Arizona State chasing fast start against streaking Hawaii

Field Level Media|published: Thu 20th November, 09:18 2025

NCAA Basketball: Big 12 Conference Tournament First Round - Arizona State vs Kansas State

Mar 11, 2025; Kansas City, MO, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils guard Alston Mason (1) drives to the basket during the second half against the Kansas State Wildcats at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-Imagn Images

Before Arizona State takes part in the Maui Invitational, the Sun Devils will play their first road game when they face Hawaii on Thursday in Honolulu.

Arizona State (3-1) rebounded from a 77-65 loss to Gonzaga last Friday by beating Georgia State 75-62 on Monday in Tempe, Ariz.

Maurice Odum led the Sun Devils with 24 points, nine assists, five steals and five rebounds against the Panthers.

Mor Massamba Diop, a freshman forward, recorded his first collegiate double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds to go along with two blocked shots.

The Sun Devils had to rally in the second half after trailing by as many as 11 points.

Arizona State coach Bobby Hurley said it was difficult for his players to come off the effort versus a ranked Gonzaga team to play 18.5-point underdog Georgia State ahead of a trip to Hawaii.

"It's not the easiest game for a lot of reasons," Hurley said. "I don't think I felt 100% (against Georgia State), so I can't say that our players did either. With the level of game we played Friday night (against Gonzaga) and being a very late game, and then to play here again, it's a whole different vibe.

"It's hard to kind of match the same effort. It was a tough game, particularly with the bags packed, getting ready to get on a plane tomorrow morning."

Hawaii (4-1) has won four straight games since a 60-59 loss at Oregon to open the season Nov. 4.

The Rainbow Warriors lead the Big West by allowing only 61.6 points a game.

Seven-foot center Isaac Johnson, formerly of Oregon and Utah State, is averaging 14.8 points and 9.2 rebounds. He has three double-doubles in his past four games.

Dre Bullock is averaging 2.2 steals per game.

Hawaii gets to the free-throw line often with 30.6 attempts per game.

The Rainbow Warriors are coming off beating Utah Tech 68-62 in the Rainbow Classic championship game on Saturday.

Bullock highlighted his 18-point performance with an 8-for-8 effort from the free-throw line.

"When the game got a little dull, he got the crowd going again with his explosiveness and his aggressiveness and his confidence," Hawaii coach Eran Ganot said of Bullock, a transfer from South Dakota.

--Field Level Media