Men's Basketball Opens Home Slate with Texas Southern

By: Connor Smith

TEMPE - Sun Devil Men's Basketball returns home to host Texas Southern on Saturday, Nov. 11 at 1:30 p.m.

Arizona State opens the season at Desert Financial Arena with the Tigers in the return of the Legacy Series and annual Salute to Service Game. Sun Devil fans get their first chance to check out the Maroon and Gold on their home court. It is the first of 15 home games this season, with several marquee opponents coming to Tempe. For the second straight game to open the 2023-24 campaign, Coach Hurley's team will take on a team that made the 2023 NCAA Tournament.

HOW TO FOLLOW
ASU's game against Texas Southern on Saturday will be broadcasted on Pac-12 Network (Los Angeles), scheduled for a 1:30 PM MST tip-off. The father-son duo of Jordan Kent (play-by-play) and Ernie Kent (analyst) are on the call. Make sure to listen to Tim Healey and Kyle Dodd on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM. The action can also be tracked via live stats available here.

HOME OPENER NOTES
The Sun Devils have won their past seven home openers under Bobby Hurley. They are averaging 87.4 points in those games while giving up only 69.0. ASU is 9-1 in their last ten home openers.

SERIES HISTORY
Arizona State and Texas Southern have had three previous matchups, with the Sun Devils taking two of the contests. ASU has won both home games against the Tigers by an average margin of 14.5 points. In the last meeting in Tempe, the Sun Devils shot 57% on their way to a 98-81 victory.

LAST TIME OUT
Arizona State fell in its season opener, dropping a neutral site contest to the Mississippi State Bulldogs 71-56 on Wednesday night at the Barstool Sports Invitational. Kamari Lands led all Sun Devils with 13 points with Frankie Collins joining him in double-figures (10 points). Seven Sun Devils made their debut in the Maroon & Gold.

GET TICKETS
Tickets for Sun Devil Men's Basketball 2023-24 non-conference games are on sale now. The non-conference schedule features five home games including an opening night rematch with Texas Southern Saturday, Nov. 11, plus key matchups versus San Francisco and SMU. Conference games will become available on Friday, Nov. 24. Visit the following link for more information. Ticket packages start at just $90 and the home schedule features match-ups against top ranked USC, UCLA and Arizona. Season Tickets and Mini Plans are now available.

SCHEDULE BREAKDOWN
With several marquee non-conference matchups away from home, Arizona State will once again be challenged early in the year. The Sun Devils will play 11 games before the holidays, including six games away from home. Beginning with a late December trip to the Bay Area, the Maroon & Gold will play 20-straight conference games, with the Pac-12 eliminating the two standalone league games in the middle of the non-conference portion of the schedule. All 31 of Arizona State's games will be televised, with Coach Hurley's squad making appearances on ESPN, FOX, Pac-12 Network and several major network affiliates in addition to online streaming platforms.

CLOSE GAME SUCCESS
ASU continued its solid play in close game games, going 11-5 in games decided by six points or less in 2022-23. They are now 35-18 (.660) in close games in the past four seasons.

ROSTER BREAKDOWN
Arizona State will feature a total of 11 new players on their roster, joining returners Frankie Collins, Jamiya Neal, Alonzo Gaffney, Bobby Hurley, and Jordan Williams to make up the 2023-24 Sun Devil Men's Basketball roster. The following is a roundup of the ASU newcomer class.

2023 INCOMING TRANSFERS
G Kamari Lands - Louisville
G Brycen Long - Houston Christian
C Shawn Phillips Jr. - LSU
G Jose Perez - West Virginia
F Zane Meeks - San Francisco
F Bryant Selebangue - Tulsa
G Adam Miller - LSU

JUCO ADDITION
G Malachi Davis - Tallahassee CC

FRESHMAN CLASS
G Braelon Green - Southfield, MI
F Akil Watson - Middletown, NY

SOLIDIFYING HIS STAFF
Head Coach Bobby Hurley and the Sun Devil Men's Basketball program officially announced the final additions to the 2023-24 staff in October. Arizona State welcomes Yusuf Ali and Jarryn Skeete to the Sun Devil Family, with Nick Irvin and Mickey Mitchell receiving promotions. The news comes after Greg Lansing (Special Assistant to the Head Coach) and Hunter Eisenhower (Associate Head Coach - Sports Performance) joined the staff earlier in the offseason. ASU now boasts an experienced and diverse staff from top to bottom, featuring some of the nation's top rising talent in the coaching industry.

HERE TO STAY
Vice President for University Athletics Ray Anderson announced in March of 2023 that Sun Devil Men's Basketball Head Coach Bobby Hurley has agreed to an extension that will keep him with the program through the 2026 season.

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