The beard is staying.

Because James Harden said so.

But not even the thick beard could conceal his smile after the No. 14 ASU men’s basketball team beat UA 70-68 Sunday at Wells Fargo Arena.

“We’re a basketball school now,” the sophomore guard said.

With more down-to-the-wire finishes like Sunday’s, Harden might need to find a cane for his teammate Jeff Pendergraph.

“It’s not good for me man,” Pendergraph said. “I’m getting old.”

ASU coach Herb Sendek celebrated birthday No. 46 by guiding his team to its fourth straight victory over UA (18-9, 8-6). When asked if he felt more like 56, Sendek said he felt even older than that.

It’s no secret as to why.

With about 13 minutes left in the game, ASU (21-5, 10-4 Pac-10) held a 56-39 lead over archrival UA.

Everything was working for the Sun Devils.

It seemed nearly every bucket was set up by an assist and every 3-pointer was destined for the bottom of the net.

But no way was this game going to end in a blowout. Not if recent history had anything to say about it.

The Wildcats responded with a 23-4 run over the next nine minutes to take a 62-60 lead.

“We took a couple of good shots from the Sun Devils,” UA coach Russ Pennell said. “But I thought our guys responded and they’ve done that all season long. Even when we were 11-8 a few weeks ago, I just never sensed these guys were going to mail it in.”

UA hit five shots from behind the arc during the run, including two from freshman Kyle Fogg. Over the contest’s final four minutes, though, no team led by more than two points.

The Wildcats were literally inches from tying the game in the waning seconds, but they couldn’t get one to fall. UA forward Jordan Hill missed a close shot in traffic with about 10 seconds to go and his teammate Zane Johnson had a clear look at a put back at the rim.

But it wasn’t to be.

Pendergraph grabbed the rebound and UA was forced to foul.

ASU junior guard Derek Glasser missed the front end of a one-and-one at the other end but it didn’t matter. There was a mad scramble near mid court after the rebound and ASU sophomore guard Ty Abbott secured the loose ball as time expired.

The student section poured onto the floor once again, and Pendergraph was loving it.

Sticking out among the yellow mob in his home white jersey, the senior made a pitchfork with his hands as he exited the court.

It could only mean one thing.

Pendergraph and Co. halted the Pac-10’s hottest team, which had come into Sunday’s game with a seven-game winning streak.

Pendergraph notched his second straight double-double, this time pulling down 12 rebounds to go along with his 16 points and three blocks. Harden was the game’s high scorer with 18, and added nine rebounds and five assists.

The Sun Devils also received a huge boost from sophomore forward Rihards Kuksiks, who buried five 3-pointers despite batting foul trouble all night.

Reach the reporter atalex.espinoza@asu.edu.