Feb. 5, 2011
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STANFORD, Calif.- Jeremy Green and Jarrett Mann each had big offensive games in Stanford's 83-75 victory over Arizona State on Saturday. Cardinal head coach Johnny Dawkins appreciated their production and, more importantly, appreciated their leadership qualities.
"That's the best game Jarrett and Jeremy ever had in a Cardinal uniform," Dawkins said. "It was more than scoring, it was about how they stepped up and made plays that were needed to close out the game."
Green scored a season-high 23 points and Mann scored a career-high 14 points for the Cardinal (12-10, 5-6 Pac-10), who won for just the second time in seven games.
"Beside the numbers I feel I did a good job of leading the team," said Mann, who also had seven assists, one off his career best. "I feel comfortable with the ball."
Green hit all five of his 3-point attempts and had back-to-back games with at least 20 points for the second time this year. Stanford scored its most points since getting 92 against Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Nov. 21.
Josh Owens added 16 points and a game-high eight rebounds while Aaron Bright scored 10 points.
Owens and Mann were a combined 18-of-24 from the foul line. Green was 6-of-8.
"We got the wrong guy to the line in Jeremy Green," Arizona State coach Herb Sendek said. "A couple times we didn't use the best discretion; not that we were in a position to be choosy a few of the times. When Jeremy Green's at the line, Stanford is going to make a lot of free throws."
Jamelle McMillan scored 17 points to lead the Sun Devils (9-14, 1-10), who lost their seventh straight. Trent Lockett added 14 points and Carrick Felix 10.
"Our defensive numbers weren't very impressive," Sendek said. "We had a very difficult time getting stops. We only forced nine turnovers. Their three guards combined for 47 points; we didn't contain them very well at all."
Sun Devils' guard Ty Abbott sat out the second half because of a sprained back. He suffered the injury during Thursday's loss at California but felt ready to go against the Cardinal.
Stanford led 36-26 at halftime.
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Head coach Johnny Dawkins
Opening Statement:
"I was really proud of our team's effort tonight. Just look at our assists and turnovers--18 assists and 10 turnovers. It was huge for us to get a win before heading out on the road. We've got some tough games ahead of us, at Washington and Washington State."
On the shooting of Jeremy Green:
"It was good to see Jeremy stroke the ball. Jeremy shot the ball well in the last game and followed it up with another good effort. I think Jarrett is one of the most improved players in the Pac-10."
Junior Josh Owens
On shooting 10-12 from the line:
"For me it's probably just been a mental thing. Practicing isn't a problem; it's just getting up to the line and knocking them down like you know you can."
On returning after sitting out last year:
"It's still a process. I'm not where I want to be yet. There's a lot of room to grow. I'd like to think I'm hopefully a little bit better than my old self, but there's still room to grow."
Arizona State head coach Herb Sendek
On the team's 1-10 Pac-10 record:
"I am not going to dismiss the fact that this is challenging for us, but I am not going to allow ourselves to go into the frustration dimension. We're going to continue to demand, be as positive as we can be, and we're going to keep working. It's hard to get that message across -- even to myself. There's nothing easy about it."
Arizona State senior Jamelle McMillan (career-high 17 points):
Thoughts on the game:
"Free throws beat us today. Anytime you're parading to the line to shoot 34 free throws, and you're making pretty much all of them, you have a 95 percent chance of winning. We couldn't match them getting to the basket, they did a great job helping, keeping us out of the paint. They did a great job of adjusting in the second half, they turned up the pressure, they converted, and we didn't. They opened (the lanes for drives) by making threes. They had 10 threes in the game, had us running all over the place trying to close out. They were smart on their penetrations, and they found the open guys."