Arizona State secured a hard-fought 87-84 victory over Kansas State at the Desert Financial Arena, thanks in large part to the outstanding performance of Massamba Diop. The Sun Devils' forward tallied 21 points and grabbed 9 rebounds, helping his team overcome a strong effort from Kansas State's P.J. Haggerty, who scored a game-high 25 points.
The contest got off to a fast-paced start, with Kansas State taking a 38-36 lead into halftime. The Wildcats' Abdi Bashir Jr. had a strong first half, scoring 12 of his 22 points before the break. However, Arizona State's offense caught fire in the second half, with Diop and Maurice Odum combining for 27 points after halftime. Odum finished with 21 points, matching Diop's total, while Anthony Johnson added 18 points for the Sun Devils.
Despite Haggerty's impressive scoring display, Kansas State was unable to keep pace with Arizona State's balanced attack. The Sun Devils' 51 second-half points was the difference, as they outscored the Wildcats by 5 points over the final 20 minutes. Kansas State's Khamari McGriff chipped in with 8 points, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Sun Devils' offensive onslaught.
The win is a significant one for Arizona State, as it marks a Quadrant 3 victory for the Sun Devils. With a current net ranking of 87, Arizona State is looking to bolster its tournament resume, and this win should help in that regard. For Kansas State, the loss is a Quadrant 2 defeat, which may not be as detrimental to their tournament chances. The Wildcats, currently ranked 89 in the net rankings, want to bounce back from this tough road loss.
In the end, Arizona State's strong team performance and Diop's standout effort was too much for Kansas State to handle. The Sun Devils' ability to score from multiple sources and their rebounding edge, led by Diop's 9 boards, were key factors in their victory. As the season progresses, Arizona State want to build on this win and continue to strengthen its tournament resume. With this Q3 win, the Sun Devils have taken a step in the right direction, and their postseason chances have improved as a result.