Posted by Pat Forde
MIAMI -- Amazing that this game is even close at halftime.
Syracuse leads Arizona State by nine points, 41-32. It feels like 19.
The Orange have dominated inside with wide-bodies Rick Jackson and Arinze Onuaku combining for 16 points. They've shot 64 percent from the field and have outrebounded the Sun Devils by four. They've committed only two turnovers.
And ASU leading scorers James Harden and Jeff Pendergraph have combined for four points.
So how are the Sun Devils hanging in the game? Three-point shooting, especially from Latvian bomber Rihards Kuksiks. He has made five 3s and scored 15 points.
Eric Devendorf has scored 11 points to lead Syracuse, but a couple of ill-advised shots have helped stop the Orange's momentum. Nobody ever accused Devendorf of being the most judicious player.
After being blanketed by the Syracuse zone every time he touched the ball, Harden at least made a couple of plays late in the half. He drove to the foul line and found Kuksiks for a corner 3, then flashed to the post to take a pass and again deliver an assist to Kuksiks in the corner.
Harden is very conscious about not forcing things, but it's now-or-never time for ASU. He needs to get something going toward the basket -- all four of his first-half shots were 3s -- or in transition. If Harden doesn't get untracked, a deceptively close game won't be close for much longer.
