In the split second before Arizona completed a memorable Senior Day script Saturday, Desmond Cambridge turned it into a nightmare.
The ASU senior guard drilled a 60-foot shot as time expired to give the Sun Devils an 89-88 victory over Arizona in the Wildcats’ home finale at McKale Center.
The result ended the Wildcats’ chances of defending their Pac-12 regular-season championship outright and sent seniors Cedric Henderson, Courtney Ramey, Jordan Mains and Matt Lang out of the building on a rough note after all of them played roles in a game that Arizona trailed in for only 11 minutes.
The loss dropped Arizona to 24-5, 13-5 in the Pac-12, meaning UCLA has now clinched a share of the regular-season title and can win it outright by beating Colorado on Sunday. ASU improved to 20-9, 11-7, vastly improving its chances of receiving an NCAA Tournament berth.
People are also reading…
The loss also likely slipped the Wildcats below UCLA in line for a West Regional placement in the NCAA Tournament and damaged the Wildcats’ chances of getting a top-two seed.
All because of one improbable shot.
“I don’t know what the odds are on that shot going in, but probably like 98 times out of 100 we’re sitting here talking about a different thing,†UA coach Tommy Lloyd said. “But it was one of those 2 or 3% chances, and good for the kid. It was a heck of a shot.â€
Cambridge’s shot prompted the Sun Devils to mob him madly across the McKale Center floor, while leaving several UA players in shocked stillness and quieting the sellout crowd.

Arizona guard Kerr Kriisa (25) heads off the court as the Arizona State spill onto the court to celebrate their 89-88 buzzer-beater at McKale Center.
It also apparently surprised Cambridge himself.
“If I’m being completely honest, I make those shots all the time, but that shot I really did not think was going in,†Cambridge said. “I really just wanted it to be a nice miss and everyone in the crowd would go ‘ooh.’ When it went in, I could only scream because it still doesn’t make sense to me.â€
Lloyd disagreed with Cambridge’s projection — and he might have had the best view in the house of Cambridge’s release and the angle to the basket.
“He shot it right in front of me, and right when it left his hand I thought it had a chance,†Lloyd said. “It was dead online.â€
For ASU, Cambridge’s game-winner was a fitting end to a game in which the Sun Devils shot well beyond their normal efficiency. ASU entered Saturday’s game ranked last in the Pac-12 in 3-point shooting (29.0) and eighth in overall field-goal shooting (41.4) during conference games but shot 53.7% overall and hit 6 of 16 3-pointers (37.5%).
“We were terrible in our execution,†said Henderson, who led the Wildcats with 19 points. “We scouted them and knew what was supposed to be done. They hit tough shots.â€
While Cambridge’s shot wasn’t the only difficult one ASU made, Lloyd said the Wildcats didn’t follow their game plan and made several “individual mistakes†defensively. He also yanked standout forward Azuolas Tubelis off the floor four times in the final four minutes for defensive purposes
“I thought Zu was OK. I thought defensively he was bad,†Lloyd said. “He just didn’t play great defense, and that’s kind of disappointing.â€
The Wildcats also hurt themselves by making only 23 of their 34 free throws (67.6%), failing to take full advantage of the 24 extra trips to the free-throw line than ASU made. The Sun Devils hit 6 of 10 free throws, meaning UA scored 17 more points at the line.
“You’d like to be making more, and it probably makes a difference,†Lloyd said.
Still, UA managed to creep within a point of ASU at halftime on its own buzzer-beater — a 3-pointer from the right side by Henderson at the end of the first half — and took leads of up to 10 points in the second half.
UA led 78-68 with 6:30 left after a pair of free throws by Henderson, but the Wildcats committed four turnovers and shot 1 for 4 from the field the rest of the way.
“When you’re playing in front of a home crowd, you want to deliver a knockout punch,†Lloyd said. “Maybe you make a bad decision with a shot — and I want our guys to have freedom to pick and choose when they shoot — but we also had a couple of turnovers that you just can’t afford at that time of the game.
“You have to understand the other teams are desperate. They’re going to be reaching. They’re going to be poking, and not every foul is gonna get called by the officials. … As a player, you’ve got to have an understanding of that.â€
The end result was that UA’s slippage down the stretch set the stage for Cambridge to deliver his stunner.
After Arizona’s Pelle Larsson drove for a layup that gave UA an 87-86 lead with 29 seconds to go, the Wildcats defended the Sun Devils late into a possession in which guard DJ Horne finally found an open 3-point attempt but missed it.
Arizona center Oumar Ballo then picked up the rebound and was fouled, getting a chance to all but end the game with two free throw attempts and just 2.9 seconds left on the clock.
He missed the first, leaving UA with a one-point lead and making the second one less critical, since ASU probably had only enough time to make a 3-pointer anyway.
The Sun Devils also did not have a timeout remaining, so a second miss by Ballo would force them to improvise quickly if they pulled down the rebound.
Instead, Ballo took the second free throw and made it, allowing ASU to set up its final play.
“You probably can argue that we should have maybe had Oumar miss that last free throw, and that’s stuff that I’ll wear. That’s on me †Lloyd said. “I just didn’t want to put more on Oumar’s plate. I want him to shoot it. I think I know Oumar’s shooting percentage pretty well, and I thought maybe there’s a 50% chance he makes it and a 50% chance he misses it.â€

