Move over Dominique Wilkins. You've got company. ASU junior forward Ike Diogu has joined the elite "human highlight film" club.
After averaging just 15 points per game during ASU's previous four home games, Diogu had perhaps his best game as a Sun Devil, scoring a career high 39 points.
He dunked the ball through double teams. He made fadeaway jumpers as the shot clock was about to expire. Diogu did everything for ASU.
"He is the heart and soul of our team," senior guard Jason Braxton said. "He makes us go."
Diogu didn't just make the Sun Devils go last night. He carried them, outscoring his teammates 39-35.
The Garland, Texas, native had career highs in shots made (16) and attempts (26) in his eighth 40-minute game at ASU.
Despite the gaudy stats, Diogu said that the final score was all that mattered.
"I just knew that this was a game we had to win," he said. "No matter what, I'm going to play aggressive."
ASU's interior force was definitely aggressive against Stanford. Diogu grabbed 11 rebounds, two blocks and two steals against the Cardinal and gave ASU a bucket whenever Stanford started to get close.
Throughout the week, much had been said about Diogu's recent play. UA coach Lute Olson said that only Pac-10 statistics should be counted to determine league honors, hinting that Diogu's scoring numbers were the result of a soft ASU non-conference schedule.
Diogu let his game do the talking.
"There's been a lot of stuff said, but coach really just challenged me," Diogu said. "The guards got me the ball where I could score I and just put it in. I don't feel like I have anything to prove. People just say it was bad because I
wasn't scoring as much."
Diogu entered the game leading the Pac-10 in both scoring and rebounding. He did nothing but improve his averages with his Pac-10 leading 12th double-double of the year.
Reach the reporter at jeremy.a.cluff@asu.edu.
