Sun Devils win 9th straight, crack AP Top 25

Frankie Collins and Arizona State see their stock rise following 91-67 win over San Diego

TEMPE, Ariz. ( KYMA, KECY-TV ) - Entering Sunday night's home tilt against Steve Lavin's San Diego Toreros, Bobby Hurley's Sun Devils still found themselves on the outside looking in when it came to being nationally ranked.

"I think our wins speak for themselves," Arizona State head coach Bobby Hurley said. "We're 11-1, we won on the road at Colorado. Creighton and Michigan on a neutral and VCU is a very good program, we've done what we should do."

On Sunday night against San Diego, ASU jumped out to a 7-0 lead before allowing the Toreros to climb back and take the lead 21-19 with nine minutes remaining in the first half.

"We gotta play better at both ends," Hurley said. "A little sloppy on offense and gave up too many offensive rebounds and didn't guard them the way we've guarded team all year so, gotta get it fixed, gotta get it fixed quick."

The Devils used a late surge to enter halftime with the lead at 41-34. Arizona State extended their lead to double digits in the second half and never looked back, running away with a 91-67 win, their ninth in a row.

Even with the win, head coach Bobby Hurley didn't feel his team played up to its potential.

"I thought we did some uncharacteristic things," Hurley said. "We only had 10 turnovers but it was like, maybe we should've had only five. We took some quick shots that I didn't think were great at times."

In the latest AP poll, Arizona State moved to number 25 while see being left out of the coaches poll top 25.

"Now there's a lot more basketball to be played but as it stands right now, I think we're a top 25 team," Hurley said.

The Sun Devils next will travel to San Francisco on December 21st before hosting #5 Arizona on December 31st.