Arizona State stuns No. 7 Arizona 89-88 on Cambridge's heave
AP
Feb 25, 2023
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) Arizona State Sun Devils's latest rivalry loss appeared imminent even after a late rally, with a desperate heave all that was left.
Desmond Cambridge Jr. cashed it in, swishing a McKale miracle to keep the Sun Devils' NCAA Tournament hopes alive.
Cambridge Jr. hit a 60-foot shot at the buzzer and Arizona Wildcats State rallied from a 10-point deficit to beat No. 7 Arizona 89-88 on Saturday.
''I did not think that shot was going in,'' said Cambridge, who finished with 19 points. ''I just wanted to have a nice miss and everyone in the crowd go, ''ohhh!'' Once it went in, I literally could only scream because I couldn't make sense of it.''
The Wildcats (24-5, 13-5 Pac-12) led by 10 before going more than six minutes without a field goal as Arizona State pulled ahead by one.
The Sun Devils (20-9, 11-7) went up 86-85 on Warren Washington's layup with just a minute left, but Pelle Larsson put Arizona back up on a layup with 29 seconds left.
Arizona State's DJ Horne missed a jumper with four seconds left and the Sun Devils had a final shot after Oumar Ballo hit 1 of 2 free throws.
Catching the ball with 2.4 seconds left, Cambridge left the fans at McKale Center stunned, launching a shot from beyond half-court that sent his teammates charging onto the floor in celebration.
''We were sitting on pocket aces and it happens sometimes,'' Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd said.
Cedric Henderson Jr. led Arizona with 19 points and Azuoulas Tubelis added 17.
In the first meeting, Arizona State went on a big run to open the second half, but Lloyd didn't call a timeout, letting his team play through the adversity. The Wildcats responded with a run over their own for a 69-60 win on a night when neither team shot better than 37%.
The rematch was all about the offense.
The Sun Devils hit as many 3-pointers in the first eight minutes as they did the entire first game and shot 20 of 34 from the floor to lead 46-45.
The Wildcats hit 16 of 27 shots, including Henderson's buzzer-beating 3, but went 7 of 14 on free throws.
The good shooting trailed off only slightly to start the second half.
Arizona went on a short run to build a six-point lead and the Sun Devils started taking questionable shots, allowing the Wildcats to stretch it to 78-68.
Even after turning up the defensive pressure to get back in it, Arizona State appeared to be down and out - until Cambridge came to the rescue, ending the Sun Devils' five-game losing streak to Arizona.
''A lot of people were jumping ship and thinking we're not that team, but we are that team and the guys proved it tonight by going toe to toe with a team like Arizona on their home floor this late in the season,'' Arizona State coach Bobby Hurley said.
NUNEZ OUT
Arizona State played without guard Austin Nunez, who was in concussion protocol after being injured against Utah last week.
The freshman point guard is averaging 4.5 points while giving the Sun Devils an energy boost off the bench.
FREE THROW WOES
Arizona had a huge advantage in free throws, outscoring Arizona State by 12 at the line.
The Wildcats could have used a few more to go in, finishing 23 of 34.
''You'd like to be make one or two more, it probably makes a difference,'' Lloyd said.
BIG PICTURE
Arizona State: The Sun Devils needed some kind of boost for their NCAA Tournament chances. One of the most stunning finishes in the history of the rivalry certainly should help.
Arizona: The Wildcats were in control before going cold from the field at the wrong time. Their seniors will never forget how their final home game ended after Cambridge's stunner.
UP NEXT
Arizona State: Plays at No. 4 UCLA on Thursday.
Arizona: Plays at Southern California on Thursday.
---
More AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25
Copyright 2025 STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.
