Nov. 27, 2008
Anaheim, Calif.-
By Thomas Lenneberg, ASU Media Relations
Jeff Pendergraph scored 23 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as the No. 14 Sun Devils routed Charlotte 84-56 in the first round of the 76 Classic. Pendergraph, finally fully healthy after a pre-season quad strain and back bruise, had his best game of the season. He ended the game on 8-of-12 shooting from the field, paving the way for an ASU team that shot a tournament record 61 percent from the field.
James Harden, who was hampered by early foul trouble, didn't score his first point until 14 minutes into the game. However, the Devils offensive production did not falter as Pendergraph and Ty Abbott, who finished with 14 points on 4-of-5 shooting, set the tone early, combining to score ASU's first ten points of the game.
ASU ran out to a quick nine-point lead and they never relinquished it, ending the first half up by 12. The 49er's cut the lead to seven three minutes into the second half, but the Devils promptly went on a 20-to-9 run over the next seven minutes to put the game out of reach.
Although Harden was held to just two field goals, he finished the game with 15 points, going a perfect 11-for-11 from the free throw line.
"Jeff (Pendergraph) and James (Harden) each carried the torch for us," coach Herb Sendek said about his team's offense. "Jeff did a really good job of having an inside presence and James gave us effective penetration. They went to the line 20 times between the two of them."
Arizona State's stifling zone defense was again a difference maker as the 49ers committed 21 turnovers, including six in the first five minutes of the game. The men of Charlotte, who have a field goal percentage of 41 percent thus far, went 5-of-26 from beyond the arc and were held to a season-low 34.4 percent from the field.
"I thought our defense paved the way," coach Sendek added. "Guys played really hard, they were alert, moving well and did a good job of communicating. Our defensive effort was the difference in the game."
The Sun Devils are holding opponents to a measly 35.1 percent shooting this season and an average of 53 points per game.
"I finally think we're grasping the fact that it's possible that we can really lock down people and play great defense," Harden said of their dominating defensive performance.
"When we're in to them and pressuring the ball and talking on defense, it's exciting for us as a team and really disrupts their offense."
The Sun Devils are now 4-0 and ranked No. 14 in the AP Poll, the highest they have been in these standings since the 63'-64' season, when they were ranked sixth.
"It's definitely good to be one of those teams that everybody wants to look out for instead of being one of those teams that people forget about. But we still have a lot of improvement to make."
Shipp continued his strong play of late, scoring 10 points off the bench in 24 minutes of play.
"Our bench was tremendous," Harden said. "It was a collective effort. Once we have that every single game, we're going to be a tough team to beat."
With their steady bench and unyielding zone defense, the Sun Devils, who never trailed in their thirty-point win, opened the season 4-0 for only the third time in 22 seasons.