Suspensions Hurt Arizona State in Loss to Oklahoma State: 4 Key Takeaways
The Sun Devils now sit at 3-9 in the Big 12.
Just when it seemed things couldn’t get worse for Arizona State’s men’s basketball team, they hit rock bottom on Super Bowl Sunday.
In a crucial road game against struggling Oklahoma State, the Sun Devils lost 86-73, dropping to second-to-last place in the Big 12 standings. The only team behind Arizona State is winless Colorado.
Arizona State (12-11, 3-9) has now lost three straight games and four of their last five. They now face the challenge of regrouping for Wednesday’s road game at Texas Tech, one of the top teams in the country.
Miller and Freeman Suspended
Arizona State was without their leading scorer, BJ Freeman, and senior leader, Adam Miller, due to suspensions on Sunday.
Freeman, who was ejected in the Sun Devils’ loss to Arizona on Feb. 1 for headbutting Caleb Love, was reportedly suspended for conduct detrimental to the team. Freeman, a Milwaukee transfer, is averaging 12.9 points and 4.2 rebounds.
Miller was ejected from Arizona State’s narrow 71-70 loss to Kansas State on Tuesday after receiving a flagrant 2 technical foul for an altercation with Kansas State guard Dug McDaniel. This resulted in an automatic one-game suspension under NCAA rules. Miller has averaged 10.3 points and shoots 46.1% from beyond the arc.
Joson Sanon’s First Start
With both Freeman and Miller suspended, five-star freshman guard Joson Sanon made his first start of the season, but it didn’t go as planned. Sanon struggled, shooting 5-of-20 from the field (2-of-10 from three) and finishing with 17 points and 5 rebounds. Although Arizona State head coach Bobby Hurley had praised Sanon as “the best shooter” he’s ever coached earlier this season, the freshman has struggled recently, going 4-of-25 from three in the last four games. Sanon has not been the same since suffering a high ankle sprain against BYU on New Year’s Eve.
Jayden Quaintance Injured
Arizona State’s other five-star freshman, forward Jayden Quaintance, injured his left ankle in the first half and did not return after the break. Quaintance, who had been averaging 9.8 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 2.9 blocks, finished with 3 points, 3 steals, 1 block, and 1 rebound in 9 minutes. Despite the injury, he remains among the top 10 in the nation in blocked shots with his 7-foot-3 wingspan.
Alston Mason Steps Up
Alston Mason, a transfer from Missouri State, delivered his best performance of the season, scoring 25 points, grabbing 5 rebounds, and collecting 3 steals. Mason, born in Belgium, played all 40 minutes, shooting 7-of-20 from the field, 4-of-11 from three, and 7-of-7 from the free-throw line.
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