TEMPE, Arizona — Alonzo Verge scored 20 points, Remy Martin added 18 and Arizona State held off Washington State's late rally for an 83-74 victory on Saturday night (Sunday, Manila time).
The Sun Devils (20-11, 11-7 Pac-12) were sharp early, building a 17-point lead before Washington State fought back.
The Cougars (15-16, 6-12) used a 17-2 run to tie the game at 65-all, but Arizona State senior Rob Edwards hit a corner 3 and Verge a jumper to push Arizona State's lead to seven.
The Sun Devils hit six straight free throws in the final 30 seconds to earn a coveted first-round bye at next week's Pac-12 tournament in Las Vegas.
Washington State struggled shooting from the perimeter in a loss to Arizona on Thursday and again couldn't find the deep range, shooting 5 of 25 from the 3-point arc.
Tony Miller led the Cougars with 21 points.
Washington State won the teams' first meeting 62-53 in Pullman after forcing 21 turnovers.
The Sun Devils knew they could earn a first-round bye in the conference tournament with a win in the rematch after UCLA and Colorado lost earlier Saturday.
But Arizona State came out tight, clanking shots from all angles. The Sun Devils opened 4 for 15 from the floor and missed their first six from 3-point range to fall into an early eight-point hole.
Arizona State still managed to keep it close and finally found a rhythm at both ends, using a 17-2 run to go up 21-14. The Sun Devils used another late run after the Cougars rallied to go up 40-29 at halftime.
Washington State struggled from the perimeter — 4 for 17 from 3 — and foul trouble in the first half. Center Volodymyr Markovetskyy was limited to five minutes after picking up three first-half fouls and Noah Williams picked up his fourth foul on a late technical.
The Cougars managed to trim Arizona State's lead to five early in the second half, but Markovetskyy picked up his fourth foul and headed back to the bench. The Sun Devils began stretching the lead back out, but Washington State rallied with a 17-2 run to tie the game at 65-all with 3 1/2 minutes left.
BIG PICTURE
Washington State made a late push to make a game of it, but heads into the Pac-12 tournament with six losses in seven games.
Arizona State was sharp early, sloppy during Washington State's big run, but is now in position to make the NCAA Tournament three straight years for the first time since 1960-64.
UP NEXT
Washington State opens the Pac-12 tournament Wednesday in Las Vegas.
Arizona State has a first-round bye in the conference tournament.
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Source: Spin PH
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