Stanford @ Arizona State preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 12, 2019 ) Arizona State 71, Stanford 85

Arizona State has proven to be one of the most inconsistent teams in the country, but few players have been as reliable as forward Zylan Cheatham. The San Diego State transfer looks to continue his strong senior campaign Wednesday when the Sun Devils host Stanford, which has won five of its last six games to move into a three-way tie for fourth place in the Pac-12.

Cheatham recorded his league-leading 11th double-double with 24 points and 10 rebounds in last Saturday’s 98-87 win over Utah while junior guard Rob Edwards added a season-high 28 points. Cheatham is averaging 12 points and 11 boards in conference play for the Sun Devils, whose NCAA Tournament resume includes wins over Kansas, Mississippi State and Washington along with surprising losses to Princeton, Vanderbilt and Washington State. Coach Bobby Hurley’s squad also lost 85-71 at Stanford on Jan. 12 in a game that featured 11 lead changes and 18 ties. Oscar da Silva and KZ Okpala scored 21 points apiece in the victory for Stanford, which is aiming for one of the four first-round byes at next month’s Pac-12 tournament.

TV: 9 p.m. ET, ESPN2

ABOUT STANFORD (14-11, 7-6 Pac-12): Senior center Josh Sharma continued to impress with 22 points and 12 rebounds in last Saturday’s 104-80 win over UCLA while Okpala added 20 points and freshman Cormac Ryan finished with a career-high 19 points while shooting 5-of-9 from 3-point range. Sophomore point guard Daejon Davis returned after missing two games due to injury and recorded 12 points and 11 assists in 38 minutes. Sharma was named Pac-12 player of the week after averaging 18 points and 10.5 boards in a sweep of the Los Angeles schools.

ABOUT ARIZONA STATE (17-8, 8-5): Edwards had just four points on 1-of-7 shooting in last week’s 77-73 loss to Colorado but was 9-of-14 shooting in the win over Utah, including 4-of-6 from 3-point range and 6-of-7 from the foul line. “We got a special performance from Rob Edwards,” Hurley told reporters. “When he plays like that we’re very tough to deal with.” Guard Luguentz Dort had 17 points against Utah and has quietly put together a strong freshman season, averaging 16.4 points and 4.5 rebounds while leading the team with 38 steals.

TIP-INS

1. Stanford holds a 50-38 lead in the series, but Arizona State has won five of the last seven meetings.

2. Stanford is 9-2 at home but 5-9 away from Maples Pavilion.

3. Arizona State leads the Pac-12 in rebounding margin at plus-6.5.

PREDICTION: Arizona State 79, Stanford 74