All Sun Devils

Game recap, analysis: Arizona State 'upsets' Grand Canyon at Phoenix Suns arena

The Sun Devils came in as 5.5.-point underdogs, but ran away with the win

Ben Sherman

Arizona State freshman guard Joson Sanon (3) scored a career-high 21 points against Grand Canyon.
Arizona State freshman guard Joson Sanon (3) scored a career-high 21 points against Grand Canyon. / James Snook-Imagn Images
In this story:

In a game that had an NCAA Tournament feel, the Arizona State Sun Devils looked every bit the part of a tournament team in an 87-76 victory over Grand Canyon on Thursday night at the Footprint Center.

Freshman guard Joson Sanon lit up the Lopes from deep, scoring 21 points and connecting on 5-of-7 from downtown.

Grand Canyon (2-1) advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament last season and has four starters back. As such, the Lopes came into the game as 5.5-point favorites. But Arizona State (3-1) was clearly the better team.

Arizona State and Grand Canyon fans packed the Phoenix Suns arena to capacity and were in full throat the entire game.

Read our game recap and analysis and watch big-play highlights from Arizona State's impressive win:

(Refresh for the latest updates)

Final Stats: ASU 87, GCU 76

Arizona State freshman Joson Sanon had a breakout game, scoring 21 points on 8-of-12 from the field (5-of-7 from the 3-point line). Basheer Jihad had another big game with 18 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists. Alston Mason added 16 points and 5 assists. Arizona State was 11-of-25 from the 3-point line.

Tyon Grant-Foster led Grand Canyon with 19 points and 7 rebounds, but he was just 5-of-17 from the field. TCU transfer JaKobe Coles had 17 points in 18 minutes before fouling out. Ray Harrison had 15 points, 6 assists and 5 rebounds.

Second Half Updates

Arizona State 87, GCU 76, final: Very impressive win by the Sun Devils. They were 5.5-point underdogs to an NCAA Tournament team returning four starters — and ASU was clearly the better team.

Arizona State 85, GCU 74, 1:05 left: Arizona State's freshmen are having a breakout game. Jayden Quaintance has been a force on the defensive end, and Joson Sanon has been the best player on the floor.

Arizona State 78, GCU 69, 3:55 left: The Sun Devils are now 11-of-23 from the 3-point line, and that has been the difference in the game. Basheer Jihad is having another strong game with 16 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists.

Arizona State 71, GCU 60, 7:39 left: Joson Sanon hits ANOTHER 3-pointer and now has a game-high 19 points. This kid is putting on a show. He's now 5-of-6 from the 3-point line.

Arizona State 64, GCU 55, 9:14 left: Joson Sanon drills another 3-pointer and now has a game-high 16 points.

Arizona State 53, GCU 45, 15:51 left: The Sun Devils came out of the locker room on fire. They're now 8-of-15 from the 3-point line.

Halftime Stats: ASU 41, GCU 40

Arizona State freshman guard Joson Sanon leads all scorers with 13 points. Shawn Phillips has 6 points and 6 rebounds for ASU.

Tyon Grant-Foster leads GCU with 10 points and 5 rebounds.

First Half Updates

Arizona State 41, Grand Canyon 40, halftime: This feels like a Sweet 16 game. Both teams made big runs and big-time plays. Arizona State freshman Joson Sanon took over down the stretch, draining three 3-pointers to help give ASU the lead at halftime. Sanon leads all scorers with 13 points.

Grand Canyon 30, Arizona State 28, 4:37 left: And just like that GCU goes on a 7-0 run led by their All-American candidate Tyon Grant-Foster. He now has 7 points and 4 rebounds.

Arizona State 28, Grand Canyon 23, 5:45 left: The Sun Devils have found their stroke from the perimeter. Adam Miller knocks down a 3-pointer and they're now 4-of-10 and heating up.

Grand Canyon 21, Arizona State 20, 7:16 left: Back and forth we go in front of a raucous crowd at the Footprint Center.

Flagrant foul on ASU: Austin Nunez is whistled for a flagrant foul on a controversial play. Nunez tried to block a shot on a breakaway by GCU's Caleb Shaw, and it looked like a common foul. Shaw missed both free throws. Ball don't lie?

Arizona State 13, Grand Canyon 12, 11:38 left: This is going to be a great ballgame. Both teams are getting contributions up and down their rosters, and both are competing at a high level. Shawn Phillips leads ASU with 4 points.

Arizona State 6, Grand Canyon 6, 15:19 left: The environment inside the Footprint Center has an NCAA Tournament feel with both student sections going at each other. And the arena is at capacity, with about 18,000 fans in full throat. The Sun Devils are just 1-of-6 from the field, but their defense has forced GCU into 2-of-8 shooting.

Adam Miller foul trouble: Arizona State's senior guard picks up two quick fouls and heads to the bench less than two minutes into the game.

Bobby Hurley's starting five:

Grand Canyon's starting five:

Pregame Updates

The Sun Devils arrived to the home of the Phoenix Suns in style.

Published |Modified
Ben Sherman
BEN SHERMAN

Ben Sherman has been covering the sports world for most of his journalism career, including 17 years with The Oregonian/OregonLive. One of his favorite memories was covering the 1999 Fiesta Bowl - the first BCS National Championship Game - at Sun Devil Stadium.

Home/Basketball