Baylor outlasts ASU hoops 72-66 in OT despite epic second half comeback

Arizona State men's basketball has struggled to find consistency when it has needed it most this season. Saturday's 72-66 overtime loss to Baylor was just the latest example of that, putting the team on a concerning trend as it tries to keep up in a stacked Big 12 Conference.

Down 32-20 at halftime, ASU scored 41 second half points to storm back and take the Bears to overtime. Adam Miller made a clutch layup with just seconds remaining in regulation to force the game to the extra period.

Despite the grand effort, ASU's offense looked just as anemic as it did in the first half and couldn't keep up with Baylor's apparent second wind.

BJ Freeman led the team with 22 points as three total Sun Devils reached double-digits in the contest. Freshman phenom Joson Sanon made his return from an ankle injury Saturday but only logged five points, not enough of an impact as he had as the team's top scorer before he missed two games.

ASU hoops needs to get healthy in order to compete in tough Big 12

Sanon's return may have been a slight boost for the team but he was still seen wearing a wrap of some kind on his ankle while he was on the bench.

A date with Central Florida (11-3) awaits on Tuesday for the Sun Devils (10-5), who have now lost four of their last six games. That's a worrying trend for a team who had high hopes entering its first year in the Big 12 Conference.

With just eight able-bodied players available for head coach Bobby Hurley, getting healthy will be a priority for the team in the coming days and weeks. Entering conference play, ASU was sitting solidly in the field of 64 teams projected to make the NCAA tournament in March. Entering the weekend, the program does not have as certain a fate.

ESPN's Joe Lunardi forecasts the team as one of the first four left out of the field while CBS Sports' Jerry Palm believes ASU will have to go to Dayton, Ohio and play-in to the tournament.

Things will need to turn around in a hurry in Tempe if Hurley's boys want to prove they belong in college basketball's toughest league. They have the talent but will consistent execution follow?