Arizona State will attempt to avoid back-to-back losses Saturday when it plays a nonconference game against Massachusetts at the Basketball Hall of Fame Classic in Springfield, Mass.
The Sun Devils (8-2) had a six-game winning streak end with an 83-66 loss to then-No. 9 Florida in Atlanta on Dec. 14. Arizona State was outrebounded 47-27 in the defeat.
“They were very physical and very aggressive,” Arizona State coach Bobby Hurley said. “We weren’t ready for it.”
Arizona State’s other loss this season was an 88-80 setback against then-No. 6 Gonzaga. The Sun Devils were outrebounded 38-29 in that contest.
UMass (5-7) has won two games in a row but continues to struggle with its shooting from both the free-throw line and from 3-point territory. The Minutemen missed 12 of their 31 foul shots in a 77-72 triumph over visiting Northeastern on Wednesday. UMass is shooting 62.6 percent from the free-throw line and 26 percent from 3-point range this season.
Jaylen Curry led UMass with four 3-pointers and 24 points against Northeastern and enters the Saturday matchup averaging a team-high 14.3 points per game. He was one of five players who scored in double figures against the Huskies.
“That’s how I like the game played,” UMass coach Frank Martin said. “When you have one guy with a lot of points, a lot of shot attempts, that means the ball is in one person’s hands the whole time. As a guy that’s taken pride for 40 years on defending, the easiest team to defend is the one that you know where the ball is at. It’s the easiest team to defend.
“A hard team to defend is when that ball doesn’t stop (moving) and you don’t know where the shots (are) coming from. Those teams are really, really difficult to prepare for. I think we’re playing well offensively.”
Daniel Rivera is UMass’ top rebounder at 7.3 per game, while Curry leads in assists with 4.6 per game.
Arizona State has five players scoring in double figures led by Joson Sanon (14.8 points per game). The others are Basheer Jihad (13.3), Alston Mason (11.4), BJ Freeman (11.3) and Adam Miller (10.3).
Jayden Quaintance is pulling down a team-best eight rebounds per game, while Mason leads with 3.2 assists per contest.
–Field Level Media
