shooting 5-of-8 from the field and 3-of-5 from 3-point range, Saturday was Edwards’ most efficient night of the season. Since returning from a back injury that sidelined him for six games, he’d gone scoreless in two games before a 14-point outing in Monday’s loss to Vanderbilt.

Tonight, he showed less hesitation in his drives and more savviness in his approach. It was imperative in a game where ASU shot 26-of-63 from the field and committed 11 turnovers.

“Congrats to my man Rob,” said Martin after the game. “He’s been going through some injuries, I’ve been going through things, and he came out today, and he played.”

Martin, who’s also missed time with an ankle injury, grew comfortable as the game progressed. He recorded six of his 10 points and all four of his assists in the second half, helping the Sun Devils take care of crucial possessions.

“As the game wore on, I think we gained more confidence to think that we should win this game,” Hurley said. “They just kept staying in it and staying in it, and then we got our stops, and Rob Edwards and Remy (Martin) were huge just with the shot-making late in the game, and that was it.”

In the win, the Sun Devils overcame a monster night from KU’s Lawson, who finished with 30 points and 14 rebounds on 12-of-15 shooting. As advertised, he made his impact from multiple areas of the floor.

In the same breath, ASU did its best to contain him. Post touches and transition opportunities helped force four fouls on the 6-foot-9 junior, limiting his impact down the stretch.

The Sun Devils also stifled Vick, who came in averaging over three 3-pointers per game on 54 percent, to 14 points on 5-of-16 shooting.

The win gave ASU its first home victory over a top-ranked opponent, its sixth ranked victory under Hurley and its sixth all-time victory against the Jayhawks. This was a quality win not only for the Sun Devils, but the Pac-12 conference.

Going forward, the league likely will now run through Arizona State. The program is competing against quality competition, and its performances are beginning to catch the eye of many onlookers.

The team, however, sees more opportunity.

“It shows that we can potentially be the best team in the country,” Martin said. “We beat great teams, we have the abilities, we have the players, the coaching staff, the people.

“Everything about ASU is now starting to feel like what it’s supposed to be.”

All quotes in this article were obtained firsthand by Devils in Detail unless otherwise noted.