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Murauskas Leads Balanced Attack as Sun Devils Improve to 4-0
The Arizona State Sun Devils continued their impressive start to the 2026-27 season Friday night, cruising to a 92-62 victory over the UL Monroe Warhawks at Desert Financial Arena. In front of 5,351 fans, Arizona State put together one of its most complete performances of the young season, using a suffocating first-half defensive effort and a dominant showing on the boards to remain undefeated at 4-0. [espn.com]
After trading baskets early, Arizona State quickly established control and never looked back. The Sun Devils overwhelmed UL Monroe on both ends of the floor, building a commanding 47-22 halftime advantage and extending the lead throughout the second half. By the final buzzer, Arizona State had earned its largest lead of 41 points and led for 85 percent of the game.
The night belonged to Paulius Murauskas, who delivered another standout performance in the maroon and gold. The forward poured in 31 points while grabbing 13 rebounds, recording a dominant double-double against the Warhawks. Murauskas shot an efficient 11-for-20 from the field and constantly created second-chance opportunities, collecting seven offensive rebounds and controlling the paint from start to finish.
While Murauskas supplied the scoring punch, the Sun Devils received contributions across the roster. Arizona State’s offense operated smoothly throughout the evening, generating quality looks and knocking down 15 three-pointers. The ball movement was especially sharp, with Joel Foxwell dishing out nine assists while helping orchestrate an offense that never allowed UL Monroe back into contention. [espn.com]
Sun Devils Defense Sets the Tone Early
The foundation of Arizona State’s victory was established on the defensive end.
The Sun Devils came out aggressively from the opening tip, disrupting passing lanes, contesting shots, and making every offensive possession difficult for the Warhawks. UL Monroe managed only 22 first-half points and struggled to find any consistency against Arizona State’s pressure. The Warhawks finished the game shooting just 34 percent from the floor and committed 14 turnovers. [espn.com]
Arizona State’s ability to force mistakes while taking care of the basketball itself proved to be one of the biggest differences in the game. The Sun Devils committed only eight turnovers, allowing them to maximize possessions and continually put pressure on the visitors. [espn.com]
The rebounding battle was equally one-sided. Arizona State outrebounded UL Monroe 48-35, controlling both ends of the glass and limiting second-chance opportunities for the Warhawks. The Sun Devils’ physicality and effort around the basket helped create a steady flow of transition chances and extra possessions that fueled the blowout win.
Warhawks Unable to Keep Pace
For UL Monroe, Dayjaun Anderson did his best to keep his team competitive. Anderson scored 17 points and pulled down eight rebounds, leading the Warhawks in both categories. However, Arizona State’s defensive attention made life difficult for the rest of the lineup and prevented UL Monroe from mounting any sustained scoring runs. [espn.com]
The Warhawks briefly held a lead early in the contest, but Arizona State’s size, depth, and shooting eventually became too much to overcome. UL Monroe shot 33 percent from beyond the arc and converted 20 field goals overall, far below the offensive output necessary to challenge an Arizona State team that continued to score efficiently throughout the night.
As the lead grew, the Sun Devils remained locked in. Rather than easing off the gas, Arizona State continued to defend at a high level and attack offensively, ensuring there would be no opportunity for a comeback. The consistency was a positive sign for a team that has shown increasing confidence with each game of the season. [espn.com]
Undefeated Start Continues for Sun Devils
Four games into the season, Arizona State appears to be finding its identity.
The Sun Devils have shown balance offensively, toughness on the defensive end, and a willingness to do the little things that often separate good teams from great ones. Friday’s performance highlighted all three traits as Arizona State dominated the glass, protected the basketball, and shot well enough to keep constant pressure on the opposition.
Murauskas continues to emerge as one of the team’s most reliable offensive options, while players such as Foxwell provide the complementary playmaking needed to keep the offense flowing. If Arizona State can maintain this level of efficiency and defensive intensity, the Sun Devils could carry significant momentum into the tougher portions of their nonconference schedule.
For now, Arizona State will gladly take another convincing victory. The Sun Devils improved to 4-0 with the 92-62 win, while UL Monroe dropped to 1-4 on the season. The final score reflected a game Arizona State controlled from nearly start to finish, continuing an encouraging undefeated start in Tempe. [espn.com]
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