Davidson/ASU Article

Late run not enough for ASU

TEMPE, Ariz. - Jason Richards scored 25 points, including 4-of-5 3-pointers, to lead Davidson to a 75-70 victory over Arizona State Friday in the championship game of the Arizona State Sleep America Classic.

Thomas Sander added 14 points for the Wildcats (11-3), who led by as many as 20 points before the Sun Devils rallied to cut the lead to three in the final seconds.

It was just the second loss in the championship game of the tournament for ASU in the last nine years. The Sun Devils lost in the first round in 2000.

Jeff Pendergraph had 17 points and 12 rebounds, his fifth double-double this season, for the Sun Devils (6-5).

Davidson shot 49 percent, including 9-of-17 from 3-point range, while winning its seventh game in a row.

Boris Meno and Stephen Curry each made a pair of baskets to start the second half as Davidson built a 45-33 lead. The Wildcats followed with an 11-3 run to go up 65-45 with 8:25 remaining.

Serge Angounou scored 10 of his 17 points during a 12-0 Arizona State spurt and later made two free throws to cut the lead to 72-68 with 1:44 left. After Davidson missed three of four free throws, Derek Glasser scored a layup with 24.3 seconds left to cut it to 73-70, but Arizona State could get no closer.