TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) - Tra Holder scored 20 points, Kodi Justice added 18 and No. 3 Arizona State overcame a shaky first half to extend the best start in school history with a 95-61 victory over Longwood on Tuesday night.
Arizona State (11-0) struggled early for the second straight game, unable to find many seams in Longwood's zone or get shots to fall from the perimeter during the first half.
Once the second half rolled around, Arizona State's quick-burst offense ignited.
Pressuring the Lancers into mistakes and getting out in transition, the Sun Devils went on a 16-1 run to turn a five-point halftime lead into a 54-35 advantage in the opening 6 1/2 minutes.
De'Quon Lake scored 16 points and Holder had a strong all-around game, finishing with six assists, six steals and five rebounds.
Longwood (3-9) played without two starters, including leading scorer Isaiah Walton, yet scrapped with the No. 3 team in the country to keep it close in the first half.
The Lancers struggled again Arizona State's defensive pressure in the second half and had a hard time keeping track of its bevy of shooters after shutting them down the opening 20 minutes.
Kamil Chapman had 16 points to lead the Lancers, who had 16 of their 26 turnovers in the second half.
The Sun Devils came out flat against Vanderbilt on Sunday, falling behind 13-0 in their first game as a top-5 team in 36 years. Arizona State kicked into a gear few teams have after that, rolling to a 12-point victory.
That victory propelled the Sun Devils past Duke into the No. 3 slot, matching the highest ranking in school history (1981 and 1963).
Arizona State got off to another slow start against the Lancers, the No. 344 team in the KenPom rankings, clanging one shot after another against their zone.
The Sun Devils missed 13 of their first 17 shots and only improved marginally from there. Arizona State shot 10 of 30 from the field, 4 of 15 from the 3-point arc and clung to a 35-30 halftime lead.
Arizona State started to solve Longwood's zone in the second half and caused problems for the Lancers with pressure of their own.
A team that can put up points in a hurry , the Sun Devils did just that, going on a 12-0 run to take a 50-34 lead. Justice hit a 3-pointer during the run and made a nifty left-handed, no-look dish to set up Romello White for a basket inside on consecutive possessions.
Arizona State continued to pressure the Lancers, stretching the lead to 35 with a 13-0 run that sent many of the fans to the exits.
BIG PICTURE
Longwood lost, but can take a lot away from hanging with the nation's No. 3 team for a half.
Arizona State could stand to get off to better starts, but again showed why it's one of the best teams in the country with a dominating second half.
UP NEXT
Longwood heads across the Valley of the Sun to play Grand Canyon on Thursday.
Arizona State hosts Pacific on Friday.
