Joson Sanon scored 19 points and Jayden Quaintance had 10 points, nine rebounds and five assists as Arizona State defeated previously unbeaten Saint Mary’s 68-64 to win the Acrisure Classic championship on Friday in Palm Springs, Calif.

Adam Miller and BJ Freeman each scored 11 points for the Sun Devils (7-1), who hit 5 of 18 shots from 3-point range and 7 of 12 at the free throw line. Sanon, who also scored 19 points in the Sun Devils’ semifinal win over New Mexico on Thursday, had another strong effort, shooting 8 of 16 from the field (and 3 of 4 from beyond the arc) without losing the ball.

Jordan Ross scored 19 points to pace the Gaels (7-1), who knocked down 8 of 17 3-point attempts but missed 6 of 12 free throw attempts. Augustas Marciulionis contributed 13 points and Mitchell Saxen had 10 points and nine rebounds.

The score was 60-60 when Miller knocked down a three-pointer with just over three minutes to play. Paulius Murauskas’ putback brought Saint Mary’s to within one point, but Quaintance countered with a putback to restore a three-point lead.

Basheer Jihad drained a pair of free throws with 14 seconds left to make it 66-62 before Marciulionas brought in a runner with three seconds left to play, cutting Arizona State’s lead to 66-64. However, Alston Mason made 2 of 2 from the line and secured the win.

With 3:50 left in the first half, Ross made a 3-pointer and then shared two free throws a minute later, helping Saint Mary’s extend its lead to 31-22. However, Arizona State responded with eight straight points, including four from Quaintance, to cut its deficit to one.

Saint Mary’s Mikey Lewis answered with a 3-pointer in the final minute, but Quaintance’s basket in the final seconds put the Sun Devils up 34-32 at the break.

Neither team led by more than three in the second half until Sanon’s three-pointer gave the Gaels a 46-40 lead with 12:56 left. However, Luke Barrett responded with a 3-pointer, setting up the close contest down the stretch.

–Field level media