PHOENIX — In an exciting matchup, Arizona State triumphed over Grand Canyon with a score of 87-76 on Thursday evening, fueled by an impressive performance from freshman Joson Sanon. Sanon delivered a remarkable shooting display, sinking five 3-pointers and ending the night with a personal best of 21 points. Basheer Jihad also made a significant contribution, adding 18 points to help the Sun Devils improve their record to 3-1 for the season.
The game took place at the Footprint Center, home to the Phoenix Suns, as part of a series of notable games held at neutral sites celebrated in the Hall of Fame series. Sanon was particularly impactful in the first half, scoring 13 points, which aided Arizona State in securing a narrow 41-40 lead at halftime. His teammates also stepped up, with Jihad contributing 13 points after the break, and Alston Mason scoring 11 of his total 16 points during the second half.
Grand Canyon (2-1) saw the return of Tyon Grant-Foster, the reigning Player of the Year from the Western Athletic Conference, who marked his season debut by scoring 19 points. Grant-Foster faced challenges shooting, hitting 5 out of 17 field goal attempts and making 8 out of 12 from the free-throw line. Other standout players for the Antelopes included JaKobe Coles, who delivered 17 points with an efficient shooting performance, Ray Harrison with 15 points, and Lok Wur contributing 10 points.
With 8:47 remaining in the game, Sanon’s timely 3-pointer extended Arizona State’s lead to 67-56, their largest of the evening. Following this, Grand Canyon struggled to close the gap, ultimately not getting within seven points of the Sun Devils. Arizona State’s lead ballooned to 13 points in the final moments of the game.
The Sun Devils showcased their shooting prowess, making 11 of 25 attempts from beyond the arc and achieving an overall shooting percentage of 54%. They also excelled from the free-throw line, converting 18 of 21 shots. Sanon’s efficiency stood out, as he ended up making 8 of 12 total shots and was 5 of 7 from 3-point range. Notably, Arizona State improved their ball security in the second half, committing only four turnovers after a rough start with 11 at halftime.
In contrast, the Antelopes faced difficulties, shooting only 40% in the second half compared to Arizona State’s 58%. The first half was tightly contested, featuring 14 of 29 shooting from Grand Canyon and 14 of 28 from the Sun Devils, leading to a back-and-forth game that included seven lead changes and ties.
Looking ahead, Arizona State will host St. Thomas on Saturday, while Grand Canyon prepares to face UC Davis at home on Wednesday. The matchup between these two Arizona schools added another thrilling chapter to their rivalry, promising more excitement in the games to come.