Dec. 18, 1999
By MEL REISNER
AP Sports Writer
TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) - Arizona State's Eddie House had 11 days to try to improve on the worst game of his career. Did he ever.
House, who was 0-for-16 in a loss to Brigham Young on Dec. 7, broke the school's single-game scoring record Saturday with 46 points in a 99-85 victory over San Diego State.
"It was crazy," he said. "I was just hitting everything. It's like I've been telling people - when I break out of something, it's something special, and how much more special can this be?"
House had 37 points - within two of his former career high - at halftime, hitting 14-of-17 shots. He got his third miss of the half with two seconds remaining after the Sun Devils set up a play to get him the ball, but Donnell Knight tipped in the rebound for a 55-35 Arizona State lead.
"He was taking some real tough shots," said Aztecs guard Bradley Jackson, one of the defenders who tried to stop House. "There wasn't too much we could do."
In the second half, House was only 4-of-12. His last attempt was a 3-pointer from the side with 4:12 to play. It sent the Sun Devils (5-3) to a 93-68 lead and broke the 17-year-old record of Paul Williams, who had 45 against USC on March 10, 1983.
It was the 10th highest point total ever by a Pac-10 player.
"Eddie could have had the record a lot earlier, because he had a couple of easy baskets where he passed to his teammates," coach Rob Evans said. "He's a very unselfish player, and that's what makes this record special to me. It's not a situation where we set everything up and ran it for him."
Tommy Smith had 11 of his 14 points in the second half, helping Arizona State past House's cooling-off period, and Tanner Shell added 11.
Vincent Okotie scored 17 points for the Aztecs (2-4), Michael Marion and Marcelo Correa had 13 apiece, and Jackson and Donte Wilson scored 12 each.
House, who had 14 20-point games and four over 30 points last season, spent hours practicing by himself after failing to score from the field against BYU.
"It was an answer to your prayers," House said. "I've been struggling, and I've been praying. He opened up that goal for me and took the lid off."
House was hot from the start, making his first four shots. But he took only one shot in the first 4:17, and San Diego State opened an 11-6 lead with Okotie hitting two 3-pointers during the run.
Then House took over, scoring 20 points during a 21-7 surge that sent the Sun Devils to a 27-18 lead 9:35 into the first half.
As if scripted, House had a four-point play that earned Arizona State its first lead, 19-18, 6:59 into the game, and he capped the run with a steal and a pull-up jumper.
"Sports is crazy," Aztecs coach Steve Fisher said. "Eddie House was 0-for-16 the other day at BYU, but we knew that he was a terrific player. Most of his baskets were earned, he did not get a lot of easy shots."