ASU basketball drops Big 12 opener heading to BYU

On By Littum

PROVO, Utah (AP) – Richie Saunders scored a career-high 30 points and BYU cruised to a 76-56 victory over ASU basketball in Tuesday’s Big 12 Conference opener.

BJ Freeman had 11 points to lead the Sun Devils (9-3), who as a team shot 36.8% from the field and 20.7% from beyond the arc. Freeman was the only player on the team to score in double figures.

Saunders made 11 of 18 shots with a career-best six 3-pointers and 2 of 3 free throws for the Cougars (10-2), who have won four straight. He is the first BYU player to score 30 since Alex Barcello had 33 nearly three years ago.

Kanon Catchings buried three from 3-point range and scored 11 for BYU. Keba Keita had nine points and 10 rebounds.

Saunders made three 3-pointers and scored 13 to help BYU take a 31-26 halftime advantage. He scored eight as the Cougars jumped out to an 11-2 lead, and his fast break 3-pointer gave them an 18-4 advantage in the first 8:19. Arizona State shot just 32.3% and missed 13 of 15 from 3-point range at halftime.

Saunders hit a 3-pointer and Keita had baskets at both ends of a 9-0 run as BYU extended its lead to 12 in the first three minutes of the second half. The Cougars led by double digits from there.

ASU cut the deficit to 59-45 with 7:42 left on an Amier Ali dunk, but technical fouls called on Ali and head coach Bobby Hurley allowed BYU to break the game open further. ASU was down 65-45 when it got the ball back.

Arizona State hosts Colorado on Saturday.