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Arizona State falls flat vs. Houston as season slips away: Game recap, analysis

The Sun Devils have lost six in a row
Ben Sherman|
Arizona State's Jayden Quaintance (21) and Basheer Jihad (8) battle for a loose ball with Houston's Joseph Tugler (11) in the second half at Desert Financial Arena.
Arizona State's Jayden Quaintance (21) and Basheer Jihad (8) battle for a loose ball with Houston's Joseph Tugler (11) in the second half at Desert Financial Arena. | Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images

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The best remaining opportunity for Arizona State to resurrect its season ended like many of its games this season — in a loss.

The Sun Devils were soundly beaten 80-65 by No. 5 Houston on Tuesday night, the sixth consecutive loss for Bobby Hurley's team. ASU is now two games under .500 at 12-14 and all alone in second-to-last place in the Big 12 at 3-12.

Houston (22-4, 14-1) put on a clinic inside and out, shooting 11-of-23 from the 3-point line and dominating the boards 36 to 25. LJ Cryer led Houston with 18 points, Emmanuel Sharp had 17 and Mylik Wilson added 10 points off the bench.

Five-star freshman Jayden Quaintance returned to the lineup for Arizona State after missing the past two games with a foot injury. But the 6-foot-9 forward was not a factor, finishing scoreless with 2 rebounds and 2 assists.

Senior guard Alston Mason led the Sun Devils with 26 points and BJ Freeman had 17. Arizona State turned the ball over 13 times and attempted 10 fewer shots than Houston (44 to 54).

Read our full game recap below:

SECOND HALF RECAP

Houston 80, Arizona State 65, final: Houston dominated this game from start to finish, playing at its pace, being opportunistic in transition and playing its usual brand of suffocating defense. This was a matchup of two programs on opposite ends of the spectrum.

Houston 76, ASU 62, 2:12 left: We're officially in mop-up time, and Master P's son, Mercy Miller, is in the game for Houston. Houston coach Kelvin Sampson calls Miller "Shotgun Willie" because he "came from a high school where he got to shoot all the balls." Miller was one of the most prolific scorers in the country as a senior in high school last season. He averaged 29.8 points, 9.3 rebounds and 3.9 assists at Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks) in Southern California. He scored 30 or more points 16 times.

Houston 70, ASU 50, 7:59 left: The Cougars are showing why they're one of the best teams in the country. Kelvin Sampson's team is on cruise control, draining 3-pointers and getting stops. Houston is 9-of-18 from the 3-point line and winning the rebounding battle 28-20. Houston guard LJ Cryer has 16 points, 5 assists and 3 rebounds.

Houston 62, ASU 39, 13:00 left: The Cougars are limiting Arizona State to contested 3-pointers and pounding the paint on the offensive end. Not a good formula for ASU.

ASU freshmen scoreless: Arizona State's two 5-star freshmen — Jayden Quaintance and Joson Sanon — are stil scoreless with 17 minutes left in the game. Houston leads 55-34 and is threatening to run away with this game.

JoJo Tugler foul trouble: Houston's best shot blocker, JoJo Tugler, picks up his third foul with 18:24 left in the game.

FIRST HALF RECAP

Houston 47, ASU 31, halftime: LJ Cryer and Mylik Wilson have 10 points apiece for Houston, and Alston Mason leads Arizona State with 12 points. The Cougars are shooting 53.6% from the field and are getting out in transition on ASU. Houston leads ASU in fast break points 11-0.

Houston 47, ASU 27, 1:16 left: After Hurley's technical, the Cougars go on an 11-1 run to take a 20-point lead.

Bobby Hurley technical: Hurley is assessed a technical foul with 3:27 left in the half for arguing with the officials.

Houston 36, ASU 24, 3:59 left: The Sun Devils are going to have to figure out a way to score in the paint, and BJ Freeman is the key. At 6-foot-6 he has an advantage over Houston's smaller guards and can score over them in the paint. Freeman leads ASU with 10 points.

Houston 27, ASU 20, 7:37 left: The Sun Devils have been able to knock down some tough outside shots, but they're getting manhandled in the paint. Houston is outscoring ASU 14-6 in the paint, led by 6 points from senior forward J'Wan Roberts.

Houston 17, ASU 13, 11:52 left: Alston Mason (8 points) and BJ Freeman (5 points) have done all of the scoring for Arizona State so far. Jayden Quaintance has not attempted a shot and has already picked up 2 fouls.

Houston 10, ASU 5, 15:33 left: Alston Mason hits a big 3-pointer to end a 7-0 Houston run.

Houston 10, ASU 2, 16:10 left: The Sun Devils are struggling to get good looks against Houston's suffocating defense.

Jayden Quaintance is back in the starting lineup tonight. Huge boost for the Sun Devils

PREGAME UPDATES

Will Jayden Quaintance play tonight? Bobby Hurley is leaving the door open.

More Arizona State & Big 12 Analysis

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Ben Sherman
BEN SHERMAN

Ben Sherman has been covering the sports world for most of his 27-year journalism career, including 17 years with The Oregonian/OregonLive. A basketball junkie, March Madness is his favorite time of the year.

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