Arizona State holds on to hand Saint Mary's 1st loss

Field Level Media|published: Sat 30th November, 24:12 2024

Mar 22, 2024; Spokane, WA, USA; St. Mary's Gaels head coach Randy Bennett during the second half in the first round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament against the Grand Canyon Antelopes at Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Joson Sanon scored 19 points and Jayden Quaintance had 10 points, nine rebounds and five assists as Arizona State edged previously unbeaten Saint Mary's 68-64 to win the Acrisure Classic championship on Friday in Palm Springs, Calif.

Adam Miller and BJ Freeman each registered 11 points for the Sun Devils (7-1), who overcame shooting 5 of 18 from 3-point range and 7 of 12 at the free-throw line. Sanon, who also scored 19 points in the Sun Devils' semifinal win over New Mexico on Thursday, authored another strong effort, shooting 8 of 16 from the field (and 3 of 4 from beyond the arc) without a turnover.

Jordan Ross scored 19 points to pace the Gaels (7-1), who knocked down 8 of 17 3-point attempts but missed 6 of 12 free-throw attempts. Augustas Marciulionis chipped in 13 points, and Mitchell Saxen notched 10 points and nine rebounds.

The score was tied at 60-60 when Miller knocked down a 3-pointer with just over three minutes to play. Paulius Murauskas' putback got Saint Mary's within a point, but Quaintance countered with a putback to restore a three-point cushion.

Basheer Jihad split two free throws with 14 seconds left to make it 66-62 before Marciulionas dropped in a runner with three seconds to play to trim Arizona State's lead to 66-64. However, Alston Mason went 2-of-2 from the line to clinch the win.

With 3:50 left in the first half, Ross made a 3-pointer and then split a pair of free throws one minute later as Saint Mary's pushed its lead to 31-22. However, Arizona State responded with eight straight points, including four by Quaintance, to slice its deficit to one.

Saint Mary's Mikey Lewis answered with a 3-pointer in the final minute, but Quaintance's bucket in the waning seconds got the Sun Devils within 34-32 at the break.

Neither team led by more than three in the second half until Sanon's triple put the Gaels ahead 46-40 with 12:56 left. However, Luke Barrett answered with a 3-pointer, setting up the close battle down the stretch.

--Field Level Media

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