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Lights-out shooting, stellar defense propels ASU basketball past Loyola Marymount

Sophomore guard Chance Murray battles a Loyola Marymount defender to the net at a home game on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2014. The Sun Devils won against Loyola Marymount 68–44. (Photo by Sawyer Hardebeck)
Sophomore guard Chance Murray battles a Loyola Marymount defender to the net at a home game on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2014. The Sun Devils won against Loyola Marymount 68–44. (Photo by Sawyer Hardebeck)

Scott Roosevelt, Junior Guard, slams one home after a fast break that left him all alone in the Sun Devils' 68-44 victory over Loyola Marymount on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2014. The Sun Devils won against Loyola Marymount 68–44. (Photo by Sawyer Hardebeck) Junior guard Scott Roosevelt dunks the ball during a fast break that left him all alone at a home game against Loyola Marymount on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2014. The Sun Devils won against Loyola Marymount 68–44. (Photo by Sawyer Hardebeck)

ASU shot the lights out of Wells Fargo Arena in Thursday's 68-44 win over Loyola Marymount.

The Sun Devils had 30 points from downtown, with multiple players getting in on the action. The team went 10 for 22, shooting an extremely efficient 45.5 percent from deep.

While the team’s shooting was a major advantage, coach Herb Sendek observed that not only did ASU shoot extremely well, but they also defended the three-ball on the other end.

“I think we shot the ball very well, but just as significantly, we only gave up one three. It was great that we shot it well because you have to score to win, but it was equally important that we defended the three," Sendek said. "We even limited their attempts, that's when you know you are really defending the three well."

Video by Marc Steiner | Sports Reporter

The Sun Devils held the Lions to an abysmal 9.1 percent from behind the arc, with the Lions converting on just one of their 11 shots from long range.

Against LMU, they defended just about everything well. Not a single Lions player scored in double digits, whereas four Sun Devils managed to score 10 or more points.

“I don’t know if we have such a thing as a go-to man," Sendek said. "We don't have that guy. We have to make each other better, we need to score by committee, and on any given night, any number of guys can lead the way with scoring. We have to be a team in the true sense of the concept.”

Sophomore guard Chance Murray battles a Loyola Marymount defender to the net at a home game on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2014. The Sun Devils won against Loyola Marymount 68–44. (Photo by Sawyer Hardebeck) Sophomore guard Chance Murray battles a Loyola Marymount defender to the net at a home game on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2014. The Sun Devils won against Loyola Marymount 68–44. (Photo by Sawyer Hardebeck)

The Sun Devils were able to hold LMU’s top scorer, Evan Payne, to just nine points. Payne has averaged 18 points in the Lion’s first two games this season.

“He’s capable of coming in here like the microwave," Sendek said. "On any given night, he can give you a nightmare.”

While turnovers and consistency are likely to be questions that face this team in the long run, tonight, a combination of both stellar defense and three-point shooting ultimately propelled the Sun Devils to their 68-44 victory over LMU.

Reach the reporter at mtsteine@asu.edu or follow him on Twitter @MarcTSteiner

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