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House's brick at buzzer ends Sun Devils' season, career

By Nick Piecoro

State Press

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Just like Eddie House wanted it, the season came down to this: the clock melting away and the ball in his hands with a chance to tie NC State.

The ASU senior guard rolled around screens by Donnell Knight and Kyle Dodd, made it to the corner and found the ball in his hands and saw, surprisingly, a clear view at the hoop. In one motion, he turned, set, fired and...

Clank.

With that, time expired along with the Sun Devils' season as NC State prevailed in this harrowing contest, 60-57, before 14,982 at the Entertainment and Sports Arena Tuesday night to advance to the third round of the NIT.

House, his career over, grabbed his jersey and pulled it over his head as the Wolfpack celebrated, a tableau that epitomizes his time in Tempe in regards to team goals. Despite all he accomplished individually -- including a gritty and impressive farewell performance of 32 points on 13-of-30 shooting -- disappointment seemed to reign along with ASU losses and the team's inability to get House into an NCAA Tournament.

"I know it sounds selfish, but that's the way I wanted it. I wanted to take the shot," House said. "I just missed it. That's how it goes."

House was the only Sun Devil to show up in Raleigh; along with grabbing seven rebounds, he was the only player to score in double figures and although Knight scored nine points, he also turned it over six times.

The turnovers, along with foul trouble and lack of rebounding down the stretch, killed ASU (19-13). It committed 20 turnovers, the most since the UA debacle at home 14 games ago.

"We turned the basketball over way too many times to have a chance to win the ballgame," ASU coach Rob Evans said. "We had some turnovers tonight that were uncharacteristic of our basketball team."

Against a bigger NC State (19-12) team, ASU found itself in foul trouble early. After five minutes, Chad Prewitt and Awvee Storey were both sitting on the bench with two apiece.

It continued throughout the game; after 76 seconds had elapsed in the second half, Storey was back on the bench with four fouls. Evans had no choice but to switch to a zone defense, something he doesn't like to do.

In the end, the zone hurt ASU. The Wolfpack had three second-chance buckets in the last five minutes, including a slam dunk by Kenny Inge following a miss by Damien Wilkins to take a 58-57 lead with 57 seconds left.

After a time out, Prewitt missed a short jumper but House rebounded and, falling out of bounds with 38 seconds left, called time out. ASU then ran the shot clock down and point guard Alton Mason drove the lane with 8.4 seconds left before trying to spin and dish to House. He was called for traveling.

"I was being aggressive, trying to take it to the hole," Mason said. "I guess they said I picked up my feet."

Wilkins was fouled and made both free throws for a three-point lead with 7.4 seconds left, setting up House's miss.

"We got the look we wanted with Eddie," Evans said, "and nine times out of 10 he'll knock that shot down. It just didn't go. That's the way it goes in the game of basketball."

Nick Piecoro can be reached by e-mail at nick.piecoro@asu.edu.