Arizona State holds on for Saint Mary’s first loss

Joson Sanon scored 19 points and Jayden Quaintance had 10 points, nine rebounds and five assists as Arizona State defeated previously unbeaten Saint Mary’s 68-64 to win the Acrisure Classic championship on Friday in Palm Springs, Calif.

Adam Miller and BJ Freeman each scored 11 points for the Sun Devils (7-1), who hit 5 of 18 shots from 3-point range and 7 of 12 at the free throw line. Sanon, who also scored 19 points in the Sun Devils’ semifinal win over New Mexico on Thursday, had another strong effort, shooting 8 of 16 from the field (and 3 of 4 from beyond the arc) without losing the ball.

Jordan Ross scored 19 points to pace the Gaels (7-1), who knocked down 8 of 17 3-point attempts but missed 6 of 12 free throw attempts. Augustas Marciulionis contributed 13 points and Mitchell Saxen had 10 points and nine rebounds.

The score was 60-60 when Miller knocked down a three-pointer with just over three minutes to play. Paulius Murauskas’ putback brought Saint Mary’s to within one point, but Quaintance countered with a putback to restore a three-point lead.

Basheer Jihad drained a pair of free throws with 14 seconds left to make it 66-62 before Marciulionas brought in a runner with three seconds left to play, cutting Arizona State’s lead to 66-64. However, Alston Mason made 2 of 2 from the line and secured the win.

With 3:50 left in the first half, Ross made a 3-pointer and then shared two free throws a minute later, helping Saint Mary’s extend its lead to 31-22. However, Arizona State responded with eight straight points, including four from Quaintance, to cut its deficit to one.

Saint Mary’s Mikey Lewis answered with a 3-pointer in the final minute, but Quaintance’s basket in the final seconds put the Sun Devils up 34-32 at the break.

Neither team led by more than three in the second half until Sanon’s three-pointer gave the Gaels a 46-40 lead with 12:56 left. However, Luke Barrett responded with a 3-pointer, setting up the close contest down the stretch.

–Field level media