The Library Media — Sports · Sports Desk
Murauskas Powers Arizona State to 92-62 Win Over Louisiana-Monroe
By Piper Rampage
Photo: SneakinDeacon / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)
TEMPE, Ariz. — Paulius Murauskas delivered 31 points and 13 rebounds as Arizona State pulled away early and defeated Louisiana-Monroe 92-62 at Desert Financial Arena.
Arizona State improved to 4-0, while Louisiana-Monroe fell to 1-4. The victory was also head coach Randy Bennett’s 593rd career win.
Louisiana-Monroe opened with an early 7-3 lead, but Arizona State quickly changed the game. Murauskas scored on a layup to give the Sun Devils their first lead at 10-9, and Arizona State followed with 12-0 stretches that produced advantages of 24-11 and 39-16.
Murauskas had already accumulated 20 points and 11 rebounds in the first half alone. Arizona State led 47-22 at halftime and extended the advantage to 33 early in the second half.
Joel Foxwell added 16 points and nine assists for Arizona State. The Sun Devils also won the rebounding battle 48-35.
Dayjaun Anderson led Louisiana-Monroe with 17 points and eight rebounds.
Arizona State’s fast turnaround after the early deficit set the tone. After falling behind 7-3, the Sun Devils took their first lead on Murauskas’ layup and then built increasing separation with their two 12-0 stretches.
Murauskas finished with a double-double of 31 points and 13 rebounds, providing the dominant individual performance for Arizona State. Foxwell’s 16 points and nine assists supplied further scoring and playmaking.
The Sun Devils scored 47 points in the first half and 45 in the second. Louisiana-Monroe scored 22 before halftime and 40 afterward but could not erase the large deficit created during Arizona State’s first-half runs.
The result kept Arizona State unbeaten through four games and gave Bennett his 593rd career victory.
Piper Rampage
Men’s College Basketball, The Library Media
From The Library — the estate of our family.
