Texas Southern @ Arizona State preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 1, 2018 ) Texas Southern 71, Arizona State 83

After averaging just 58 points in back-to-back losses to Saint Mary's and Creighton, Arizona State has one more non-conference game left to try and get back on track offensively. That comes Saturday afternoon when the Sun Devils host pesky Texas Southern.

Arizona State followed up a 96-56 thrashing by the Gaels in the Basketball Hall of Fame Showcase that saw just three Sun Devils score, with a 67-60 home loss to the Bluejays last Saturday, shooting just 36 and 35 percent, respectively, from the field. "We didn't play good offense again, and it's been a common theme here the last couple of (games)," ASU coach Bobby Hurley said after the loss to Creighton. "Did what we needed to do defensively to have a chance to win, but when you go right down the line and you look at the numbers (offensively) they're not great. Just individual guys that didn't shoot well, especially off the perimeter collectively." The Sun Devils, who open Pac-12 play at in-state rival Arizona on Jan. 4, end non-conference play against a Tigers team that took seventh-ranked Oregon down to the wire before losing, 84-78, last Saturday in Eugene, Ore.

TV: 3 p.m. ET, Pac-12 Network

ABOUT TEXAS SOUTHERN (3-8): This the second straight year the Tigers have made the trip to Tempe, Ariz., losing to the Sun Devils, 83-71, last season. Senior point guard Tyrik Armstrong leads the team in scoring (15.6 points per game), assists (3.9) and steals (1.5). Sophomore forward Yahuza Rasas tops the team in rebounding (6.4) to go along with 8.5 points per game while senior forward Chris Baldwin, a transfer from UMass, is second in scoring (9.3), including a career-high 27 in the loss at Oregon, and has connected 10-of-20 3-pointers.

ABOUT ARIZONA STATE (8-4): Junior point guard Remy Martin leads the team in scoring (17.5) and assists (4.0) but scored a combined seven points on 3-of-18 shooting in the two losses to Saint Mary's and Creighton. Junior guard Alonzo Verge Jr. is second in scoring (14.3) and was the lone offensive bright spot in the loss to Saint Mary's, exploding for 43 points on 18-of-29 shooting. Junior forward Romello White leads the Pac-12 in rebounding (11.0) and also is averaging 12.5 points per outing.

TIP-INS

1. Arizona State ranks last in the Pac-12 in 3-point shooting percentage (28.7 percent).

2. The Sun Devils are 12-0 all-time against teams from the SWAC.

3. The 6-8, 240-pound White has 13 career double-doubles, including five in the past six games.

PREDICTION: Arizona State 80, Texas Southern 74