ASU Men’s Basketball Rallies to Defeat Georgia State in Second Half

TEMPE, Arizona — Arizona State University‘s men’s basketball team narrowly escaped a significant upset against Georgia State on Monday, securing a 75-62 victory following a strong second-half performance.

The Sun Devils, favored by 18.5 points in this matchup, struggled initially against the Panthers, a team ranked in the bottom 100 of Division 1. For much of the game, Georgia State showcased an aggressive defense and effective offense that put ASU on the back foot, leading for more than half of the match. The Panthers built a lead as large as 11 points with 14:20 left to play.

Pig Johnson was pivotal in revitalizing the Sun Devils’ offense, scoring seven consecutive points that sparked a 20-1 run, allowing ASU to take control for the first time. Johnson’s highlight was a high-flying dunk that energized the team and the crowd.

Noah Meeusen, the Belgian point guard returning from an injury, made a crucial steal with 10:25 left, enabling Moe Odum to tie the game shortly afterward. Odum, who led all scorers with 24 points, also contributed nine assists and five steals, marking a standout performance.

The Sun Devils struggled with their shooting initially, failing to make a three-pointer until the last minutes of the first half. They finished the game with only four successful threes, their lowest total of the season at just 21.1% accuracy.

Despite the rough start, Odum’s play, especially during a 15-6 run that he spearheaded, was critical to ASU’s turnaround. His contributions helped the Sun Devils ultimately secure their first road game win of the season.

Next, ASU will face Hawaii on Saturday before participating in the Maui Invitational, where they will compete against Texas and head coach Sean Miller on Monday.