TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Eric Boateng had 16 points, a career-high 14 rebounds and a career-best four blocked shots as Arizona State breathed a little more life into its NCAA tournament hopes with a wire-to-wire 56-46 victory over UCLA on Saturday.
The 6-foot-10 senior had a layup, two blocked shots and consecutive offensive rebounds on a late possession for Arizona State.
The Sun Devils (22-9, 12-6) already had wrapped up the No. 2 seed in next week’s Pac-10 tournament. They still had a shot at tying California for the conference lead, but the Bears swept the Sun Devils so would be the top seed in the conference.
Arizona State raced to a 13-0 lead and UCLA never caught up.
Nikola Dragovic and Malcolm Lee scored 15 apiece for the Bruins (13-17, 8-10), who are, barring some miracle finish, headed for their third losing season since 1947-48.
