Quick Hits: Old Friends Face Off In Pac-12

By Andrew Kahn

There were two games in the Pac-12 last night and two more on top tonight before a busy weekend. Here’s what you may have missed and what to watch for going forward.

Arizona State 68, UCLA 66

Arizona State almost gave this one away at home while trying to milk the clock in the final minutes. Playing like you’re afraid to make a mistake can backfire, and the Sun Devils committed a couple of silly turnovers down the stretch. But UCLA didn’t even get off a shot on the game’s final possession before the buzzer sounded. It was a tough loss for the Bruins and proof that Arizona State’s Tournament chances are still alive.

Savon Goodman had another monster game for ASU. The 6’6” forward went 8 for 8 from the field, most coming near the basket, and grabbed 12 rebounds. In his last four games, starting with an upset over Arizona, Goodman is shooting 27 of 36 (75 percent). When teammate Bo Barnes missed a three with 27 seconds left, it was Goodman who got the rebound and passed to Jonathan Gilling, forcing Kevon Looney to foul out. Another UCLA forward, Tony Parker, had fouled out a few minutes earlier. Gilling stepped to the line with a heavy heart. ESPN announcer Dave Pasch reported that a friend of Gilling’s was among those killed in terrorist attacks last week in Copenhagen. Gilling made one of two, and teammate Tra Holder did the same after a UCLA lay-up. That gave the Bruins one final chance, but Isaac Hamilton’s three-point attempt came just after the final buzzer.

Oregon 73, Colorado 60

Oregon allowed the Buffaloes to grab 44 percent of their own misses last night in Eugene but still managed to win. The Ducks kept Askia Booker in check (5 of 17) and limited Colorado from long-range (2 for 18), which helped overcome Josh Scott’s 17 rebounds. Joseph Young scored 23 on 20 shots and dished out six assists as Oregon improved to 9-5 in the Pac-12.

Hang ’em up

With the NBA in the middle of its All Star break, it’s a good time for jersey retirement ceremonies. Last night in Tempe, Arizona State hung James Harden’s No. 13 jersey in the rafters. Harden is one of just two former Sun Devils currently in the NBA (San Antonio reserve Jeff Ayres is the other). ASU went from 8-22 the year before Harden arrived to 21-13 in his freshman season in 2007-08. The next year they won a game in the NCAA Tournament.

Arizona will retire Jason Terry’s number tonight. The point guard won a national championship in 1997 and was named the Pac-10 Player of the Year as a senior in 1999. Known primarily for his time in Atlanta and Dallas, where he won a title in 2011, and is now with Houston, his fifth franchise.

Old friends face off

The other league game tonight has Utah visiting Oregon State. The head coaches have a long history together. Larry Krystkowiak and Wayne Tinkle were teammates for two years at the University of Montana in the mid-80s. Tinkle later served there as an assistant under Krystkowiak and took over for him in 2006. Tinkle is now in his first season at Oregon State. The two haven’t talked during the season—or at least hadn’t when Tinkle was asked about it a couple of weeks ago—but remain friends. “I watch them with great interest because you want one of your friends to have success—other than when we go head to head, obviously.” The Beavers have not lost at home this season.

Andrew Kahn is a regular contributor to CBS Local who also writes for Newsday and The Wall Street Journal. He writes about college basketball and other sports at AndrewJKahn.com. Email him at andrewjkahn@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter at @AndrewKahn.