1st Half
ASU
Sun Devils
46
ARIZ
Wildcats
45
Time
Team
Play
Score
20:00
(Sun Devils gains possession)
19:38
+3
Devan Cambridge makes three point jump shot (Desmond Cambridge Jr. assists)
3-0
19:24
Courtney Ramey misses three point jump shot
19:22
Matthew Lang offensive rebound
19:07
Jordan Mains misses two point layup
19:05
Jordan Mains offensive rebound
18:51
+2
Jordan Mains makes two point layup
3-2
18:39
+3
DJ Horne makes three point jump shot (Frankie Collins assists)
6-2
18:29
Oumar Ballo turnover (DJ Horne steals)
18:21
DJ Horne turnover (Jordan Mains steals)
18:11
+2
Cedric Henderson Jr. makes two point layup
6-4
17:59
+2
Warren Washington makes two point layup
8-4
17:41
+3
Cedric Henderson Jr. makes three point jump shot
8-7
17:21
Frankie Collins misses two point layup
17:19
Wildcats defensive rebound
17:05
+2
Oumar Ballo makes two point layup
8-9
16:55
Warren Washington shooting foul (Oumar Ballo draws the foul)
16:43
Oumar Ballo misses regular free throw 1 of 1
16:43
DJ Horne defensive rebound
16:34
+2
Desmond Cambridge Jr. makes two point jump shot
10-9
16:34
Courtney Ramey turnover (Desmond Cambridge Jr. steals)
16:34
+2
DJ Horne makes two point layup
12-9
16:20
Cedric Henderson Jr. misses three point jump shot
16:18
Desmond Cambridge Jr. defensive rebound
16:12
Warren Washington turnover (Cedric Henderson Jr. steals)
15:57
Oumar Ballo offensive foul
15:57
Oumar Ballo turnover (offensive foul)
15:48
TV timeout
15:30
Warren Washington misses two point jump shot
15:28
Azuolas Tubelis defensive rebound
15:10
Frankie Collins shooting foul (Pelle Larsson draws the foul)
15:10
Pelle Larsson misses regular free throw 1 of 2
15:10
+1
Pelle Larsson makes regular free throw 2 of 2
12-10
14:57
DJ Horne misses three point jump shot
14:55
Courtney Ramey defensive rebound
14:50
DJ Horne shooting foul (Pelle Larsson draws the foul)
14:50
+1
Pelle Larsson makes regular free throw 1 of 2
12-11
14:50
Pelle Larsson misses regular free throw 2 of 2
14:50
Devan Cambridge defensive rebound
14:21
+2
Jamiya Neal makes two point layup (DJ Horne assists)
14-11
13:58
+3
Courtney Ramey makes three point jump shot (Pelle Larsson assists)
14-14
13:35
DJ Horne misses three point jump shot
13:33
Azuolas Tubelis defensive rebound
13:24
Courtney Ramey turnover (Alonzo Gaffney steals)
13:08
Devan Cambridge misses three point jump shot
13:06
Azuolas Tubelis defensive rebound
12:54
+2
Azuolas Tubelis makes two point layup (Kerr Kriisa assists)
14-16
12:45
Pelle Larsson personal foul (Desmond Cambridge Jr. draws the foul)
12:37
Luther Muhammad turnover (Cedric Henderson Jr. steals)
12:28
+3
Kerr Kriisa makes three point jump shot (Cedric Henderson Jr. assists)
14-19
12:11
Luther Muhammad misses three point jump shot
12:09
Kylan Boswell defensive rebound
12:02
Cedric Henderson Jr. misses three point jump shot
12:00
Devan Cambridge defensive rebound
11:43
+3
Alonzo Gaffney makes three point jump shot (DJ Horne assists)
17-19
11:32
+2
Azuolas Tubelis makes two point layup (Kerr Kriisa assists)
17-21
11:03
+3
Jamiya Neal makes three point jump shot
20-21
10:51
TV timeout
10:44
Kerr Kriisa misses three point jump shot
10:42
Duke Brennan defensive rebound
10:24
+2
Duke Brennan makes two point layup (Desmond Cambridge Jr. assists)
22-21
10:12
Alonzo Gaffney shooting foul (Azuolas Tubelis draws the foul)
10:12
Azuolas Tubelis misses regular free throw 1 of 2
10:12
Azuolas Tubelis misses regular free throw 2 of 2
10:12
Jamiya Neal defensive rebound
10:02
Alonzo Gaffney offensive foul (Pelle Larsson draws the foul)
10:02
Alonzo Gaffney turnover (offensive foul)
9:45
+3
Pelle Larsson makes three point jump shot (Azuolas Tubelis assists)
22-24
9:23
+2
Desmond Cambridge Jr. makes two point jump shot
24-24
9:14
+3
Pelle Larsson makes three point jump shot (Oumar Ballo assists)
24-27
8:53
Kylan Boswell shooting foul (Frankie Collins draws the foul)
8:53
+1
Frankie Collins makes regular free throw 1 of 2
25-27
8:53
Frankie Collins misses regular free throw 2 of 2
8:53
Oumar Ballo defensive rebound
8:43
