California Is Stopped by Arizona State

TEMPE, Ariz. —  Curtis Millage scored seven of his 21 points on free throws in the final 3:22 Thursday night as Arizona State ended No. 20 California’s best conference start in 46 seasons with a 75-70 victory.

Millage missed the first three games of the season because of an academic technicality, then scored 26 points in an overtime victory over Utah his first game back despite missing four consecutive free throws in the closing minutes of regulation.

“Curtis really stepped up and made the free throws, considering that during his first game in Maui he really struggled from the line,” Coach Rob Evans said.

Ike Diogu, a freshman who has scored in double digits each game, had 19 points and 13 rebounds.

Donnell Knight and Shawn Redhage had 10 points each for Arizona State, which improved to 13-6 overall and 5-3 in the Pacific 10 Conference. The Sun Devils hadn’t played since a loss at Arizona on Jan. 22.

Joe Shipp had 27 points for the Bears (14-3, 7-1), who hadn’t begun a conference schedule this well since winning their first 10 in the Pacific Coast Conference in 1957.

“We haven’t played on the road for a while,” Shipp said. “We’re a little rusty on the road. We got our feet wet tonight and got a loss, but that’s OK. We’re going to rebound [Saturday].”