Lets discuss the game between the Sun Devils and the Wolf Pack. Should be an interesting game to watch considering the relative inexperience of both teams.
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Go ASU!
Sports Network | December 17, 2010
GAME NOTES: The Arizona State Sun Devils invade the Lawlor Events Center in Reno this evening for a non-conference battle with the Nevada Wolf Pack.
Arizona State carried a three-game losing streak into last Saturday's matchup with Gardner-Webb, but that contest resulted in a rebounding 71-48 victory. That win enabled the Sun Devils to improve to 4-4 overall, and while all four of their losses have come against solid competition, the four triumphs have come over rather weak opponents. ASU competes in the Pac-10 Conference, which is completely wide open this season.
As for Nevada, it lost seven consecutive games after opening the season with a victory. Fortunately for the Wolf Pack, it was able to halt the slide last Saturday with a 78-64 triumph over San Francisco State. A member of the Western Athletic Conference, Nevada has suffered three losses this season by three points or fewer.
Arizona State posted a 76-63 victory over Nevada in the only previous meeting between the two programs during the 2002-03 season.
Trent Lockett is the leading scorer for Arizona State this season, as he is netting 15.6 ppg on 62.7 percent shooting from the field. More than just a scorer, Lockett is also ripping down 6.9 rpg while handing out over three assists per contest to rank second on the roster in both categories. Ty Abbott is posting 12.6 ppg for ASU, but his 38.5 percent field goal efficiency is far from impressive. Rihards Kuksiks is scoring 10.4 ppg for ASU to round out a trio of double-digit scorers, and the team is generating 63.4 ppg while limiting opponents to 63.1 ppg on 41.8 percent field goal efficiency. In the 23-point victory over Gardner-Webb last weekend, the Sun Devils played tremendous team defense, permitting just 30.4 percent shooting from the field. They forced 17 turnovers and earned a 40-34 rebounding advantage as well. Abbott had 18 points in that affair, and Lockett pitched in 16 points. As for Kuksiks, he finished with 15 points.
Dario Hunt is averaging 13.2 ppg this season to pace three double-digit scorers for Nevada. Malik Story checks in with 12.2 ppg, but his 39.8 percent shooting certainly can stand some improvement. As for Deonte Burton, he provides 10.2 ppg to go along with a team-high 33 assists. The Wolf Pack is netting 66.2 ppg on just 41.1 percent field goal efficiency, and the team is allowing 69.1 ppg. Fortunately, Hunt came through with a career-high 25 points in the victory over San Francisco State last Saturday, and he ripped down 12 rebounds as well while shooting 11-of-20 from the floor. Burton had 12 points for Nevada, which played tremendous defense in the clash, permitting a mere 36.7 percent overall shooting. The Wolf Pack committed 17 turnovers, but they earned a 29-17 advantage in points from the foul line and a 43-36 rebounding edge as well.
While Nevada has the advantage of playing at home, the edge has to go to Arizona State in this contest. The Sun Devils will do just enough to escape victorious.
GAME NOTES: The Arizona State Sun Devils invade the Lawlor Events Center in Reno this evening for a non-conference battle with the Nevada Wolf Pack.
FACTS & STATS: Site: Lawlor Events Center (11,536) -- Reno, Nevada. Television: ESPNU. Home Record: Arizona St. 2-1, Nevada 2-1. Away Record: Arizona St. 0-2, Nevada 0-3. Neutral Record: Arizona St. 2-1, Nevada 0-3. Conference Record: Arizona St. 0-0, Nevada 0-0. Series Record: Arizona State leads, 1-0.
Friday, December 17th, 9:00 p.m. (et)
Arizona State 67, Nevada 63