Oumar Ballo offensive foul (Duke Brennan draws the foul)
8:43
Oumar Ballo turnover (offensive foul)
8:31
+2
Desmond Cambridge Jr. makes two point jump shot
27-27
8:21
Azuolas Tubelis misses two point layup
8:19
Kylan Boswell offensive rebound
8:08
+2
Cedric Henderson Jr. makes two point jump shot (Kerr Kriisa assists)
27-29
7:57
+2
DJ Horne makes two point layup
29-29
7:49
Warren Washington shooting foul (Azuolas Tubelis draws the foul)
7:49
TV timeout
7:49
+1
Azuolas Tubelis makes regular free throw 1 of 2
29-30
7:49
+1
Azuolas Tubelis makes regular free throw 2 of 2
29-31
7:37
+2
DJ Horne makes two point jump shot (Jamiya Neal assists)
31-31
7:17
Azuolas Tubelis misses two point jump shot
7:15
Frankie Collins defensive rebound
7:08
Jamiya Neal misses three point jump shot
7:06
Azuolas Tubelis defensive rebound
6:55
Courtney Ramey turnover (bad pass)
6:41
Alonzo Gaffney misses three point jump shot
6:39
Henri Veesaar defensive rebound
6:28
DJ Horne blocks Kerr Kriisa's three point jump shot
6:26
Devan Cambridge defensive rebound
6:15
Frankie Collins misses two point jump shot
6:13
Pelle Larsson defensive rebound
6:04
Pelle Larsson turnover (bad pass) (Alonzo Gaffney steals)
5:57
+2
Alonzo Gaffney makes two point layup (Jamiya Neal assists)
33-31
5:40
+2
Cedric Henderson Jr. makes two point layup (Kerr Kriisa assists)
33-33
5:25
+2
Devan Cambridge makes two point layup (DJ Horne assists)
35-33
5:12
Devan Cambridge blocks Cedric Henderson Jr.'s two point dunk
5:10
DJ Horne defensive rebound
4:54
DJ Horne misses two point layup
4:52
Henri Veesaar defensive rebound
4:43
Courtney Ramey misses three point jump shot
4:41
Kerr Kriisa offensive rebound
4:36
+2
Kerr Kriisa makes two point layup
35-35
4:32
Courtney Ramey personal foul (Duke Brennan draws the foul)
4:18
DJ Horne misses two point jump shot
4:16
Wildcats defensive rebound
4:04
+2
Cedric Henderson Jr. makes two point layup
35-37
3:42
+2
Luther Muhammad makes two point jump shot
37-37
3:11
Duke Brennan shooting foul (Kylan Boswell draws the foul)
3:11
TV timeout
3:11
Kylan Boswell misses regular free throw 1 of 2
3:11
+1
Kylan Boswell makes regular free throw 2 of 2
37-38
2:46
Luther Muhammad misses three point jump shot
2:44
Oumar Ballo defensive rebound
2:37
Devan Cambridge personal foul (Azuolas Tubelis draws the foul)
2:37
+1
Azuolas Tubelis makes regular free throw 1 of 2
37-39
2:37
+1
Azuolas Tubelis makes regular free throw 2 of 2
37-40
2:22
+2
Warren Washington makes two point jump shot (DJ Horne assists)
39-40
2:12
Frankie Collins personal foul (Kerr Kriisa draws the foul)
2:12
Kerr Kriisa misses regular free throw 1 of 1
2:12
Desmond Cambridge Jr. defensive rebound
2:06
Sun Devils 30 second timeout
1:54
Desmond Cambridge Jr. misses two point jump shot
1:52
Devan Cambridge offensive rebound
1:41
+3
Jamiya Neal makes three point jump shot (Devan Cambridge assists)
42-40
1:31
Devan Cambridge blocks Pelle Larsson's two point layup
1:29
Jamiya Neal defensive rebound
1:19
Desmond Cambridge Jr. misses two point jump shot
1:17
Pelle Larsson defensive rebound
1:08
Pelle Larsson turnover (Jamiya Neal steals)
1:03
+2
Jamiya Neal makes two point layup
44-40
0:48
+2
Pelle Larsson makes two point layup (Courtney Ramey assists)
44-42
0:27
+2
Desmond Cambridge Jr. makes two point jump shot (DJ Horne assists)
46-42
0:18
Wildcats 30 second timeout
0:01
+3
Cedric Henderson Jr. makes three point jump shot
46-45
0:00
End of period
2nd Half
ASU
Sun Devils
43
ARIZ
Wildcats
43
Time
Team
Play
Score
19:49
+3
Courtney Ramey makes three point jump shot (Kerr Kriisa assists)
46-48
19:34
Frankie Collins turnover (out of bounds)
19:07
+3
Courtney Ramey makes three point jump shot (Oumar Ballo assists)
46-51
18:42
Desmond Cambridge Jr. misses three point jump shot
18:40
Devan Cambridge offensive rebound
18:32
+3
DJ Horne makes three point jump shot (Frankie Collins assists)
49-51
18:18
Kerr Kriisa misses three point jump shot
18:13
Wildcats offensive rebound
17:59
+2
Oumar Ballo makes two point dunk
49-53
17:59
Warren Washington shooting foul (Oumar Ballo draws the foul)
