Jan 4, 2002
By MEL REISNER
AP Sports Writer
TEMPE, Ariz. - Chad Prewitt had a career-high 25 points and Tommy Smith scored 18 as Arizona State avenged a loss to Oregon State last month, beating the Beavers 67-58 Friday night. Prewitt is averaging 20.3 points and 7.3 rebounds in the past four games and is shooting 81.5 percent from the foul line in that time (22-of-27). Prewitt, the first four-year player in the Rob Evans' era at ASU, has five 20-point games on the year (12 games) after posting just two in his first three seasons (89 games). He is shooting 67.6 percent (68-of-118) from the field on the year and 75 percent (45-of-60) from the free throw line.
The Sun Devils (8-4, 1-2 Pac-10) won their third straight while snapping Oregon State's three-game winning streak, which began with a 62-57 win over the Sun Devils on Dec. 22.
The Sun Devils had just seven turnovers in the game, the second-fewest in the Rob Evans' four years as head coach (103 games). ASU had just five at Washington on Feb. 6, 1999.
Kenny Crandall had 14 points for Arizona State, which has beaten the Beavers nine times in 10 games in Tempe.
Philip Ricci had 23 points and nine rebounds for the Beavers (8-5, 1-2), and Adam Masten scored 13.
Arizona State, which fell just short in the game at Corvallis, Ore., after applying full-court pressure in the second half, built a 14-point lead in the second half this time, saw it cut to two and then got the spread it needed on a three-point play by Prewitt.
That opened a 64-58 lead with 1:26 remaining.
Prewitt had a jumper and a 3-pointer in the first 1:46 of the second half, and Arizona State took a 46-32 lead on a 10-foot turnaround by Smith 3:20 in.
But Masten started a 17-5 run with a 3-pointer and a driving layup, and Ricci had 10 points during the surge, cutting Oregon State's deficit to 51-49 with 9:16 to play.
Smith had a basket, the Beavers' J.S. Nash answered with a jumper and then Prewitt hit a free throw, Smith made a follow shot and Crandall sank a 3-pointer in a 60-second span, sending Arizona State to a 59-51 lead with 6:46 to go.
Smith, 5-for-21 on 3-pointers in his career coming in, made three in the first 7:09 as Arizona State took a 15-10 lead.
The Beavers got within 20-18 on a 3-pointer by Jimmie Haywood with 9:01 to go, but Prewitt scored 11 points during a seven-minute run in which the Sun Devils outscored the Beavers 17-9.
Prewitt's last basket, a layup off an assist from Smith, produced a 37-27 lead with 1:49 left in the half.