TEMPE, Ariz. – A key 10-0 run midway through second half provided the difference in a back-and-forth game, as Arizona State ended its 4-game losing streak with an 87-84 win over Kansas State on on Saturday afternoon before 7,133 fans at Desert Financial Arena.
K-State (9-7, 0-2 Big 12) led 64-58 after a sixth 3-pointer from junior Abdi Bashir Jr. with 10:32 to play, however, Arizona State (10-6, 1-2 Big 12) responded with 10 straight points to go ahead 68-64 after a pair of free throws from graduate forward Allen Mukeba at the 7:13 mark. From there, the Sun Devils continued their momentum, scoring 8 of the next 11 points to take their largest lead at 76-67 and forced a timeout by head coach Jerome Tang with 4:21 to play.
The Wildcats didn’t go away quietly though, pulling to within 5 points four times down the stretch and were within 85-84 after a circus 3-pointer from junior P.J. Haggerty with 5 seconds left. However, after the Sun Devils split their previous 10 free throws to allow the rally, senior Maurice Odum calmly sank a pair of free throws to make it 87-84 with 4.3 seconds remaining. Haggerty’s last-chance 3-pointer from midcourt fell short as the buzzer sounded.
The loss dropped K-State to 0-3 in Big 12 play for the first time since 2021-22.
Haggerty (25 points) and Bashir (22 points) combined for 47 points.
