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Arizona State at Arizona

Rodgers' career-high night leads Arizona over Arizona State
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TUCSON, Ariz. -- Chris Rodgers isn't just the best player on the Arizona bench. He's practically the only player.

The sophomore guard scored a career-high 20 points on 8-for-10 shooting and the No. 22 Wildcats wrapped up their regular season with a 106-81 victory over Arizona State on Sunday.

The six players who play nearly all the time for the talent-rich, but depth-shy, Wildcats had prominent roles.

Salim Stoudamire and Hassan Adams added 21 points apiece for the Wildcats (19-8, 11-7 Pac-10), who beat Arizona State for the 18th time in 19 tries.

Channing Frye scored 20, Andre Iguodala had 12 points and 11 rebounds and Mustafa Shakur had a career-best 11 assists with just one turnover for Arizona. The freshman point guard's previous best was seven assists.

The game had no bearing on the Pac-10 tournament seedings. Arizona wound up third, its lowest finish since 1997. Arizona State (10-17, 4-14) finished last and didn't qualify for the tournament.

"We know we have been up and down," Stoudamire said. "This month is the month that counts, and it is time to step it up."

The Wildcats will play Southern California in the first round of the conference tournament on Thursday. Coach Lute Olson never has liked the Pac-10 tourney, especially if the teams still have an 18-game conference schedule.

He has more immediate concerns, though, and those involved getting his team to play at full intensity all the time as the NCAA tournament looms.

"We've been good enough in most games, portions of most games, to be able to play with or beat anybody," Olson said. "Then we've had other times when we just lose the concentration."

Freshman Kevin Kruger scored a career-best 22 points for the Sun Devils. Ike Diogu, the Pac-10 scoring leader, had 19 points and 14 rebounds. The sophomore center has scored in double figures in all 59 of his college games. Stevie Moore also scored 19 for ASU.

"Kevin really gives us a lot of hope," Sun Devils coach Rob Evans said. "He and some other guys we have - Ike and I thought Keith (Wooden) really played well in the second half. We know where we are with our basketball team."

Diogu might not be back for a third season.

"It was a tough season. We didn't really accomplish any of the goals that we set out to accomplish. We were just really inconsistent the whole year," he said. "I've just got to sit down and talk to coach Evans, then we'll take it from there."

Evans said he expects to talk to Diogu, the player's family and NBA scouts.

"I'll talk to everybody I need to talk to and give him a good road map," Evans said. "I really don't think with my heart, I think with my mind."

Arizona's 18-4 run put the Wildcats up 26-13 on Rodgers' 3-pointer with 11:20 left in the half. But Diogu scored the first four in a 10-0 spurt that cut the Wildcats' lead to 26-25 on Stevie Moore's 3-pointer 7:34 before the break.

Rodgers followed with a 3-pointer and Arizona was off and running again. Rodgers scored eight in 20-2 outburst that gave the Wildcats a 46-27 lead with 1:01 to play in the half.

"When I came in, I wanted to change the tempo of the game," Rodgers said, "and bring my energy and intensity, which made some things happen."

Arizona State scored the last five points of the half to make it 46-32, but Arizona turned it on again to start the second half. The Wildcats made nine of their first 11 shots. The Sun Devils were down 60-47 after Diogu's two free throws with 16 minutes to play.

Arizona scored the next 13, the last two on Stoudamire's steal and no-look pass to Rodgers for a layup, to go up 73-47 with 12:13 remaining.

Arizona shot 57 percent in the second half (21-for-37) and 54 percent for the game (39-for-72).

Rodgers' previous career-best was 17 points.


AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service

Copyright 2004, The Associated Press, All Rights Reserved
 
 
Mustafa Shakur and Arizona easily defeat the swarming Arizona State defense.
Mustafa Shakur and Arizona easily defeat the swarming Arizona State defense.(AP)

 
Scoreboard
Arizona State324981
Arizona #22 «4660106
AZST:K. Kruger 22 Pts
AZST:I. Diogu 14 Reb
AZST:K. Kruger 6 Ast
AZ:H. Adams 21 Pts
AZ:A. Iguodala 11 Reb
AZ:M. Shakur 11 Ast
 

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PLAYERS OF THE GAME
ArizonaArizona State
AZ
C. Frye
AZST
I. Diogu
PtsRebsAstPtsRebsAst
207219141
Arizona State Sun Devils
I. Diogu, F368-163-4141419
J. Hill, F280-30-05330
J. Allen, F60-10-02100
K. Crandall, G40-00-00000
B. Goldman, G30-00-00000
K. Kruger, G337-132-246322
J. Braxton, G273-110-02536
S. Moore, G268-120-043119
S. Angounou, F141-40-02112
T. Smith, G111-31-21123
K. Wooden, C103-51-23107
W. Fameni, F51-41-20003
J. Andrisevic, FDid Not Play
A. Morrill, FDid Not Play
B. Dedrick, FDid Not Play
C. Low, FDid Not Play
R. Alridge, GDid Not Play
Totals 32-738-1238221281
 43.8%66.7% 
Arizona Wildcats
S. Stoudamire, G335-118-932221
H. Adams, G298-142-252321
A. Iguodala, F296-130-0117112
M. Shakur, G283-81-251107
C. Frye, C277-96-872420
C. Rodgers, G288-101-112320
K. Walters, C80-10-01000
J. Ranne, G60-20-00000
I. Radenovic, F50-10-00000
F. Torres, G21-20-01003
M. Brase, F11-10-00002
B. Muhlbach, G10-00-00010
I. Fox, CDid Not Play
R. O`Hara, FDid Not Play
Totals 39-7218-2234267106
 54.2%81.8% 
Pac 10
TeamConf. W-LTot. W-L
Arizona14-430-8
UCLA13-523-11
Washington11-724-11
USC10-819-15
California10-818-15
Washington St.9-922-13
Oregon7-1121-18
Stanford7-1115-16
Oregon St.5-1311-20
Arizona St.4-1412-19
 
Other games
Florida 62 Final
Kentucky 82
Kansas 84 Final
Missouri 82
UConn 56 Final
Syracuse 67
SW Mo St 80 Final
S Illinois 74
Illinois 64 Final
Ohio St 63
SNCLRA 62 Final
GONZAG 63