Arizona State men's basketball surge past Utah to snap 5-game Pac-12 losing streak

The losing streak is over as the Arizona State men's basketball team snapped it against one of the Pac-12's top teams on the road.

Jose Perez scored 21 points to lead four Sun Devils in double figures as ASU chalked up an 85-77 victory over Utah Saturday night at the Huntsman Center. The win snapped a five-game losing streak. ASU (12-12, 6-7) had also lost seven of their previous eight after getting off to a 4-0 start in conference play.

Utah started play one of just three teams in the Pac-12 projected to make the NCAA postseason field and the Utes are considered in by a wide margin, despite coming in after a triple overtime loss to No. 8 Arizona on Thursday.

While Utah (15-9, 6-7) has emerged as a top team in the conference, the Sun Devils have had their number. This marked the seventh straight win against the Utes. When the teams played earlier this season at Desert Financial Arena ASU came away with an 82-70 win, which had stood as ASU's best win this season. Perez had 26 points in that one.

Let's take a closer look:

What went right

Off to a better start: The common theme in this losing streak has been digging a big hole early. That was the case last time out against Colorado when the Sun Devils trailed 18-3 before they had broken a sweat. In this one they stayed right with the Utes at the half, only down 42-40. There were six lead changes in the half with ASU up by six at one point after Utah went ahead by nine. Most important was going 7-for-13 from 3-point range in the half.

Balanced scoring: Perez, who went 7-for-11 from the field, didn't have to shoulder the load by himself. Jamiya Neal tallied 17, Adam Miller 16 and Frankie Collins 13. Miller also was 7-for-11 from the field which was good news for ASU faithful because he has struggled recently. The 16 was his best showing since the UCLA game in which he had 16. He was 12-for-43 from the field since that game.

Rebounding: ASU came in one of the worst rebounding teams in the country with a margin of minus-8 against all opponents and a minus-9 in Pac-12 play. This marked one of few times they won the battle on the boards, 42-35. Nobody got to double figures so it was a balanced effort led by Neal with eight. Categories in which rebounding looms large reflected that as ASU had a 15-11 advantage in second chance points and only trailed Utah in points in the paint 44-42.

Three-point-shooting: ASU came in ranked 322nd out of 351 Division I schools and last in the Pac 12 at 29.9% but managed to make 10 of 22 attempts, 45.5%. Five different players knocked down 3-pointers, with Neal making three. Perez, Miller and Alonzo Gaffney each made two. ASU was 7-for-13 in the first half from long distance.

Made free throws: Another area in which ASU had struggled much of the season but it hit 11 of 15 tries (73.3%), well above its season average of 65.2%. With ASU having a lead down the stretch Utah was forced to foul so the Sun Devils had to make them to seal the game. Perez was 5-for-5, including a pair that gave ASU an 80-72 lead with 56.3 seconds left. Neal also hit a pair with 23 seconds left to ice it.

What went wrong

Foul trouble: ASU doesn't have a lot of size to begin with and both 7-footer Shawn Phillips and 6-9 Gaffney were in foul trouble much of the game, which makes the win even more noteworthy since they overcame that obstacle. Gaffney eventually fouled out with 1:45 left and ASU in front 78-71. It was the fourth game in which he has fouled out. He had seven points, highlighted by two three-pointers. Phillips was limited to 12 minutes but did have six points, four rebounds and two blocks.

What to look for next time out

Potential lineup change: Coach Bobby Hurley has used three different lineups in as many games. Tonight's change had Perez back in the starting lineup and Miller coming off the bench. It was the second time in which this five had started. Miller did come in a few minutes into the contest after Phillips picked up a foul though.

Collins' pursuit of record: Collins managed three steals, giving him 72 this season and putting him four away from the single season ASU record of 76 set by Fat Lever in 1981-82. It is the third oldest record still standing and Collins has seven more regular season games to blow past that. He ranks third in the entire nation in steals.

Up next

The Sun Devils return home to host Oregon State (11-13, 3-1) at 7 p.m. on Wednesday at Desert Financial Arena. That game will air on Pac-12 Network. The Sun Devils lost to the Beavers 84-71 last month in Corvallis. It was a game in which the Sun Devils were just 3-for-26 from 3-point range, missing 19 straight long distance tries.

ASU did beat Oregon State three times last season, the last coming in the Pac-12 tournament. Oregon State lost to Washington 67-55 on Saturday.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona State men's basketball surge past Utah to snap losing streak