Alonzo Verge Jr. comes off bench to score 43 of Arizona State's 56 points in loss
Normally, a career-high 43 points for a bench player would mean positive results for his or her team. That wasn't the case for Alonzo Verge Jr. and Arizona State on Wednesday, though.
The Sun Devils lost by 40 points at home to St. Mary's despite Verge Jr.'s big night, as he scored all but 13 of his team's points in a 96-56 blowout. According to ESPN Stats & Info, it's the largest defeat ever by a Power 5 conference team when a player had at least 40 points.
Verge Jr., a junior college transfer in his first season at Arizona State, didn't start and has come off the bench in five of the eight games he's appeared. That didn't stop him from controlling the Sun Devils' offense against the Gaels.
Leading the team with 36 minutes played, Verge Jr. went 18-for-29 from the field (1-for-6 from 3-point range) and led the team with two assists. Only three Arizona State players scored, and the backcourt duo of Remy Martin and Rob Edwards were a combined 0-for-14 from the floor.
The Sun Devils finished 8-for-36 in the first half and trailed 51-17 at halftime. They fell to 8-3 on the season.
Verge Jr.'s 43 points are the most by a Pac-12 player since Tra Holder poured in 40 for the Sun Devils in 2017. Verge Jr. had set a previous career high against Prairie View A&M on Monday with 20 points last Wednesday.