Arizona State shocked its biggest rival in dramatic fashion.
The Sun Devils were trailing No. 7 Arizona 88–86 in the closing seconds Saturday in Tucson when Desmond Cambridge Jr. made a play to win the game and potentially significantly change his team’s chances in the NCAA Tournament.
After a free throw from Arizona’s Umar Ballo, the Wildcats went 88–86 with 2.9 seconds left, Cambridge receiving a follow-up pass and a shot from outside half court.
He drilled through this by giving Arizona State an incredible 89-88 win as time expired.
Arizona State recorded a five-loss streak against Arizona and was a double-figure underdog to enter Saturday’s game. ASU had a one-point lead at half-time, but fell behind for most of the second half.
Despite trailing behind, ASU stayed within range and even regained an 84–83 lead with a DJ Horne 3-pointer with 1:49 left in the game. But a simple Pelle Larsson gave Arizona an 87–86 lead in the 29th second to put pressure on ASU again.
On the next possession, Horn’s jumper was out. Ballo caught the rebound and was sent to the free throw line with just 2.9 seconds left. Ballo was shooting just 57.6% from the line at the start of Saturday’s game and he clanged first. Ballo landed second, which allowed ASU to organize a desperate game at close range.
Cambridge started with a run as he received an inbounds pass, picked up the ball and hit from at least 50 feet away. Cambridge, in the career of 29.5% of long-range shooters, hit right on target.
It was his first and only three-pointer of the day and he won the game for the Sun Devils.
With that win, Arizona State improved to 20-9 overall and 11-7 in the Pac-12 game. ASU has won four of its last five but still has some work to do to get into the NCAA Tournament.
Beating a top 10 team on the road is a good start. And two more Quad 1 opportunities remain before the conference tournament. ASU will add two more road games to its regular season schedule, in 4th place at UCLA and at USC.
If the Sunny Devils continue to win, it will be difficult for the selection committee to keep them on the field. If that happens, the Cambridge shot will be seen as the moment that changed the trajectory of the ASU season.
Meanwhile, an Arizona loss likely robs the team of the Pac-12 title in the regular season. If UCLA wins one of the last three games of the regular season, the Bruins will win the league.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
