Trent Lockett collected 18 points and nine rebounds and Kyle Cain added 13 and 16 as Arizona State held off Houston Baptist, 73-55, on Thursday in the Great Alaska Shootout in Anchorage.
The Sun Devils (2-1) built up a 19-5 advantage through the first 10 minutes of the game and cruised into the half with a 32-19 edge behind nine points from Lockett.
The Huskies (0-3) battled back in the second half, creeping to within 59-53 after a pair of free throws by Michael Moss with 5:48 left in the game. But Arizona State turned it back on over the next three minutes, getting five points from Keala King during a 13-0 burst that put it away.
The Sun Devils have struggled at times early this season despite a starting lineup that includes three seniors and the sophomore Lockett. Coach Herb Sendek believes that his squad can challenge for the top spot in a down year in the Pac-10 but first he will need to get all-conference guard Ty Abbott healthy again. Abbott, who drained the game-winning shot against UAB in the last game, sat out Thursday with pain in his knee.
Andrew Gonzalez scored a game-high 26 points for Houston Baptist.
Houston Baptist | Arizona St. | |
Andrew Gonzalez 26 | Scoring | Trent Lockett 18 |
Michael Moss 6 | Assists | Trent Lockett 6 |
Miles Dixon 6 | Rebounds | Kyle Cain 17 |
Andrew Gonzalez 7 | Free Throws Made | Trent Lockett 8 |
Shawn Echols 2 | Steals | Jamelle McMillan 4 |
Sammy Obetoh 1 | Blocks | Kyle Cain 2 |
Team | Points | FG% | 3PM-3PA | FTM-FTA | Assists | Rebounds | Blocks | Steals | Turnovers |
Houston Baptist | 55 | 37.7 | 3-13 | 12-20 | 9 | 23 | 1 | 5 | |
Arizona St. | 73 | 43.8 | 6-27 | 11-26 | 19 | 46 | 7 | 9 |