Although ASU 10-10 (2-5) looked promising in the early going, an injury to Kodi Justice and losing the battle on the boards was enough for the Sun Devils to fall to Stanford 14-5 (5-2) late Saturday night 89-70.
Both teams had streaks of hitting shots in the first half, making it close, but runs on both sides wore down ASU as halftime neared. Stanford had a 7-0 run to make it 17-10 early, but ASU responded with an 8-0 run of its own to take an 18-17 lead. The Cardinal had another 7-0 run but the Sun Devils once again climbed back in the game to notch it at 24. Things quieted down in the middle of the first frame before Stanford mounted an 11-4 run over the last five minutes to go into halftime up 51-41.
The Sun Devils never could find a rhythm in the second half, but steadily kept within a 10-point striking distance for the first nine minutes. After which Stanford went on a 15-4 run to clinch the win for the Cardinal as they coasted to victory.
Savon Goodman starred for the Sun Devils with 18 points and four rebounds. Jon Gilling and Bo Barnes had nine points a piece while Tra Holder, Eric Jacobsen and Gerry Blakes all finished with eight points.
Stanford had three players score at least 20 points in the same game for the first time in 18 years. Chasson Randle (21), Stefan Nastic (20) and Anthony Brown (21) put together a complete 40-minute effort to put the Sun Devils away. ASU shot fairly well, but 44 percent from the field and 38 percent from beyond wasn't enough to overcome the Cardinal.
ASU now comes back home and will play their first conference opponent for the second time this season in Oregon State next Wednesday night with a 6 p.m. tip off in Tempe. That game will be on Pac-12 Networks.