COUGARS

FROM PHOENIX -- We made it to the airport, and have time for our quick overview of the game before our flight leaves for Spokane. Read on.

...

PLAYER OF THE GAME -- Regardless of the fact that his team lost, Brock Motum dominated this game. He scored 34 points on 13-19 shooting -- and I think Ken Bone would like to see him get that many attempts a few more times -- ande made all of his six free throws. Though he did turn the ball over six times. Still, it was a career night for Motum, who did everything he could down the stretch to help the Cougars claw back.

PLAY OF THE GAME -- Hard to really point to just one, as ASU kind of wore the Cougars down over the second half and never really had one big turning point. The play that sticks out in my mind, though, was when Chris Colvin missed a layup and rebounded it himself and scored. That put ASU ahead 66-60 with 1:14 remaining, instead of the Cougars taking over with a chance to trim the lead to one possession. Kyle Cain's strip of Brock Motum looms large, too.

KEY STAT -- At first, I was going to go with ASU's first-half 3-point shooting percentage. But I think the turnover department was also critical. WSU turned it over 18 times -- 12 in the second half -- and became the first ASU opponent to have more turnovers than the Sun Devils in a game this season.

QUOTABLE -- " ... I don’t know, man. If I have zero points and we win, I’ll be way happier than … this. Just losing. I don’t know. Winning’s the only thing. That’s what I care about." -- Motum, asked about his 34-point performance.

NEXT UP -- A welcome return to Beasley Coliseum, where the Cougars will host USC on Thursday at 7:05 p.m.

Christian Caple can be reached at christianc@spokesman.com. Twitter: @ChristianCaple

---

---