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Remy Martin leaned against the scorer’s table, donning a headset as he addressed a television audience. Then he grabbed a cell phone to do an interview with the Sun Devil radio network, as a small but boisterous family section cheered.  Then he still had to talk to the other local media.

Martin’s senior year has hardly gone as planned but the gutty point guard no doubt had one of his finer moments, draining a deep 3-pointer at the end of overtime to boost the Sun Devils to a 77-74 win over visiting Washington State Saturday night in Pac-12 play at Desert Financial Arena on what was Senior Night.

It marked the first time this season the Sun Devils (10-11, 7-8) have won three straight games and they did it again with a depleted lineup.

“It was a fitting end, how that game ended with what Remy did,” coach Bobby Hurley said. ” It’s what he’s been doing here for years and he’s had so many big shots in his career at Arizona State and another big one on Senior Day.”

ASU had a 74-72 lead only to see the visitors even it again on a put back by T.J. Bamba with 1:10 to play. Neither team scored on its next possession and a Cougar miss rebounded by Jalen Graham with 10 seconds left in overtime gave the Sun Devils the last chance.

ASU took a 30-second timeout to set the stage for Martin’s latest heroics. He took the inbounds pass and dribbled at the top of the key. He never gave the ball up, finally hoisting up a shot from well beyond the 3-point line arc that got nothing but net and sent the home team into celebration.

“I was just thinking if he was going to go under the screen, I had to shoot the ball. Even though I had a tough night I still put a lot of work in the offseason shooting the 3 and at the end of the day, it’s basketball,” he said. “It was no pressure there, I just read what the defender was doing. He went under (the screen), and I had an open look at the 3 and I just shot it.”

To that point it hadn’t necessarily been a good night for the player that has been the heart and soul of the program the last three years. Martin, the Pac-12’s leading scorer, finished with 23 points but was just 7-for-23 from the field, which included a 3-for-13 from long distance.

He connected on just one of his first 12 tries before making his only two in overtime, the first of which gave ASU a 72-68 lead early in the extra period.

“I’m just relieved. That night was tough for myself and usually, when I get going, the team gets going. I’m just happy we won,” he said. “The guys allowed me to play my game. They could have said, ‘Hey, Remy, it’s not your night.’ Coach could have said, ‘Hey man, today’s not your day, you’re not getting the last shot, you’re not getting the go-ahead buckets.’ They stayed with me. I appreciate them so much for that. They could have looked the other way. They stayed with me the whole way.”

The showing gave Martin eight straight 20-point games, tying him with Eddie House, who was courtside calling the game for the Pac-12 Network. In the post-game interview on the radio Martin talked about the respect he has for the player that preceded him and is the father of teammate Jaelen House. He then said if he didn’t break the mark this year he always had next year, which prompted the question whether he was indeed thinking of returning since seniors are being afford another year by the NCAA because of the pandemic.

Martin chuckled at the thought of that but offered, “I’m really just living in the present.”

Hurley was asked about that exchange and while he said he’d love to have Martin back, hinted that it was his time to go.

“He’s had a hell of a career and he’s a pro prospect and he’s got to get out there and start making money and be a pro.” Hurley said. “Certainly we can have that conversation but it’s been a great ride with him and he’s meant so much to me and Arizona State. He’s done everything he could do here”

The Sun Devils again played shorthanded, particularly in the post which made it difficult against an opponent that boasts a lot of size.  Freshman forward Marcus Bagley missed his 10th game and seventh straight with a sprained ankle although he went through pregame warmup. Freshman guard Josh Christopher (back) missed his fifth game.

Added to the mix this time was 6-10 sophomore walk-on John Olmsted, who has seen significant playing time with the others unavailable but he was out sick.

The Sun Devils shot 41.5 percent (27-for-65) with Martin, leading four players in double figures. Graham chalked up 11 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks, despite picking up a fourth foul with 2:09 left in regulation. Kimani Lawrence tallied 14 with five rebounds while House managed 10 with two steals that led to crucial buckets.

Alonzo Verge had nine points and six rebounds but most notable were his nine assists which gives him 23 in the last three games.

Washington State (14-12, 7-12) shot 40.7 (24-for-59) and benefited from a 42-36 rebounding advantage. The Cougars were playing without leading scorer Isaac Bonton (sprained ankle). The visitors took another hit when Noah Williams, the reigning Pac-12 and national player of the week, fouled out with 43 seconds left in regulation with 15 points, six assists and three rebounds.

The same teams will square off in a rare Monday game at 1 p.m. in what is a makeup game of one postponed when ASU was supposed to travel to Pullman in January. It will be the third time this season the Sun Devils have played back-to-back games against the same team.

Reach the reporter at [email protected] or 602 444-4783.  Follow her on Twitter @MGardnerSports.

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