ASU Basketball: Looking back at the last two LA road trips
By Trevor Booth
Jan. 7, 2016 – L, 65-75 @ USC
Beginning the transition from Herb Sendek to Hurley, adjustment became the formality of ASU’s 2016 campaign. Add in the LA schools for the team’s first Pac-12 road trip, and there was a learning curve in itself.
The Sun Devils surrendered their second of 13 conference losses on this night, failing to match the explosiveness of Enfield’s first core. The Trojans went on a 14-4 run to start the game, eventually building a 17-point lead with contributions from Boatwright and Julian Jacobs.
Eric Jacobsen was on ASU’s roster, but he couldn’t negate the size disadvantage. The Trojans held a rebounding margin of +8, tiring the Sun Devils on defense and forcing less breakaway opportunities.
In the loss, ASU shot just 38 percent from the field, 28 percent from 3-point range and 40 percent (6-of-15) from the free throw line. With Oleka shooting 1-of-7 with five rebounds, the Devils couldn’t find the paint presence to assist a 21-point, four-rebound night from Holder.
On the opposing end, USC made 27 of its 55 shots (49 percent) and seven of its 16 (44 percent) from beyond the arc. Despite 15 turnovers, nine blocks kept the Sun Devils from transition chances.
Jacobs led ‘SC in points with 15 and four rebounds. Boatwright added 14 and seven during a breakout performance in his freshman season.
Jan. 9, 2016 – L, 74-81 @UCLA
Without Kyle Anderson playing point forward, ASU appeared to match up against a less-talented UCLA roster. Instead, the Devils lost the opportunity.
Four Bruins starters, including Hamilton, reached double figures in the seven-point defeat. UCLA achieved 19 assists on 31 field goals, allowing a field goal percentage of 49 percent. In contrast, ASU shot 44 percent with 11 assists on 28 shots.
The Bruins started hot, as Tony Parker and Thomas Welsh contributed 14 points during a 27-16 start. But ASU fought back, using a 27-11 burst to pull within one at the break.
In the second, the teams went blow-for-blow. Trading leads for the first 18 minutes, Justice buried a 3-pointer to put ASU ahead, 74-72, with 2:01 to play. However, the Devils couldn’t hold on, as triples from Holiday and Bryce Alford sparked a 9-0 Bruin run to close the contest.
Holder had another efficient outing with 26 points, three assists and two rebounds. Justice was the only other Sun Devil to reach double figures (11).
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ASU later received its first conference win against Washington State. But winning at Pauley Pavilion undoubtedly would have been sweeter.
Hurley will get his third crack at winning in Westwood tomorrow night. The Sun Devils and Bruins tip off at 9 p.m. MST, and the game can be viewed live via FS1.