Arizona State basketball bounces back with victory over USC

TEMPE, Ariz. — Looking to bounce back after an unsettling loss to UCLA, the Arizona State men’s basketball team put their troubles in the rearview mirror and thrashed USC 82-67 in front of a jam-packed student section at Desert Financial Arena. 

Arizona State basketball bounces back against USC

Bryant Selebangue, a transfer from Tulsa, made his presence known in the first half. Selebangue led the Sun Devils with 11 rebounds. The big man was also the catalyst for an 8-0 run in the final minutes of the first half. 

“He was terrific, this game meant a lot to us, and we circled the wagons after a tough loss on Wednesday,” said head coach Bobby Hurley. “He was relentless in going after the ball. If he missed a shot he was the first guy to be there to get again until he completed the play. Bryant isn’t the tallest of players. USC had a couple of bigs that were longer, taller, and more athletic, but Bryant wanted the ball.” 

A difficult mental test

Selebangue’s efforts reflected the team’s attitude and resolve heading into the USC matchup. To let bygones be bygones following the grueling loss to UCLA and push forward with their season. 

“I was very concerned about this game because USC has dealt with a lot of adversity this year and hats off to their coaching staff for their ability to get their guys to play they played a winning game in Colorado two games they were up 13 at the half and was a one-possession game with four minutes left,” said Hurley. “I was wondering how fragile we would be with our psyche after a loss like that and what it does frustration, and feeling your confidence shaken. Having the extra day in between certainly helped us pick up the pieces after a hard loss on Wednesday night.” 

Entering the second half with a 43-36 lead, ASU began with an 8-0 run, and ended the game with a 17-2 run in the closing stages. Sparked by their defense, the Sun Devils forced 20 turnovers off of the Trojans. The transition offense was also stellar, with 24 points coming off those turnovers. 

The student section had 4,325 students, the second-most all-time after last year’s UCLA game (5,213). 

Looking ahead

Arizona State heads to Eugene, Oregon, for an all-important matchup against the Ducks. Oregon sits atop the PAC-12 standings, with ASU half a game back.  Allowing ASU to boost their resume with a quad-1 win, according to the NCAA NET Rankings. 

“We’re 5-2 now in the league and were going to go play a team that’s most likely going to sit atop the standings. That’s the game you live for and the opportunity to compete in,” said Hurley.  

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