The Arizona St. Sun Devils didn't get a pretty win on Thursday night but did enough to hold off the Utah Utes for a 57-52 victory. Jordan Bachynski served as the anchor with 11 points and 12 rebounds. He also had four blocks and controlled the paint against Utah's big men.
The first half bore witness to only 41 offensive points, with the Sun Devils taking a 23-18 lead into halftime. ASU's advantage could have been much larger (at one point ASU had a 15-0 run to move ahead) but the Utes fought back and kept the game within striking distance at the end of the half.
The second half featured much of the same storyline as ASU pushed ahead only to watch Utah catch up. Led by 15 points from Carrick Felix and 12 points by Trent Lockett, the Sun Devils managed to maintain just enough of an edge to come out victorious.
Lockett played in his first game since spraining his right ankle, and his presence definitely made an impact. In addition to the points, Lockett chipped in with six rebounds and two assists. He should only get better as he adjusts back to the speed of the game.
The win snaps a two-game losing streak, and it gives ASU some momentum with the Colorado Buffaloes slated to play at Wells Fargo Arena on Saturday. If Bachynski can continue to be assertive, the Sun Devils may have a shot to pull off the upset.