Field Level Media
Jan 21, 2021
Azuolas Tubelis made an uncontested shot at the buzzer after an airball by teammate James Akinjo, giving Arizona an 84-82 win over Arizona State on Thursday in Tempe, Ariz.
Arizona ended the game on a 7-0 run, taking advantage of the Sun Devils failing to score in the last 2:22.
Akinjo made a 3-pointer with 1:47 to go, and Arizona's Terrell Brown Jr. sank two free throws to tie the game at 82 with 1:02 left.
Both teams had unsuccessful possessions before Arizona State's Remy Martin missed a shot in traffic in the lane with nine seconds left.
Bennedict Mathurin grabbed the rebound for Arizona and passed the ball to Akinjo, who dribbled ahead and tried a 3-point shot that came up short. Tubelis was alone under the basket and quickly put the ball in the hoop with 0.4 seconds left on the clock.
Akinjo finished with 24 points to lead the Wildcats (11-3, 5-3 Pac-12). Brown had 14 points and six assists while Mathurin and Dalen Terry each put up 13 points.
Martin and Josh Christopher each had 18 points for Arizona State (4-7, 1-4). The duo combined for 31 of Arizona State's 52 points in the second half. Alonzo Verge Jr. added 12 points and six rebounds and Jalen Graham had 10.
A 7-0 run by Arizona State gave the Sun Devils a 76-69 lead with 4:42 left in the second half. The hosts gained separation behind Martin's five points, including a 3-pointer.
Arizona State made seven of its last nine first-half shots and Arizona went 3 of 14 down the stretch before the break to allow the Sun Devils to cut an 11-point deficit to a 35-30.
Tubelis, who averaged 11.2 points a game entering Thursday, was held scoreless and missed all four of his field-goal attempts before halftime. He scored eight points in the second half.
The Sun Devils made 21 of 29 shots from the free-throw line, including 18 of 21 in the second half. The Wildcats were 15 of 17 on foul shots.
The rivals play again in Tucson, Ariz., on Monday night.
--Field Level Media