Arizona State Opens Bennett Era With 75-65 Win
Randy Bennett made his Arizona State coaching debut Monday, with the Sun Devils beating East Tennessee State in the season opener.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Basketball
Arizona State defeated East Tennessee State 75-65 in its season opener on November 2, 2026, the first game for head coach Randy Bennett, who replaced Bobby Hurley. Paulius Murauskas led the Sun Devils with 21 points, while BJ Ward scored 25 points for East Tennessee State.
Why it matters
The opener marks the first game of a new coaching era in Tempe, with Bennett bringing his program-building record to the Sun Devils. The result gives Arizona State an early season win as the team begins its schedule under its new leader.
Murauskas made 11 of 12 foul shots and grabbed nine rebounds, while Joel Foxwell added 15 points and Dillan Shaw scored 13 for Arizona State. East Tennessee State led for only 63 seconds, and an 8-0 run cut the deficit to 55-50 before the Sun Devils pulled away.
The players
Randy Bennett
Bennett is a veteran college basketball coach who previously built the Saint Mary's program over 25 seasons and led it to 19 postseason appearances.
Arizona State Sun Devils
Arizona State is the NCAA Division I men's basketball program based at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona.
East Tennessee State Buccaneers
East Tennessee State is the NCAA Division I men's basketball program representing East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, Tennessee.
The details
JRob Croy hit a 3-pointer with 12:36 remaining that put Arizona State ahead 55-42, and the Buccaneers could never get closer than five points the rest of the way. Filip Malesevic added 11 points for the Sun Devils, while Trevor Hennig and Jayden Cooper scored 15 and 10 for East Tennessee State.
Timeline
November 2, 2026: Arizona State defeats East Tennessee State 75-65 in the season opener.
Friday, November 6, 2026: East Tennessee State plays NC State in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Friday, November 6, 2026: Arizona State hosts Northern Colorado in Tempe.
Coaching Lineage
Bennett spent 25 seasons at Saint Mary's and produced 19 postseason appearances before taking over the Arizona State program. His Tempe debut follows that record as he replaces Bobby Hurley, the former Sun Devils coach.
Fantasy managers tracking Murauskas should note his 21-point, nine-rebound opener from the foul line and in the frontcourt. Arizona State's next game is Friday against Northern Colorado, giving the team another chance to build depth early in the season.
The takeaway
Arizona State's opener gave Bennett a first win in Tempe and showed balanced scoring across the lineup. The early results will shape how the Sun Devils approach the rest of the schedule.
What happens next
Arizona State hosts Northern Colorado on Friday, November 6, 2026, the team's next scheduled game in Tempe.
Further reading
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