Overview
- Arizona State led from the opening minutes, took a 40-28 halftime lead, and pushed the margin to as many as 22 in the second half.
- Reserve Anthony Johnson scored 17 points on 6-of-9 shooting, with Massamba Diop adding 14 on 6-of-8 as the Sun Devils controlled the scoring.
- Bryce Ford and Allen Mukeba chipped in 11 points apiece, and ASU shot 49.2% from the field while Southern Utah was held to 37.1% and 16% from three.
- The bench contributed 35 points as Bobby Hurley used a 10-man rotation in the opener.
- Southern Utah edged ASU 40-39 on the glass and produced 44 points in the paint and 16 second-chance points, underscoring early interior concerns as ASU dealt with four injuries including season-ending loss of Vijay Wallace and a multi-week ankle setback for Noah Meeusen.