Arizona State overcomes 19-point deficit in second half to beat Santa Clara 82-79

By Canadian Press on December 13, 2025.

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Massamba Diop and Anthony Johnson both scored 15 and Arizona State rallied from 19 down in the second half to beat Santa Clara 82-79 on Saturday in the Jack Jones Classic at Lee’s Family Forum.

Diop made 6 of 10 shots and grabbed nine rebounds for the Sun Devils (9-2). Johnson shot 3 for 5 with a 3-pointer and went 8 for 9 at the free-throw line.

Andrija Grbovic hit three 3-pointers and scored 13, while Maurice Odum pitched in with 12 points, seven rebounds and four steals for ASU.

Christian Hammond sank four 3-pointers and scored 22 to lead the Broncos (8-3). Elijah Mahi totaled 17 points and six rebounds. Sash Gavalyugov added 12 points off the bench and Bukky Oboye scored 10 before fouling out.

Hammond hit a 3-pointer in the final minute and then turned a technical foul on Sun Devils’ coach Bobby Hurley with four seconds left into two successful free-throw attempts and a layup for a 55-38 lead at halftime.

The Broncos took their largest lead at 60-41 less than two minutes into the second half and they had a 15-point lead with 15 minutes remaining before going scoreless for nearly seven minutes.

Arizona State put together a 14-0 run before Oboye scored, but Marcus Adams Jr. answered with a 3-pointer to tie to 66-all with 8:16 left.

Diop dunked after making two free throws following a Broncos’ turnover to give Arizona State its first lead, and the Sun Devils stayed in front over the final 7:40.

Up next

Arizona State: At No. 25 UCLA on Wednesday.

Santa Clara: Hosts North Texas on Wednesday.

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The Associated Press

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