Arizona State Dominates Nevada in First Four Game, Advances to Face TCU in First Round

By | Bullscore 16 Mar, 2023

In a historical performance, Arizona State raced to a commanding halftime lead and scored the most points ever in a First Four game of the NCAA Tournament, crushing Nevada 98-73 on Wednesday night. DJ Horne led the Sun Devils with 20 points, while Desmond Cambridge Jr. added 17 points against his former team.

Arizona State’s explosive offense hit 67.7% of its shots from the floor in the first half, forcing 10 turnovers and piling up a 22-2 run over eight minutes to take control of the game. The Sun Devils’ first-half output was a season-high, and they didn’t let up in the second half, continuing to pressure the Wolf Pack and forcing them to the perimeter.

Nevada struggled to find its rhythm throughout the game, with one of its top players, Kenan Blackshear, picking up three fouls early and sitting on the bench for over five minutes in the first half. Averaging 14.4 points per game, Blackshear was held to just four points in the contest.

Despite shooting better in the second half, Nevada could not climb out of the hole Arizona State had dug in the first half. The Wolf Pack couldn’t get closer than 19 points after halftime, while Arizona State continued to dominate on both ends of the floor.

With the win, Arizona State advances to face TCU in a West Region first-round game on Friday in Denver. The Sun Devils forced 11 turnovers in the game and were 11 for 21 (52.4%) from beyond the 3-point line, demonstrating their offensive firepower and setting the stage for what could be an exciting tournament run.