A 3-point attempt by Arizona State’s Jamiya Neal at the buzzer fell off the mark, allowing San Diego State to hold on to a 65-63 home win Thursday night.
Lamont Butler had 14 points to lead San Diego State (2-1) in a game that had 10 lead changes and six ties.
Aztecs guard Matt Bradley, who finished with 12 points and eight rebounds, was fouled with eight seconds left. He made one of two free throws to give San Diego State a two-point lead.
Marreon Jackson dribbled upcourt and eluded two defenders to find an open Neal in front of Arizona State’s bench. Neal’s 3-point attempt at the buzzer went long.
Jackson, a graduate transfer from Toledo, led Arizona State (2-2) with 16 points and seven assists. He also had seven rebounds. Kimani Lawrence added 14 points and 12 boards for the Sun Devils.
Jackson followed his missed 3-pointer with a jumper to give Arizona State a 63-61 lead with 1:43 left.
San Diego State’s Trey Pulliam made one of two free throws before Arizona State’s Jalen Graham missed both of his foul shots with 1:23 left.
Pulliam made a jumper in the lane to give the Aztecs a 64-63 lead with 1:05 left, prompting coach Bobby Hurley to call Arizona State’s last timeout.
After Jackson missed a jumper, he was able to steal the ball from Keshad Johnson, who had rebounded the ball.
DJ Horne and Jackson missed 3-pointers in the same possession before a held ball was called with the possession arrow pointing to San Diego State.
Bradley then made one foul shot before Neal’s miss at the buzzer.
Arizona State held a 39-30 lead with 16:52 left following a sequence that included Bradley getting whistled for a technical foul for arguing a foul called on Johnson.
San Diego State went on a 12-0 run to take a 42-39 lead with 14:04 remaining, but Arizona State responded with seven unanswered points.
A 3-pointer by Butler and a layup by Bradley gave San Diego State a 55-54 lead with 6:10 left, but Jackson answered with a 3-pointer.
Neither team led by more than two points afterward.
–Field Level Media
