Overcoming a sloppy second half, Arizona State won their season opener over the Montana State Bobcats 78-72 Friday afternoon at Wells Fargo Arena. Junior Trent Lockett paced the Devils with 16 points and ten rebounds while sophomore Keala King's 11 second period points helped ASU overcame a half which saw the Bobcats shoot nearly 50% from the three. All five starters finished in double digits for the Devils (Colvin, King, Felix, Lockett and Cain).
In the first half everything seemed to be going ASU's way. Their defense was keeping the Bobcats in check, holding them to only 17.9% shooting from the field and 3-16 behind the arc.
Offensively, the Devils weren't exactly clicking but junior swingman Trent Lockett was getting the tough buckets when they needed them, scoring 13 points and missing only one shot in the process. Iowa State transfer Chris Colvin was showing good command of the offense but the buckets weren't falling as everyone not named Lockett was shooting a combined 6-22 from the field.
And unfortunately, the Devils didn't leave their offensive funk in the locker room with them. That's when the Bobcats began hitting the 3-pointers, cutting the 33-21 halftime lead to only two points in the middle of the second half. But King gave the Devils some breathing room with three straight baskets including two big threes. That gave the Devils the confidence they needed and they never surrendered the lead from there.