ASU Falters in Second Half Against No. 6 Iowa State

Sun Devils unable to maintain first-half lead, lose 86-65 in regular-season finale

Published on Mar. 7, 2026

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Arizona State University's men's basketball team was unable to sustain its momentum from a first-half lead, falling 86-65 to No. 6 Iowa State in their regular-season finale. The Sun Devils led 41-37 at halftime, but a second-half surge by the Cyclones, fueled by stifling defense and ASU's 13 turnovers, resulted in a lopsided defeat for the visitors.

Why it matters

The loss was a disappointing end to a rollercoaster regular season for ASU, which had previously upset No. 14 Kansas. The Sun Devils' inability to maintain leads against top opponents has been a recurring issue, raising questions about their consistency and ability to compete at the highest level of the Big 12 Conference.

The details

Iowa State's ball pressure and physical defense took a toll on ASU in the second half. The Cyclones mounted a 24-0 run, holding the Sun Devils scoreless for nearly 11 minutes, as ASU struggled to find any offensive rhythm. The Sun Devils shot just 6-of-19 from the field in the second half, a stark contrast to their 5-of-12 performance from 3-point range in the first half.

  • ASU led 41-37 at halftime.
  • With 17 minutes left in the game, ASU held a 4-point lead.
  • Iowa State then went on a 24-0 run over the next 8 minutes.

The players

Moe Odum

Senior guard for Arizona State University.

Massamba Diop

Freshman forward for Arizona State University.

Jimmy Rodgers

Head coach of the Iowa State Cyclones.

Tamim Lipsey

Senior guard for the Iowa State Cyclones.

Kiliyan Toure

French freshman for the Iowa State Cyclones.

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What they’re saying

“Very aggressive team, they have good perimeter defenders. They really took the ball out of Moe Odum's hands quite a bit, made it difficult to get into offense. We don't usually turn the ball over like that, so you gotta complement what they did. It was a tale of two halves. We were so ineffective offensively.”

— Bobby Hurley, Head Coach, Arizona State University (on3.com)

“We have a lot of scares, battle scares. These kids, I've really enjoyed coaching them. They give me what they have; we have to figure out how to put together two halves. Even in our Kansas win, we were up 40-20 at halftime, and they cut it to two. We had a lead up eight at Baylor we couldn't finish that game, UCF, another game we couldn't finish.”

— Bobby Hurley, Head Coach, Arizona State University (on3.com)

What’s next

The Sun Devils will now turn their attention to the Big 12 Tournament in Kansas City, where they will likely be seeded 12th or 13th. A deep run of three wins or more could provide a glimmer of hope for an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, though head coach Bobby Hurley's future at Arizona State may be in question if the team fails to earn a tournament berth.

The takeaway

This loss highlights the ongoing challenges for Arizona State, which has struggled to maintain leads and play consistently for 40 minutes against top opponents. The team's inability to overcome Iowa State's physical defense and ball pressure raises concerns about their readiness to compete at the highest level of the Big 12, as they now look to make a last-ditch effort for an NCAA Tournament bid in the conference tournament.