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Sun Devils set to tame Tigers in Tempe

Thu 4th, December 2008

Tempe, AZ (Sports Network) - The 19th-ranked Arizona State Sun Devils have an outstanding chance to add another victory to their non-conference record as they host the Jackson State Tigers this evening in Tempe.

Jackson State owns a 1-6 overall record and has yet to play a home game this season. The Tigers were most recently in action on Tuesday when they dropped a 73-59 decision to Stephen F. Austin. The competition level increases significantly tonight, making Tuesday's double-digit loss all the more concerning.

Arizona State enters with a 5-1 record, and the most recent outing took place last Sunday, an 88-58 thrashing of UTEP as part of the 76 Classic. The club's lone loss came against Baylor, and the Sun Devils have yet to play a ranked team this season.

Arizona State won its only previous meeting with Jackson State.

Jackson State is averaging 68.6 ppg this season while allowing 76.0 ppg to the opposition. The top offensive performer for the Tigers has been Grant Maxey, who is netting 16.0 ppg to go along with 8.1 rpg. Darrion Griffin checks in with 13.7 ppg, and Jeremy Caldwell is posting 10.4 ppg. There are a few obvious reasons that the team lost to Stephen F. Austin by double figures earlier this week. First, the Tigers only managed four assists in 40 minutes of action and turned the ball over 15 times. Also, they connected on a mere 38.8 percent of their field goal attempts, including a disappointing 1-of-14 showing from three-point range. If not for a 10-point advantage at the foul line, the final score would have been even more lopsided. Garrison Johnson tallied 13 points in defeat, and Grant Maxey added 11 points.

The player to watch for Arizona State is James Harden, an explosive guard who has scored more than 30 points in three of the last four outings. Harden poured in 40 points on Sunday against UTEP, a 76 Classic single-game record and the fifth-best scoring output in program history. He shot 14-of-25 from the floor, including 6-of-7 from three-point range, and made all six of his foul shots. Harden also ripped down eight rebounds and dished out four assists in what was a stellar effort. Overall this season, he is averaging 27.0 ppg, 6.8 rpg and 4.0 apg, and he is clearly one of the top backcourt performers in the nation. Jeff Pendergraph provides 12.2 ppg for the Sun Devils, and Ty Abbott checks in with 10.7 ppg. ASU is generating 75.0 ppg on 50.9 percent shooting from the floor, and the Sun Devils are limiting opponents to just 59.5 ppg on 36.8 percent field goal efficiency.