Arizona State Men's Basketball Outlasts Cal Poly

TEMPE – Sun Devil Men's Basketball defeated a competitive Cal Poly team at Desert Financial Arena on Wednesday night.
 
Arizona State (5-1) found themselves in a battle with the Mustangs (3-3), who have proven to be one of the nation's most improved teams under their new head coach Mike DeGeorge. Though the Mustangs continued to find ways to bring the game within their reach, the Sun Devils never trailed and persevered with the help of crucial free throws in the final minutes of regulation. Head Coach Bobby Hurley becomes the second-winningest coach in program history with the victory, trailing only Ned Wulk with his 160th win at Arizona State.
 
Six Sun Devils finished with double figures in tonight's matchup, led by freshman guard Joson Sanon coming off the bench with 22 points and five rebounds. Fellow freshman Jayden Quaintance recorded another double-double with 11 points, 12 rebounds while adding a staggering four blocks. Senior guard Adam Miller found his rhythm from beyond the arc and connected 4-of-5 from deep, finishing with 16 points and four rebounds. Senior guard Alston Mason took control at the point, finishing with 14 points and dishing five assists. On top of that, senior guard/forward BJ Freeman recorded 13 points, six rebounds and five assists. Senior forward Basheer Jihad completed the all around effort by chipping in 11 points and seven boards.
 
5-1 Start
Arizona State starts 5-1 for the first time since the 2022-2023 season and the fourth time under the Bobby Hurley era (2017-18, 2018-19, 2022-23, 2024-25). 

The Hurley Era
Bobby Hurley has won 160 games at ASU and now has the second-most wins of any head coach in program history after the win over Cal Poly.

Career Wins at ASU
406, Ned Wulk (1957-82)
160, Bobby Hurley (2015-present)
159, Herb Sendek (2006-15)

80-point Streak
For the first time since the 2017-18 season, Arizona State has reached the 80-point mark in five straight games. That season, Arizona State did it in six straight games, including a win over No. 15 Xavier. That 2017-18 team went on to make the NCAA Tournament. 
 
2024-25 (5 Games)
Arizona State 81, Santa Clara 74
Arizona State 80, Gonzaga 88
Arizona State 87, GCU 76
Arizona State 81, St. Thomas 66
Arizona State 93, Cal Poly 89
 
2017-18 (6 Games)
Arizona State 94, Idaho State 74
Arizona State 90, San Diego State 68
Arizona State 97, NAU 62
Arizona State 99, UC Irvine 78
Arizona State 92, Kansas State 90
Arizona State 102, #15 Xavier 86
 
Block Party
Freshman phenomenon Jayden Quaintance has recorded 22 blocks thus far in the 2024-2025 season, surpassing All-American James Harden and Sun Devil career blocks leader Jordan Bachynski on the freshman single-season blocks list. Quaintance already has the eight-most blocks by a freshman in program history. 

Sun Devil Freshman Blocks Record (1978-79-present)
55, Mario Bennett, 1991-92
33, Jamal Faulkner, 1990-91
31, Ike Diogu, 2002-03
29, Jalen Graham, 2019-20
24, Shawn Redhage, 1999-2000
23, Romello White, 2017-18
23, Jeff Pendergraph, 2005-06
22, Jayden Quaintance, 2024-25
21, Tommy Smith, 1999-2000
20, Jordan Bachynski, 2010-11
19, James Harden, 2007-08
 
Quaintance has four or more blocks in four games, becoming the first Sun Devil to accomplish that feat in a season since Warren Washington did it four times during the entire 2022-23 season. Quaintance has matched that total in only six games, joining all-time ASU shot blocker Jordan Bachysnski as the only Sun Devils to record four or more blocks in the first six games to start the season. 
 
Backcourt Takeover 
In the first half, guards Alston Mason and Adam Miller combined for seven points on 3-of-6 FG and a 1-of-3 mark from beyond the arc. They took their game to another level in the second half, accounting for 23 points while shooting an efficient 6-of-9 from the field and making 4-of-5 three-pointers. The duo went seven of eight from the free throw line after the break helping seal the victory.
 
