ASU freshman point guard Tra Holder dribbles his way through the Wildcats defense on Feb. 7, 2015, at Wells Fargo Arena in Tempe. The Sun Devils beat Arizona 81-78 in the closely fought home game. (Shiva Balasubramanian/The State Press)After a tough loss in Pullman Friday, the ASU men's basketball team needed a win to maintain some standing in the Pac-12.
The Sun Devils (13-12, 5-7 Pac-12) beat Washington behind sophomore forward Savon Goodman's 19 points and 12 rebounds, which included seven offensive rebounds.
Neither team's offense performed to its expected level early on and scoring was at a premium in the first 20 minutes.
Washington made just three of its first 18 shots from the field, but the Sun Devils could not get a true advantage early.
As the half progressed, the Huskies found their shot and started to make a run. Washington made seven of its last 10 shots to close the half and held a lead, but a foul put freshman guard Tra Holder on the line for two free throws. Holder made them both to put the Sun Devils ahead 30-29 at the half.
In the second half, both teams improved from the field and the game became a back-and-forth affair.
The Huskies led by as many as six early on in the second half before ASU's stars started shining. Goodman and junior guard Gerry Blakes asserted themselves in the second half.
Blakes was a man possessed for the Sun Devils, scoring 17 of his 22 points in the second half. It is the second straight game that Blakes came alive in the second half, but ASU came up just short Friday.
The most important possession of the game came late when Goodman grabbed an offensive rebound and ASU was able to take a lot of time off the clock and ended in a Holder layup.
The Sun Devils closed the game making four of their last five field goals and won the game going away with free throws at the end.
Reach the reporter at mtonis@asu.edu or on Twitter @Tonis_The_Tiger.
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