Arizona State Tops Utah 71-63 Behind Balanced Effort

Arizona State's trip to the Jon M. Huntsman Center was a successful one, as the Sun Devils took down Utah 71-63. The win was fueled by a balanced effort from Arizona State, with three players scoring in double figures. Massamba Diop led the way with 15 points and 8 rebounds, while Anthony Johnson and Maurice Odum chipped in with 14 and 13 points, respectively.

Utah, on the other hand, was paced by Don McHenry's 23 points, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Sun Devils' strong team performance. The Utes trailed by 16 at halftime, with Arizona State taking a 41-25 lead into the break. Utah attempted to mount a comeback in the second half, with Seydou Traore scoring 16 points, but the deficit proved too great to overcome.

The first half was dominated by Arizona State, who used a combination of strong defense and efficient offense to build their sizable lead. The Sun Devils shot 53% from the field in the first half, while holding Utah to just 36%. The Utes' Keanu Dawes did manage to grab 11 rebounds, but it wasn't enough to offset the team's poor shooting.

CHD Scout had predicted a close game, with Arizona State winning by just 0.8 points. However, the Sun Devils were able to exceed expectations, winning by a comfortable 8-point margin. The actual score of 71-63 was far from the predicted 80-80 tie, but the end result was the same - an Arizona State victory.

The win is a significant one for Arizona State, as it boosts their resume with a Quadrant 2 victory. The Sun Devils' current net ranking of 80 will likely receive a boost, as they continue to push for a tournament berth. On the other hand, the loss is a tough one for Utah, as it drops them to 9-13 on the season. The Utes' Quadrant 3 loss will do little to help their tournament chances, which are already slim.

In terms of tournament implications, Arizona State's win is a crucial one. The Sun Devils' balanced effort and strong team performance will be attractive to the selection committee, and this win will certainly be a feather in their cap. Utah, on the other hand, must regroup and refocus if they hope to make a late-season push for the tournament. As it stands, the Utes' chances are looking increasingly slim. The loss to Arizona State will be a difficult one to overcome, and Utah must string together some impressive wins if they hope to change their fortunes.