Dec. 29, 2003

Box Score

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP)-- Jamal Hill scored 18 points while Jason Braxton added 15 and had a career-high 10 assists to lead Arizona State past San Diego 89-70 Monday in the first round of the Sun Devils' azcentral.com Hoops Classic.

Arizona State (6-2) faces Western Michigan, a 76-71 winner over Winthrop earlier Monday, in the championship game on Tuesday.

Arizona State went on a 9-0 run near the end of the first half and led 45-35 at halftime. The Toreros never got closer than seven in the second half. Arizona State led by as much as 26.

Nick Lewis had 18 points for San Diego (3-9), which has lost five of its last seven.

Lewis scored 11 points on 5-for-5 shooting in the first seven minutes but got only one attempt the rest of the half. He finished the night 7-of-11 from the field including two 3-pointers.

Ike Diogu added 15 points and nine rebounds for the Sun Devils.

Brett Melton added 13, including 3-for-3 from beyond the 3-point line, for San Diego. Brad Lechtenberg added 12 points, all on 3-pointers.

The Sun Devils took advantage of 16 Torero turnovers and scored 18 points. Arizona State also outrebounded San Diego 43-26.

Hill had 12 of his points in the first half and Jason Braxton added 10 of his by halftime as the Sun Devils rallied from an early deficit.

Arizona State scored nine straight points early in the second half and later scored 11 in a row to take a 74-50 lead with 9:16 left.