Devils in Detail
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Arizona State MBB makes its case for Top 25 ranking after edging St. Mary's for Acrisure Classic title

The Sun Devils earned some early-season hardware in Palm Springs, California on Friday.

By Austen Bundy

Nov 10, 2024; Spokane, Washington, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils guard Alston Mason (1) controls the ball against the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the second half at McCarthey Athletic Center. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-Imagn Images
Nov 10, 2024; Spokane, Washington, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils guard Alston Mason (1) controls the ball against the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the second half at McCarthey Athletic Center. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-Imagn Images / James Snook-Imagn Images
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Arizona State men's basketball is your 2024 Acrisure Classic Champion after defeating St. Mary's 68-64 on Friday night.

It was another come-from-behind win, trailing 34-32 at half and overcoming a stifling defensive effort by the Gaels for most of the match.

Joson Sanon led the team with 19 points but overall the Sun Devils had a poor shooting night, especially from three-point range. The team only hit five from beyond the arc (27.8%) while St. Mary's kept things close with eight of their own deep splashes (47.1%), five of them in the first half alone.

Arizona State (7-1) handed St. Mary's (7-1) its first loss of the season in a statement win not even 24 hours after it survived a fierce battle with a talented New Mexico team on Thursday.

ASU hoops' statement win should earn it Top 25 consideration

Arizona State's only loss on the year was to a then-ranked No. 6 Gonzaga team that has climbed its way to No. 3 since and the deficit in that contest was only eight points.

The Sun Devils should be in serious consideration for a Top 25 ranking on the other side of the weekend with three remaining non-conference games, two of them at home in Tempe.

Dec. 3 ASU will host San Diego in what should be the program's eighth win on the year. After that however, a real test emerges from the swamp in the form of the No. 13 Florida Gators (Dec. 14). A win in that contest on neutral hardwood in Atlanta, Georgia would really send a message that head coach Bobby Hurley is still a force to be reckoned with out in the desert.

Finally, the team will wrap up non-conference play against UMass on Dec. 21. If ASU can't handle the lowly minutemen then the rest of the year might be an ugly affair.

The Sun Devils will open Big 12 play at BYU (Dec. 31) and look to assert itself at the top of the table just as the football program has done in recent weeks.