Arizona State men’s basketball loves a good comeback.

Before their showdown with Santa Clara on Saturday, Dec. 13, head coach Bobby Hurley and the Sun Devils had four wins in games in which they trailed by eight-plus points in the second half.

Saturday was its most demanding task yet, as ASU erased a 17-point halftime deficit without its head coach on the court.

Hurley was ejected from the game late in the first half in what felt like a release of frustration from the Sun Devils’ leader after a rough opening half.

However, ASU responded once again, as assistant coach Nick Irvin led the Sun Devils on a furious comeback to leave Las Vegas as winners.

ASU downed the Broncos 82-79, picking up its second one-possession win of the campaign. The win vaulted the Sun Devils to 9-2 on the year, making them one of seven Big 12 teams with nine wins this season.

Similar to its win over Northern Arizona on Dec. 9, ASU featured a balanced attack evenly among a group of contributors.

Freshman center Massamba Diop and senior guard Anthony “Pig” Johnson led the charge with 15 points apiece, with Diop also pulling down nine rebounds.

Usually the first man off the Sun Devils bench, Johnson found himself in the starting lineup for the first time this season due to the absence of junior guard Bryce Ford. 

Johnson said he didn’t really focus on joining the starting lineup. 

“I don’t really care about starting,” Johnson said postgame. “I just wanted to win.”

Alongside Johnson in the starting five, senior guard Moe Odum continued his consistent ways with 12 points, seven assists and four steals.

Odum is currently averaging six assists per game, good for top 30 in the nation.

The fourth and final ASU starter in double figures on Saturday was junior forward Andrija Grbovic, who rode a hot hand from distance to a season-high output of 13 points.

The 6-foot-11-inch Montenegrin went 3-for-4 from beyond the arc on Saturday, raising his 3-point percentage in the past three games to a blazing 63.6%.

With momentum on their side after a record-breaking comeback, Hurley returns to the sideline for two opponents with plenty of familiarity. As Big 12 action looms right around the corner, one thing is for sure: if you find yourself feeling nostalgic about the old Pac-12, this week is for you.

On Wednesday, Dec. 17, the Sun Devils make the journey west on Interstate 10 to Los Angeles to take on UCLA. The Bruins, now members of the Big Ten, boast a 7-3 record this season.

Fresh off an 82-72 loss to No. 7 Gonzaga in Seattle on Saturday, the Bruins dropped out of this week’s AP Poll – ASU also fell to the Bulldogs 77-65 in Tempe on Nov. 14.

This year’s UCLA team features the two-headed monster of senior guard Donovan Dent and senior forward Tyler Bilodeau.

Dent, who was named in preseason national player of the year contention, has battled injuries throughout the first two months of the campaign. Still, the New Mexico transfer has dropped 12 points and 6.8 assists a game this season.

Bilodeau has been a marksman for the Bruins, putting up 16 points a game on 52.3% shooting and 40.6% from three.

Over his first 10 seasons at the helm for ASU, Hurley has struggled against UCLA, amassing a career record of 5-10 against the Bruins.

After they visit the City of Angels, the Sun Devils return to the desert to face current Pac-12 member Oregon State at home on Sunday, Dec. 21.

It has been a bumpy road for the Beavers already this season, but they find themselves on the right side of .500 with a 6-5 record.

The centerpiece of Oregon State’s squad is without a doubt junior guard Josiah Lake II, as he leads the Beavers in points (12 1/2), rebounds (5.4) and assists (3.2) per game.

Before heading to Tempe, Oregon State hosts Sam Houston on Wednesday, Dec. 17.

Compared to his track record against UCLA, Hurley has had much better luck against the Beavers in his tenure, holding a 13-4 career mark against Oregon State.