November 13, 1998
TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) - Eddie House scored 22 points as Arizona State opened the Rob Evans regime with a 68-49 victory over San Jose State in the season opener for both teams Friday night.
House, a junior guard, played with his jaw wired shut after suffering a broken jaw in practice three weeks ago.
Bobby Lazor, scoreless for the first 14 minutes, added 14 points and seven rebounds for the Sun Devils. Alton Mason had 7 points, four assists and two blocked shots.
Evans, who built Mississippi into a national presence in his six seasons there, was hired to replace interim coach Don Newman on April 7 after the Sun Devils went 18-14.
Ben Sanders led San Jose State with 13 points in the debut of new coach Phil Johnson, who inherited a Spartans team that was 3-23 last season.
Arizona State scored 16 consecutive points in a 4:23 span to break a first-half tie at 7, and San Jose State was closer than 10 points only once thereafter.
The Spartans had only three field goals in the first 11 minutes and shot 34.5 percent from the field.