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  • Arizona State Continues to Shock Basketball Fans as the Sun Devils Defeat UCLA, 87-84

Arizona State Continues to Shock Basketball Fans as the Sun Devils Defeat UCLA, 87-84

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Basketball

The Arizona State men's basketball team (7-13, 3-7) upset the No. 3 ranked UCLA Bruins (16-4, 8-3), 87-84, in a triple overtime contest in a front of a crowd of more than 9,000 at Desert Financial Arena on Saturday night.

The Sun Devils found themselves in a back and forth battle in the first half as both teams were getting up and down the court. UCLA appeared to start taking over when they pushed the lead to 28-21 but the Sun Devils responded by going on a 7-0 run to tie the game up at 28, forcing the Bruins to call a timeout.

ASU WINS OVER ASSOCIATED PRESS TOP THREE TEAMS
ASU 87, #3 UCLA 84, 3 OT (Feb. 5, 2022)
#18 ASU 80, #1 Kansas 76 (Dec. 22, 2018)
#16 ASU 95, at #2 Kansas 85 (Dec. 10, 2017)
ASU 69, #2 Arizona 66 (2 OT) (Feb. 14, 2014)
#5 ASU 87, #1 Oregon State 67 (Mar. 7, 1981)
ASU 95, #3 USC 78 (Dec. 1, 1971)
ASU 68, @#2 USC (Dec.12, 1970)
ASU 89, #3 Michigan 87 (Dec. 27, 1965 at Portland/Far West Classic)

After the timeout, freshman Enoch Boakye swatted away a UCLA shot, igniting the crowd and turning up the Sun Devils defensive intensity. Arizona State used the momentum to end the half with a pair of threes from DJ Horne and Jay Heath, taking a 34-32 lead into the locker room at halftime, the first time ASU had left the half since the December Grand Canyon game.

Marreon Jackson, who had his best game as a Sun Devil, scored 11 of his team-high 24 points on 4-7 shooting from the field (3-5 from three) in the first half. He was the only Sun Devil in double figures before halftime. 

The Sun Devils came out strong in the second half, quickly going on an 8-0 run and stretching their lead to 42-32, forcing UCLA to call a timeout. After giving up a bucket, Alonzo Gaffney hit his second three pointer of the game, giving Arizona State the largest lead of the night, 45-34. 

However, the No. 3 ranked Bruins would not go away quietly. UCLA clawed their way back into the game one possession at a time and eventually took a 58-56 lead on a Johnny Juzang layup with 2:43 remaining in the game. The Sun Devils were able to keep themselves alive by hitting six straight free throws and only allowing UCLA to score four more points before the regulation buzzer sounded. Marreon Jackson had a chance at a game-winning three in the final seconds but came up short. At the end of regulation, the score was tied at 62. Both teams shot .333 from the field and .200 from three in the second half. 

Two of the three overtime periods were relatively low-scoring. In the first overtime, each team scored 8 points. After each team scored a couple baskets, DJ Horne hit two free throws to make the score 69-67 but Johnny Juzang converted an and-one on the other end to put the Bruins up by one. Marreon Jackson quickly got the ball and was fouled at the other end, splitting the free throws to keep the game tied at 70. The Bruins gained possession with 1.4 seconds left and had the chance to draw up a play to score but they threw the ball out of bounds, giving the Sun Devils a chance with the same amount of time on the clock. Coach Bobby Hurley drew up a play for DJ Horne to shoot a corner three but it hit the front rim as time expired. 

Overtime number two saw both teams score only four points. The Sun Devils had the chance to take the lead after Jalen Graham was fouled while hammering home a powerful dunk but he missed the free throw. Neither team was able to score in the final 2:10 of the second overtime period. UCLA's Jaime Jaquez Jr. had a good look at the basket but was unable to convert it, keeping the score knotted at 74. 

The Sun Devils were able to outscore the Bruins 13-10 in the final overtime period. DJ Horne and Jay Heath opened up the final period with a three pointer each and Jalen Graham was able to score back-to-back buckets to give the Sun Devils a comfortable 84-78 lead. UCLA would score three more times but the Sun Devils handled business at the free throw line, icing the game with free throws from Kimani Lawrence and Marreon Jackson. 

Arizona State went 18-of-26 (.692) from the free throw line, including 8-of-13 (.615) in the overtime periods. 

Marreon Jackson led the Sun Devils with 24 points, his best game this season. Jalen Graham notched a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds. It was an all-around effort as four other Sun Devils ended up in double figures. DJ Horne had 11 points and eight rebounds. Kimani Lawrence had 11 points and nine rebounds. Jay Heath chipped in with 12 points and Alonzo Gaffney had 10 points despite fouling out in the final overtime period. Arizona State's bench outscored UCLA's 27-to-8. 

With tonights win, the Sun Devils snapped their four-game losing streak and get a much needed win during a stretch of five games where they are facing ranked opponents. That stretch concludes on Monday when the Sun Devils host No. 7 Arizona at 7 p.m. on FS1.