Before the season started, ASU basketball coach Bobby Hurley talked about how his team's strengths are its inside play and defensive intensity. The Sun Devils played well in spurts the first two games but hadn't quite lived up to Hurley's expectations when it came to defense.
Well they did exactly what he wanted in Monday's outing, using that tough defense in coasting to a 90-58 win over visiting Long Beach State in non-conference play at Wells Fargo Arena.
The Sun Devils held Long Beach State to 27.4 percent shooting from the field, finished with a commanding 63-31 advantage on the boards and outscored the 49ers in the paint 44-14.