The ASU basketball team kicked off its 2008-2009 campaign by running Mississippi Valley State ragged.
The Sun Devils pushed the ball in transition with ease, in it’s 80-64 victory Friday night at Wells Fargo Arena.
Before the season started, players and coaches said the Sun Devils would feature a more up-tempo offense and they kept their word.
ASU looked good on the other end of the floor as well.
ASU coach Herb Sendek’s signature match up zone defense held MVSU in check in the early going. The Delta Devils didn’t make a basket for nearly five minutes to start the game.
MVSU managed to score five quick points to make the score 6-5, but ASU distanced themselves with an 11-2 run.
Sophomore guard James Harden was streaking all over the court in transition.
If he didn’t make a lay up or dunk it down, Harden was at the free throw line. He went 12 of 16 from the stripe, en route to scoring a game-high 24 points.
ASU slowly built a 39-23 lead before intermission, getting three 3-pointers from sophomore forward Rihards Kuksiks.
MVSU came out of the locker room on fire and hit four 3-pointers early in the second period, though.
MVSU junior forward Shannon Behling hit one from behind the arc to cut the deficit to 39-32 with just over 17 minutes remaining.
ASU’s lead hovered around 10 until back-to-back fast break buckets gave it a 54-41 lead.
The Sun Devils slowly poured it on after that, extending the lead to its final margin.
Reach the reporter at alex.espinoza@asu.edu.
