Frankie Collins game winner caps Sun Devil’s comeback victory

TEMPE, Ariz. — Junior guard Frankie Collins drove to the hoop and finished a nasty, game-winning layup through traffic with 2.1 seconds left in the game, handing University of Massachusetts Lowell its first loss of the season.

“We got Frankie downhill. We wanted to set a screen somewhere near half court,” head coach Bobby Hurley said. “Bryant set a good screen, which turned [Frankie] loose and we wanted him to attack the basket.”

ASU hadn’t given the fans much to cheer about all night, but Collins’ layup sent Desert Financial Arena into a frenzy.

Frankie Collins leads comeback for Arizona State basketball

“This is one of the games down in March that could kill you in the net,” graduate student guard Jose Perez said. “We didn’t want to lose at home, we wanted to give the fans something to go home with and we came out with the win and that’s all that mattered.”

River Hawks senior forward Abdoul Karim Coulibaly hit a corner 3-pointer with 2:16 remaining to push UMass Lowell’s lead to 11. But Collins returned with a pullup three-pointer of his own to bring it back within eight points. On the ensuing possession, River Hawks senior guard Ayinde Hikim hit a pullup jumper to stretch the lead to 10 points. ASU would close the game on a 14-2 run, forcing five turnovers in the final two minutes.

“The commitment to make multiple efforts to create turnovers and then converting, it all just kind of came together,” Hurley said. “Our commitment to play defense during that stretch put us in a position to win that game.”

ASU led for a combined 26 seconds throughout the entire game Thursday. The Sun Devils scored the first basket of the game on junior guard/forward Jamiya Neal’s bank shot three-pointer and scored the final two field goals of the game. They trailed during the 39-plus minutes in between.

“There was a lot of like blank expressions in the first half. We didn’t have anybody playing well, so everyone was kind of glassy,” Hurley said. “I think it was a reflection of just how we came out and that’s on me to make sure there’s more fire when we play.”

Tale of two halves for the Sun Devils

It was a tale of two halves for the Sun Devils. They shot under 27 percent from the field and 2-12 from beyond the arc in the first half with six turnovers, and only forcing five turnovers. Meanwhile, the Sun Devils shot better than 54 percent from the field and made 5-11 from 3-point territory in the second half. They forced 16 turnovers and only committed three in the second half.

“We were settling a lot, and they were getting every loose ball and they were making all the effort plays. We were not ready to play in the first half,” Hurley said. “So, you settle for jump shots because that’s the easy thing to do. So, we have to figure out a way to play harder, to compete harder, and to work harder to get better shots in the first half.”

ASU’s full-court press in the second half was a big reason for its comeback. The Sun Devils scored 27 points off River Hawks turnovers, most of which came in the second half.

“We felt like we needed a spark again, and it paid off,” Hurley said. “I think sometimes as many games as they’ve won over the last year plus, you get some pressure on, you know, one turnover could snowball and then someone else has it and they’re a little unsure. We have good length and athleticism and I think it paid off in that situation.”

Frankie Collins provides a spark

The Sun Devil’s leader, Collins, led its comeback in the second half. He finished with 11 points, five rebounds and three assists. Collins scored seven of his 11 points in the final few minutes of the game and had a career-high eight steals, which also tied the school record.

“Frankie wants to win badly and make winning plays. I’m happy he was able to step up late and make some plays for the team,” Hurley said. “Frankie showed why he’s a winning point guard to close the game.”

Alongside Collins, Perez, who transferred in just a few weeks ago, led ASU in scoring with 20 points. Perez had totaled 10 points through the first two games of the season and was 1-11 from the field. Thursday, he shot 7-9 and 5-8 from the stripe.

“I want to get touches, not to score but to get other people involved, and then when it’s time to make a play I’ll make a play for myself,” Perez said. “At the end of the day, I want to win.”

Searching for an identity

The start of the season has been an interesting one for the Sun Devils. Hurley compared it to the start of last season, with the team still searching for their identity and how to gel best together.

“We’re still searching, and we need to find it the way we did in Brooklyn last year. We found it quick,” Hurley said. “So, you know that’s the mission now for us really going over the next week is to get fresh, practice together, and build that cohesiveness that’s still not there yet.”

ASU now travels to Las Vegas to meet BYU in its first game of the Vegas Showdown. That game will be Thursday, November 23, at 10 p.m. MST.

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