ASU routs Idaho State to improve to 3-0
TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) -- Jahii Carson scored 19 points and Jordan Bachynski dominated inside defensively while breaking the school's career blocked shots record, helping Arizona State roll to an 88-60 win over Idaho State Friday night.
Arizona State (3-0) got off to a sluggish start before swarming Idaho State defensively to pull away late in the first half.
Bachynski anchored the defense, blocking six shots to reach 194 for his career, breaking the school record of 191 set by Mario Bennett from 1991-95. Bachynski also had 10 points and 10 rebounds, and moved into sixth on Pac-12's all-time blocked shots list behind the 196 USC's Sam Clancy had from 1998-02.
Jermaine Marshall added 17 points for Arizona State, which shot 49 percent and made 12 3-pointers.
Evann Hall had 19 points to lead Idaho State (1-1), which shot 37 percent and went 2 of 9 on 3-pointers.
Idaho State opened the season with a 99-62 rout over Evergreen.
The Bengals were in for a much tougher ride against Arizona State.
Not only are the Sun Devils much bigger and more athletic, Idaho State has won four road games the past two seasons and lost 20 straight games against Pac-12 opponents.
The Bengals didn't play like huge underdogs in the early going, making five of their first six shots while playing to a 15-all tie in the first eight minutes.
Then Arizona State started swatting shots and hitting 3s to run away with it.
The 3-pointers came in succession: Chance Murray from the corner, Richie Edwards from the other, Marshall from the wing to put the Sun Devils up 24-15.
Bachynski had three blocks to tie the school career record and altered a few other shots, and Marshall added a couple more, including one on a drive in the lane that sailed into the stands.
Shaquielle McKissic closed the half with a difficult layup while getting fouled and threw down a tomahawk dunk just before the buzzer to put the Sun Devils up 41-25.
Idaho State made 3 of its final 19 shots in the first half and missed all six of its 3-pointers.
It didn't get any better for the Bengals in the second half.
Bachynski got the blocked shots record out of the way early, emphatically swatting Jeffrey Solarin's shot in the lane. Marshall followed with a pair of 3-pointers and Jonathan Gilling added another, putting Arizona State up 52-31.