Arizona State Pulls Away Late As Tigers Fall 63-52

TEMPE, Ariz. – A second half run was the difference as TSU dropped a tightly contested decision at Arizona State 63-52 Saturday afternoon.
 
ASU turned a 6-6 tie in the first half into an 18-8 lead after a 12-2 run but baskets by PJ Henry and Deon Stroud trimmed the deficit to 18-12 with 9:33 left. TSU would struggle to put the ball in the basket with only a pair of free throws over the next five minutes but the team’s defense kept the margin close until Jaylen Wysinger’s jumper for a 21-16 ASU margin with 4:28 remaining.
 
ASU countered with a basket to move the lead back to seven but TSU answered as Jahmar Young, Jr.’s layup brought them back to within five at 23-18. ASU would push the lead back to 10 late but another Wysinger jumper late in the half narrowed the gap to 28-20 at the half.
 
The Sun Devils led by 10 early in the second half but the Tigers began to heat up as PJ Henry and Jonathan Cisse hit back-to-back three-pointers to draw within 32-28. ASU answered with a 6-0 run but three-pointers from Cisse and Kehlin Farooq and a Kenny Hunter layup got TSU back into the contest once again as the Tigers trailed 40-38 with 13:17 left. However, ASU outscored the Tigers 14-6 over the next six minutes to move ahead by 12 but TSU stayed close as Henry’s jumper brought the team to within 57-50 at the 3:11 mark. That would be the closest the Tigers would get as ASU held on for the win.
 
Henry led TSU with 12 points followed by nine from Young, Jr. Hunter led TSU with nine boards followed by eight from Young, Jr.
 
TSU is back in action on Thursday at 6 p.m. at Virginia.