Arizona State brushes off Colgate, snaps losing streak: By the Numbers
Nov 30, 2014, 4:39 AM | Updated: 4:40 am
In a loss to Alabama earlier this week, Arizona State’s issue was an inability to make stops and poor free-throw shooting, according to head coach Herb Sendek.
Saturday night, the Sun Devils’ stats showed they were at least trying to fix those issues.
In a 78-71 victory over the Colgate Raiders in Tempe, ASU started a bit slow but ended the first half on a 19-6 run to lead 43-30.
Shaq Mckissic had already put up 14 points at that time (including a halftime buzzer-beater from behind the arc), but his teammate and friend Gerry Blakes was not to be outdone and quickly upped his totals to lead both teams in scoring halfway through the second period with 18 points.
Colgate crept up on the Sun Devils as the final 10 minutes of the game ticked away to come within five. Arizona State fought back, however, and Blakes’ game-high 23 points and final free throws helped set it out of reach.
What’d the win look like by the numbers?
4-2, 4-0
The Sun Devils struggled earlier in the week, giving up two consecutive losses. They snapped that streak against Colgate with the win, and are now 4-2 on the season.
The victory also keeps the Sun Devils undefeated at home at 4-0 and is the 12th consecutive victory at Wells Fargo Arena.
78-71
The offensive production by Arizona State is tied for the second-highest amount of points put up against an opponent this season (the first was 86 points against Chicago State).
3
This was the third game in a row ASU has been outscored in the second period by their opponent.
After a 13-point lead at halftime, the Sun Devils struggled to stop the Raiders and were outscored 41-35 in the second.
However, Colgate never led after the first half and unlike their last two games, ASU was able to close out the period with a win.
23-8
ASU’s Gerry Blakes led all scorers with 23 points on the night and grabbed eight boards, but also turned the ball over five times. This is the second consecutive game Blakes has scored over 20 points.
Forward Shaq McKissic complemented Blakes’ play with 15 points and six rebounds, yet his inconsistency was a problem for ASU’s momentum in the second period as he had 14 points at the half and only scored one more throughout.
71.0
Arizona State’s 71 percent from the freebie line was an improvement over the 58 percent they shot against Alabama, but it’s a small one — only Blakes, Jonathan Gilling, and Willie Atwood were perfect free-throw shooters, accounting for just nine of ASU’s 22 made out of 31 attempts.
The Sun Devils will host UNLV on Dec. 3 at 6 p.m.