Owning the Glass
Arizona State out rebounded the Mustangs 44-24. It is the largest margin since Arizona State out rebounded Long Beach State 63-30 on November 12, 2018. In the last two games, Arizona State has a 35 margin advantage over their opponents factoring in their +15 rebounding advantage over St. Thomas on Sunday. This is the largest rebound margin for Arizona State in back-to-back games since they out-rebounded McNeese State by 13 and Long Beach State by 33 (+46) back on November 9 & 12, 2018. 
 
Sansational Start
Joson Sanon continues to emerge as one of the premier freshman in the country. He scored a career-best 22 points tonight on 7-of-13 shooting. Over the last three games, Joson Sanon has scored a total of 61 points (20.3 ppg) and grabbed 16 rebounds (5.3 rpg). During that span, he is shooting 21-36 (.58%) from the field and 10-17 (59%) from beyond the arc. He is now averaging a team-best 14.3 points per game this season.

Sanon becomes just the 20th Sun Devil to have two 20+ point games in their freshman campaign. 

Sun Devil Fresman 20-Point Games (1972-73 to present)
18, Jahii Carson, 2012-13
16, James Harden, 2007-08
12, Ike Diogu, 2002-03
9, Luguentz Dort, 2018-19
7, Jamal Faulkner, 1990-91
5, Steve Beck, 1983-84
4, Christian Polk, 2006-07
3, Josh Christopher, 2020-21
3, Eddie House, 1996-97
3, Ron Riley, 1992-93
3, Byron Scott, 1979-80
3, Gary Jackson, 1972-73
2, Joson Sanon, 2024-25
2, Remy Martin, 2017-18
2, Jonathan Gilling, 2011-12
2, Ty Abbott, 2007-08
2, Jeff Pendergraph, 2005-06
2, Kevin Kruger (RS), 2003-04
2, Stevin Smith, 1990-91
2, Gregg Goorjian, 1978-79
 
Comfortable when it is Close
Sun Devils move to 17-8 in two-possession games over the past three seasons. Arizona State is 59-42 (58.4%) in close games in the Bobby Hurley era. 
 
Double up on Double Doubles
Freshman Jayden Quaintance was a force yet again, finishing with 11 points and 12 boards. It was his second straight game recording a double double after putting up  13 points and 14 boards against St. Thomas. He is the first Sun Devil to record back-to-back double-doubles since Kimani Lawrence, who finished with 19 points and 10 boards against Portland State on November 9th, 2021 and 19 points and 12 boards against UC Riverside on November 11, 2021.

Balanced Attack                 
This is the first time the Sun Devils starting five reached double figures in a game since a 91-67 win over San Diego on December 12, 2022.

Other Notables

• The 41 free throw attempts marks the most free throw attempts for ASU since December 6, 2023 against SMU (43 free throw attempts)
• Arizona State set a new season-high with nine steals as a team
• BJ Freeman recorded 13 points, six rebounds and five assists; his first 10+ points/5+ rebounds/5+assists performance as a Sun Devil this season. He had nine total 10+ points/5+ rebounds/5+ assists at Milwaukee last season
• The Sun Devils reached the 90-point mark for the first time since a 98-73 NCAA Tournament win over Nevada on March 15, 2023.

First Half:
BJ Freeman found Adam Miller in the corner for a catch-and-shoot beyond the arc to give the Sun Devils their first points of the night, leading 3-0 over the Mustangs. The Sun Devils used that momentum to start the game and started off hot shooting 4-of-4 from downtown with the help of back-to-back treys by BJ Freeman. ASU held a 12-6 lead over Cal Poly heading into the first media timeout with 15:49 remaining in the half.
 
Coming off the bench, Joson Sanon found his rhythm right away with a contested jay and knock-down three, giving the Sun Devils a 17-7 lead over the Mustangs. Jayden Quaintance got his hands dirty for a loose ball on the ground and found Amier Ali for an easy layup, giving ASU a 23-10 lead over Cal Poly with 11:47 remaining.
 
In back-to-back possessions, Joson Sanon took his man on an iso and knocked down a trey and jay, continuing a perfect field goal percentage from the field and giving the Sun Devils a 28-17 lead. ASU held on a 28-23 lead over Cal Poly heading into the third media timeout of the half with 7:41 left till halftime. 
 
Alston Mason took full advantage of the fast-break and went coast to coast to the rack for a contested layup, giving the Sun Devils a 33-25 lead with 5:33 remaining in the half. In back-to-back possessions, Jayden Quaintance found the rim for grown-man slams to boost ASU's lead to 41-31 over Cal Poly with 2:16 remaining in the half. 
 
