Sun Devils beat Wildcats 49-39
TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Arizona State was sharing the ball and hitting baskets throughout the first half, building a huge lead.
Once Bethune-Cookman slowed the game down and packed into a zone, the Sun Devils became stagnant and had to hold on for the 49-39 victory Monday night.
Eric Jacobsen had 13 points and 10 rebounds, and Arizona State withstood a shaky second half to beat Bethune-Cookman.
"You just felt the air evaporate from the gym as they held onto the ball and we just sat around," Arizona State coach Herb Sendek said.
Arizona State (2-0) followed an impressive opening victory over Chicago State by dominating Bethune-Cookman (1-1) early.
The Sun Devils were at their share-the-ball best while building a 21-point lead in the opening 14 minutes, but struggled in the second half after the Wildcats went to a zone.
Jon Gilling added 11 points for Arizona State, which had 19 turnovers and shot 5 of 17 in the second half.
"We were an offensive nightmare in the second half," Sendek said.
Bethune-Cookman fought back after falling into the big hole, pulling within 47-39 on a long 3-pointer my Mikel Trapp with about 90 seconds left.
Quentin Brewer and Clemmye Owens each scored nine points for Bethune-Cookman, which shot 31 percent and went 4 of 16 from 3-point range.
"I slowed the game so we could execute and take a deep breath," Wildcats coach Gravelle Craig said. "I went zone to keep them from penetrating. We did a good job the second half, but we have to get better. I'm still feeling out how we need to play."
The Sun Devils had a successful debut with their new-look team in the opener.
Facing Chicago State, Arizona State didn't seem to miss Jahii Carson, Jordan Bachynski and Jermaine Marshall, cruising to an 86-50 win on Friday.
Moving the ball just as Sendek wanted, the Sun Devils shot 61 percent and were pretty good defensively, too, holding Chicago State to 32 percent shooting.
Arizona State kept it rolling against Bethune-Cookman, scoring the game's first 10 points and extending the lead to 25-4.
The Sun Devils led 33-14 at halftime and 6-foot-10 Jacobsen gave the Wildcats fits inside, scoring 11 points in the first half while getting to the free-throw line seven times (five makes).
Arizona State's aggressive defense gave Bethune-Cookman all kinds of problems, too.
The Wildcats missed 16 of their first 18 shots and all eight of their 3-point attempts while going 5 for 24 overall.
"I think we didn't realize the speed of the game at high level in the first half," Craig said. "Arizona State beat off us off the dribble and were posting deep. They were right on our shots and we couldn't get by them."
Bethune-Cookman was able to slow the Sun Devils a little in the second half by going to a zone defense and had a little better flow offensively, going on a late 15-3 run to make it close.
It wasn't quite enough after the hole Arizona State put the Wildcats in the first half.
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TIP-INS
Bethune-Cookman: The Wildcats made 9 of 20 shots in the second half. ... Trapp had five points on 2-of-7 shooting after scoring 26 in the opener.
Arizona State: Arizona State's record for fewest points allowed in the first half is 12, last accomplished in 2009. ... The Sun Devils had had 13 assists on 14 field goals, but went nearly eight minutes without a field goal during one stretch of the second half.
UP NEXT
Bethune-Cookman faces Monmouth in West Long Branch, New Jersey on Friday.
Arizona State hosts Loyola Marymount on Thursday.
ASSERTIVE JACOBSEN
Jacobsen spent the past two seasons playing behind Bachynski, getting a few minutes here and there while spelling the 7-footer.
With Bachynski gone, the Sun Devils will need to rely on Jacobsen more, and he's produced.
The junior had eight points and six rebounds in the opener, and was 3 for 4 from the field and 7 of 9 on free throws against Bethune-Cookman.
"I definitely feel a lot more confident overall inside and with my offensive game," Jacobsen said. "We worked a lot with that over the summer. Being able to go against Jordan all last year helped."