TEMPE – Arizona State men’s basketball aimed for a Cinderella-esque end to its regular season against No. 9 Texas Tech. Inside Desert Financial Arena, on senior night with the Sun Devil fans cheering the team on, it was the perfect recipe for an upset. The story was on course for a happy ending for ASU, with a tightly competitive first half that kept its hopes alive. However, those dreams were squashed fairly quickly after halftime, as the Sun Devils were outscored by 24 points in the second half to lose its final home game of the year 85-57.
Mar 8, 2025; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils head coach Bobby Hurley talks to guard Joson Sanon (3) during the first half against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Desert Financial Arena. Mandatory Credit: Arianna Grainey-Imagn Images
The loss marks nine straight home loss by ASU, the longest streak ever for the program at Desert Financial Arena.
1st Half: Basheer keeps ASU alive
It was poetic for senior forward Jihad Basheer to have one of his best halves in his last game in Tempe. In the first half of his farewell performance, Basheer played with a level of aggression that was needed against a tough Red Raiders defense. The Detroit native got to the charity stripe eight times en route to score 14 first-half points.
Feb 26, 2025; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils forward Basheer Jihad (8) shoots against Brigham Young Cougars forward Richie Saunders (15) during the second half at Desert Financial Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
Basheer got the energy going early, with help from his freshman teammate, guard Joson Sanon. The 6’5 guard joined Basheer in his downhill attack against the Red Raiders’ interior defense, getting to the foul line. The duo shot all of ASU’s free throws in the first half and kept the program close against a balanced Red Raiders offense.
Texas Tech had no one player in double-figure, but shooting 8-for-20 from beyond the arc as a team gifted them a slim 4-point lead heading into the break
2nd Half: ASU runs out of gas
Mar 8, 2025; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders forward JJ Topin (15) goes for a layup against Arizona State Sun Devils forward Basheer Jihad (8) during the first half at Desert Financial Arena. Mandatory Credit: Arianna Grainey-Imagn Images
Throughout the last few weeks, a tired Sun Devils team would come out after the break sluggish and fatigued, allowing teams to go on monster runs for a blowout win. That formula was the same on Saturday. ASU offensively couldn’t get anything to fall. In the second half, the Sun Devils shot 28.6% from the field and made only one 3-point shot.
Meanwhile, sophomore JT Toppin woke up from his slumber to kill ASU’s defense. In the last matchup, Toppin dropped a season-high 41 points against head coach Bobby Hurley’s squad. However, the sophomore only had eight first-half points, as it looked like Hurley and his team had adjusted. That was not the case.
Toppin dropped 17 second-half points, all inside the paint or free-throw line. ASU was without freshman center Jayden Quaintance, and it wasn’t any more apparent than when Toppin exploded for Texas Tech in the second half.
Arizona State head coach Bobby Hurley looks towards the scoreboard during Big 12 conference play against BYU at Desert Financial Arena in Tempe on Feb. 26, 2025. Syndication: Arizona Republic
ASU turns its focus to the Big 12 tournament on March 11th as the 15th seed, where its opponent is still unknown until Saturday’s slate of conference games end.
Alston Mason is Arizona State’s savior against No. 9 Texas Tech
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Reporter Tanner Tortorella covers general assignment for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @TannerTSports
