December 5, 1998
Box Score
PHOENIX - Eddie House scored 27 of his career-high 39 points in the second half Saturday to lift Arizona State to a 79-70 victory over UNLV.
The junior guard's performance tied for second on the Sun Devils' all-time scoring list. Paul Williams holds the record of 45 against USC in 1983. Headake Smith, the infamous ASU player who later admitted to shaving points in a gambling scandal, 39 against Oregon State in 1994.The Sun Devils (3-4) outscored UNLV 19-7 over the final five minutes for the biggest victory yet for first-year coach Rob Evans. The game was the first half of a doubleheader at America West Arena, site of this season's NCAA West Regional. Wyoming played 13th-ranked Arizona in the second game.House scored eight during that final surge, including two of his six 3-pointers. His previous career high was 31 against Kansas State in the Maui Classic earlier this season.UNLV (4-3) ws led by Shawn Marion's 20 points and 12 rebounds. Arizona State had a 14-2 run to take control late in the game. House's 3-pointer with 4:01 to play gave the Sun Devils the lead 64-63, then freshman Kenny Crandall, who got his first start of the season, hit another '3' to make it 67-63.Kaspars Kambala's two free throws sliced the lead to 67-65 with 2:31 to go, then House hit his final 3-pointer, the first of 11 consecutive points for Arizona State, to make it 70-65.House capped the outburst with two free throws that gave the Sun Devils their biggest lead, 78-65, with 40.7 seconds to go.House was 14-for-27 from the field, 6-for-11 on 3-pointers and 5-for-5 from the free throw line. He also had four steals and four assists.Alton Mason was the only other Sun Devil in double figures with 11 points. Kambala scored 12 for the Runnin' Rebels.UNLV led 28-23 in the first half, but Arizona State came back to trail only 33-32 on House's 3-pointer as the half ended.The Rebels led 60-56 on Marion's short jumper with 7:12 remaining. House's jumper and two free throws tied it at 60, then Kambala scored inside and made one of two free throws to put UNLV up 63-60 with 4:58 to go.The Rebels managed just two free throws over the next 4:28 as Arizona State pulled away.
By BOB BAUM
AP Sports Writer