Following a block by Jayden Quaintance, Joson Sanon was able to take control on the fast-break and got fouled going up at the rim, contributing a free throw to give the Sun Devils a 46-38 lead over the Mustangs at half.
 
Second Half:
Alston Mason found Adam Miller coming off the screen for a knock-down three to give the Sun Devils a 54-44 lead over the Mustangs with 17:45 remaining in regulation. Adam Miller returned the favor to Alston Mason with finding him in the corner off the fast-break for a catch-and-shoot treyball, giving ASU a 59-46 lead over Cal Poly. The Sun Devils held a 59-50 lead over the Mustangs heading into the first media timeout of the half with 15:00 remaining in regulation.
 
With the shot clock winding down, BJ Freeman was able to spin out of his defender for a reverse layup, giving the Sun Devils a 64-58 lead with 10:23 remaining in the game. After BJ Freeman pick-pocketed the defender, he was able to find Amier Ali for an easy two hand alley oop, boosting ASU's lead to seven over Cal Poly. With 7:30 remaining in regulation, the Sun Devils held onto a 70-66 lead over the Mustangs. 
 
Coming out of the media timeout, Cal Poly managed to bring their deficit within one, until Adam Miller was able to give ASU some breathing room with a three beyond the arc. The Sun Devils held onto a 77-76 lead over the Mustangs heading into the final media timeout of regulation with 3:56 remaining. 
 
Once again, Adam Miller gave ASU more breathing room with a knock-down three in the corner, giving Arizona State a 81-76 lead with 3:37 remaining. After a crucial defensive rebound by Basheer Jihad, Jihad was able to sink both free throws after being fouled to bring the Sun Devils lead to 84-80 with 1:41 left in regulation. Joson Sanon took advantage of the defender falling for the pump fake and got the basket to go down for an and-1 play, giving ASU a 87-82 lead with 1:03 remaining. 
 
With 15.6 seconds remaining in the half, the Mustangs were able to bring their deficit within two, with the Sun Devils holding onto a 89-87 lead. BJ Freeman enabled his clutch factor and knocked down two free throws to seal the game, with ASU winning 93-89 over Cal Poly. 
 
Up Next
Sun Devil Men's Basketball will head to Palm Springs, California to take on New Mexico State in the Acrisure Classic on Thanksgiving at 9:30 p.m. MST. Television coverage can be found on TruTV.
 
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Arizona State Head Coach Bobby Hurley
Opening Statement: "Our defense took a step back and we didn't guard them individually off the dribble, and we didn't guard the line. They made difficult shots, but overall our defense hurt us. We had moments where we got the score into double digits, where we could have taken control of the game and we let them keep hanging around. They fought hard. I liked their team; they had a different playing style, and number 40 could shoot. We have to do better offensively, and our free-throwing shooting was bad. The one positive was the rebounding differential, which has plagued us this year. I thought we did a good job on the backboard and not giving up second-chance opportunities." 
 
On: Adam Miller's Big Shots at the End of the Game 
"It was a veteran thing to do, and I thought in a game where we were in trouble, he came in and made some big shots. He's not 100% right now so this time will be good for him." 
 
On: The team's offensive performance 
"It was good and I don't want to lose sight of the positives. We've consistently been shooting around 50% from the field and tonight, 10 of 24 from three is 41%, that's good. I think one of our strengths is being balanced, we have a number of guys who can impact the offense and we didn't have enough of those guys on the defensive end tonight." 
 
Arizona State Guard Adam Miller
On getting everyone involved while reaching a season-high 93 points
"I think we were trying to build off last game. We had a lot of assists last game, and when you share the sugar everybody gets to eat. We were just sharing the ball. I think when we continue to understand the pace of the game and everybody has a chance to score, we'll get even better."
 
On his role as a veteran with so much young talent on the team
"I think I just have to continue molding the team into Bobby Hurley's team and continue to lead from the forefront with my effort and my work. We've got some good young guys and they're talented. So when those guys are hot, it's just continuing to ride off them, making sure we get them shots and making sure we're finding them so they can build their confidence. If not, then it's still finding a way to keep them involved and showing them little tricks here and there that are going to help them evolve their game."