TEMPE, Ariz. – Bethune-Cookman held Arizona State to 16 second-half points, but the Sun Devils outlasted the Wildcats 49-39 Monday in Wells Fargo Arena.
The Wildcats (1-1) got as closed as 47-39 on Mikel Trapp's 3-pointer with 1:48 remaining, but missed an opportunity to make it a two-possession game.
Eric Jacobsen had 13 points and 10 rebounds for Arizona State, who built a 21-point lead in the opening 14 minutes, but struggled in the second half after the Wildcats went zone.
Jon Gilling added 11 points for Arizona State, which had 19 turnovers and shot 5 of 17 in the second half.
Quintin Brewer and Clemmye Owens each scored nine points for Bethune-Cookman, which shot 31 percent and went 4 of 16 from 3-point range.
Bethune-Cookman fell behind 10-0 and later trailed 25-4 before closing it to 33-14 at halftime. Jacobsen scored 11 points in the first half while getting to the free-throw line seven times, making five.
The Wildcats missed 16 of their first 18 shots and all eight of their 3-point attempts while going 5 for 24 overall.
Bethune-Cookman slowed the game down in the second half, going to a zone defense and had a little better flow offensively, going on a late 15-3 run to make it close. At one point, Arizona State (2-0) went eight minutes without a field goal in the second half.
Brewer also led the Wildcats with nine rebounds. Troy Simmons added six points.
The Wildcats return to action Friday at Monmouth.
B-CU HEAD COACH GRAVELLE CRAIG
"I slowed the game so we could execute and take a deep breath. I went zone to keep them from penetrating. We did a good job the second half, but we have to get better. I'm still feeling out how we need to play."
"I think we didn't realize the speed of the game at high level in the first half. Arizona State beat off us off the dribble and were posting deep. They were right on our shots and we couldn't get by them."
ASU HEAD COACH HERB SENDEK
"You just felt the air evaporate from the gym as they held onto the ball and we just sat around. We were an offensive nightmare in the second half.”
NOTES: Brewer has now led the Wildcats in both games this season … Simmons hit B-CU's first three-pointer with 8:40 to play …The Wildcats' first seven field goals were scored by seven different players … The 39 points were B-CU's fewest since an 83-39 loss at Baylor in December 2010 … Alumni in the house included former player Dewayne Pettus.
