TEMPE, Ariz. (Interstat) — Arizona State cruised to a 73-48 victory over Northern Arizona in a men’s nonconference basketball game Tuesday night at Wells Fargo Arena. The Sun Devils (8-2) led 35-26 at halftime and extended their advantage with a 38-point second half. The Lumberjacks (4-5) struggled offensively after the break, scoring only 22 points. Arizona State’s defense held firm throughout, securing a comfortable win in front of 7,250 fans. The result improved Arizona State’s home record and handed Northern Arizona its second consecutive loss.

TEMPE, Ariz. (Interstat) — The Arizona State Sun Devils used a dominant performance in the paint and a stifling defensive effort to pull away from the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks for a 73-48 victory in a nonconference men’s basketball game Tuesday night at Wells Fargo Arena. A crowd of 7,250 watched the Sun Devils improve to 8-2, while the Lumberjacks fell to 4-5. The game was decided by Arizona State’s overwhelming efficiency on both ends of the floor. The Sun Devils shot 50% from the field, converting 26 of 52 attempts, while holding Northern Arizona to a frigid 33.3% on 17-of-51 shooting. The disparity was even more pronounced from beyond the arc, where the Lumberjacks managed just 5 makes on 26 tries. The most important part of the game was Arizona State’s methodical first-half run that established a lead Northern Arizona could never threaten. After a competitive opening few minutes that saw the score tied at 13, the Sun Devils seized control with a 22-2 surge over a nine-minute span. The run was fueled by the interior presence of 7-foot-1 center Massamba Diop and a defense that forced the Lumberjacks into a series of difficult shots and turnovers. Diop, a native of Rufisque, Senegal, was instrumental throughout, finishing with 19 points on 8-of-10 shooting in just 24 minutes. He also added three assists and a block. His early work, combined with transition opportunities created by Northern Arizona’s misses, allowed Arizona State to build a 35-26 halftime advantage. Northern Arizona’s offense, which entered the game with an offensive rating of just 74.1 points per 100 possessions, never found a rhythm. While Phoenix native Isaiah Shaw provided a bright spot with a game-high 21 points for the Lumberjacks, he received little consistent support. Zack Davidson added 12 points, but the team’s 10 assists against 12 turnovers underscored their struggles to generate clean looks against Arizona State’s length and activity. The Sun Devils extended their lead after halftime, opening the second period with a quick 7-2 spurt to push the margin to 14 points. Northern Arizona never got closer than 11 points the rest of the way as Arizona State continued to attack the basket, finishing with a 42-20 advantage in points in the paint. Complementing Diop, Arizona State had a balanced scoring effort. Santiago Trouet of Buenos Aires, Argentina, scored 12 points, while Allen Mukeba of Charleroi, Belgium, added 10 points and several key defensive plays. Anthony Johnson contributed 9 points and 3 assists, and Marcus Adams chipped in 8 points. Despite committing 13 turnovers to Northern Arizona’s 12, the Sun Devils compensated with superior rebounding, winning the offensive glass 8-3, which led to 11 second-chance points. Their defensive pressure also produced 6 steals and 4 blocks. The victory continued a strong start to the season for Arizona State under coach Bobby Hurley, following a decisive win over Oklahoma last Saturday. The Sun Devils will face Santa Clara on Saturday in Henderson, Nevada. Northern Arizona, which has lost three of its last four games, travels to face San Diego on Saturday. The game’s final point total fell well below the pregame over/under line of 154, largely due to Northern Arizona’s prolonged scoring droughts. Arizona State covered the pregame spread of 17 points with ease, outperforming the statistical projection that gave them a 94.6% probability to win.

TEMPE, Ariz. (Interstat) — An in-state matchup featuring two of the state’s top scorers will tip off Tuesday night when the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks visit the Arizona State Sun Devils at Wells Fargo Arena. Arizona State (7-2) enters the contest riding high after an 86-70 victory over Oklahoma last Saturday, part of a strong start under coach Bobby Hurley. The Sun Devils’ offense has been powered by dynamic guard Maurice Odum, who is averaging 20.6 points and 5.6 assists per game. Odum is coming off a 17-point, six-assist performance against the Sooners and earlier this season dropped 36 points in a road win at Texas. Northern Arizona (4-4) looks to bounce back from a heartbreaking 69-68 loss at North Dakota State, a game decided on a last-second basket. The Lumberjacks will lean on guard Zack Davidson, who scored a season-high 20 points in that narrow defeat. Davidson has been a consistent offensive threat, averaging 13 points per game and scoring in double figures in five of his last six contests. The Sun Devils have dominated the series historically and present a significant challenge for the visiting Lumberjacks. Arizona State’s schedule has been notably tougher, with games against ranked opponents and power-conference teams, while Northern Arizona has faced a mix of mid-major and low-major competition. For Northern Arizona, containing Odum and handling Arizona State’s pressure defense will be paramount. The Lumberjacks have shown offensive capability, scoring 93 points in a win over Cal Poly, but were held to 49 in a loss to Arizona earlier this season. Arizona State will aim to avoid a letdown before its upcoming game against Santa Clara in Henderson, Nevada. The Sun Devils’ depth, led by Anthony Johnson and Noah Meeusen, who combined for 22 points against Oklahoma, provides an advantage. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. MST Tuesday. The game will be a final tune-up for both teams before each embarks on a demanding stretch of non-conference and league play later in December.