KANSAS CITY, Missouri — It's desperation time for the Arizona State men's basketball team. And the Sun Devils played like it.
Anthony "Pig" Johnson scored 19 points and snagged six rebounds to lead ASU to an 83-79 victory over Baylor in a first-round game at the Phillips 66 Big 12 Tournament at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City on March 10.
Not only were the Sun Devils (17-15) in win-or-go-home mode, but they were also confronted with a possible distraction. Several national reports came out on the eve of their tournament opener that coach Bobby Hurley was not coming back — something ASU officials called "premature."
It was the first question posed to Hurley at the podium, 10 or so minutes after the game wrapped up. He said he gathered the team together and talked, knowing they were going to see the reports on social media, premature or not.
"I didn't want to hide anything from them," Hurley said. "They're playing for each other. I'm coaching them to the best of my ability. I have not been told anything. So, although the source is reputable and a guy that I know. But I'm just doing my job and coaching this team and enjoying these moments withthis group right now."
Players had one goal in mind. Win. Keep playing.
"We still have a job to finish," Johnson said. "We're trying to get to the tournament. If we get to the tournament, he can stay, keep coaching us."
If Hurley's status was a distraction, it didn't show as the Sun Devils led by double digits much of the game. They did so without Moe Odum and Massamba Diop playing in their typically dominant fashions. Odum scored nine points, but three were from the free-throw line. Diop added 11 but had just three rebounds.
After Johnson, four others finished in double figures to spread the load.
"I would have been really surprised if I went into the locker room at halftime most of the year and knew I'd be up nine points against Baylor at halftime and Moe Odum had zero," Hurley said. "It's a testament to the guys coming along, different guys helping us. Andrija Grbovic today had some really good moments. Gave us a boost. Noah (Meeusen) is always guarding with great energy and defending. He hit some big shots for us as well. So it was impressive how the guys came out and competed."
It was indeed those others making the difference. Grbovic tied a season-high with 14 points, his most in a game since posting the same total against Houston on Jan. 18. Santiago Trouet added 13 points and nine rebounds, while Meeusen had 12, on an efficient 4-for-6 showing from the field. In the previous eight games, he was a combined 9-for-42 from the field.
"I've been struggling, but these are the games you live for, do or die," Meeusen said. "And you've got to have confidence. Coach (Hurley), Moe (Odum), everybody keep telling me to keep shooting. I just stay in the gym, work, and the work will show."
ASU's biggest lead was 15 points at 50-35, three minutes into the second half.
Nothing has come easy for the Sun Devils, and it got more interesting than anyone wearing maroon and gold would have liked. Baylor made a run and got within three points at 67-64. ASU went back up by five on a driving layup by Trouet with 6:01 left.
With ASU up 72-64 after a 3-pointer by Meeusen, Johnson drew a Baylor charging call, giving the ball back to the Sun Devils. They capitalized with Odum hitting a runner in the lane for a 74-64 lead, and ASU had restored order.
It held on from there, although turnovers and missed free throws made the contest closer than it should have been. ASU went 8-for-16 from the line in the last six minutes, with Johnson twice missing the front end of a one-and-one.
ASU had 16 turnovers, three of those coming in the last 1:30. Some silly fouls stopped the clock and sent the Bears to the line, when the game should have been well in hand.
But the Sun Devils hung on.
The first half ended with ASU in front 44-35. The Sun Devils led for 17:38 of the 20-minute first half. Their largest lead was at 27-13 after a 3-pointer by Johnson. They shot 61% in the first half to surge out to the lead.
Baylor, which defeated ASU 73-68 two weeks ago in Waco, ends its season at 16-16 and will miss the postseason for the first time since 2018. Obi Agbim, who had 16 points and four 3-pointers the first time the teams played, managed just three points and was 1-for-9 from the field.
ASU shot a solid 57.4% (31-for-54) from the field while Baylor hit for 41.4% (29-for-70), with an 8-for-34 from deep. Rebounds favored the Bears 37-34.
ASU advances to face Iowa State (25-6), which had a first-round bye. ASU closed out the regular season at Iowa State on March 7 and was thumped 86-65, the difference being 23 turnovers. It will have a chance at redemption. ASU led in that game, only to go 10 minutes in the second half without a field goal.
"It's the same thing playing against every other team," Odum said. "I'm going to get picked up full court. I'm going to get harassed. It's my job to be strong mentally and physically, protect the ball and not turn the ball over, and get us into offense. It's not really a challenge. It's more so about the work I put in and to be able to show how much work I put in throughout the year and figure it out."
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: ASU, Bobby Hurley keep basketball season alive