Arizona State forward Alonzo Gaffney (32) gets an armful of Arizona forward Azuolas Tubelis (10) while trying to dribble into the lane in the first half of their Pac-12 game at McKale Center.
Then, Arizona’s loose defense made ASU’s final play arguably somewhat easier, with most of its players at or beyond the half-court line. ASU’s Jamiya Neal inbounded an uncontested pass to Cambridge as he cut across the free-throw line to the right side of the court.
Cambridge shook easily loose off a screen from Horne.
“Obviously if we had to do it again, we would do it differently,†Lloyd said. “Maybe on a made free throw, we’d have somebody on the ball … and maybe our guys would be a little stickier. We told our guys to pick them up closer, and I thought maybe we were a little soft on that switch.
“But from a player’s perspective, they shoot half-courters all the time, and they know how hard they are to make. And the last thing a player wants to do is foul in that situation, so it kind of puts them in a tough spot.â€
After taking Neal’s pass, Cambridge took one dribble as he raced up the right sideline. Nearly unguarded, he lofted the ball up from the “L†in the Lute Olson signature, about 60 feet from the basket.
The ball didn’t touch the backboard or rim. Just the net.
“He hit a big-time shot, that’s all I can say,†UA guard Courtney Ramey said. “One step before half court, I mean, if he shot that shot 10 times, I don’t think he’s gonna get the result. But he’s a good player, and we gave him a chance to make that shot.â€
Lloyd didn’t second-guess himself for starting walk-ons Mains and Lang despite Saturday’s game having potentially immense implications for the Wildcats in the Pac-12 race and NCAA Tournament placement.
The walk-ons mostly appeared to hold their own. On one play, Mains put back his own missed layup and later recorded a steal from Horne that led to a layup from Henderson. Mains and Lang played nearly three minutes before Kerr Kriisa and Tubelis went in for them at the 17:17 mark, when ASU held an 8-7 lead.
Lloyd said he went back and forth on the decision before waking up Saturday and feeling it was the right thing to do.
“Jordan was fine and Matt was fine, too,†Lloyd said. “And I just think you have to have a bigger perspective than that. It’s about treating people right. It’s about honoring people that make a ton of sacrifices and contribute to your program.â€
It was Senior Day, after all. Maybe not the one Arizona wanted, but a memorable one nonetheless.
Tommy Lloyd "is already moved on" after No. 7 Arizona's buzzer-beating 89-88 loss to Arizona State on Saturday at McKale Center.
Photos: Arizona State upsets #7 Arizona Wildcats, Pac-12 basketball

Arizona guard Kerr Kriisa (25) heads off the court as the Arizona State spill onto the court to celebrate their 89-88 buzzer-beater at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 25, 2023.

Arizona State players chase guard Desmond Cambridge Jr. (4) down the court after his buzzer-beater from beyond half-court gave the Sun Devils an 89-88 upset over Arizona at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 25, 2023.

Arizona guard Courtney Ramey walks off the court after the Wildcats fell on a buzzer-beater 89-88 to Arizona State at McKale Center on Feb. 25, 2023.

Arizona guard Kerr Kriisa (25) gets jostled in his attempt to dump a pass over Arizona State forward Jamiya Neal (5) in the second half of their Pac-12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 25, 2023.

Arizona guard Courtney Ramey (0), top, manages to dislodge the ball from Arizona State guard DJ Horne (0) for a moment in the first half of their Pac-12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 25, 2023.

Arizona center Oumar Ballo (11) gets called for leveling Arizona State forward Warren Washington (22) while backing into the lane in the first half of their Pac-12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 25, 2023.

Arizona forward Azuolas Tubelis hauls in an inlet pass among the Arizona State defense in the first half of their Pac-12 game at McKale Center on Feb. 25, 2023.

Arizona State forward Alonzo Gaffney (32) gets an armful of Arizona forward Azuolas Tubelis (10) while trying to dribble into the lane in the first half of their Pac-12 game at McKale Center.

Arizona Tommy Lloyd tries to rally the crowd in the early going against Arizona State at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 25, 2023.

Arizona State coach Bobby Hurley has a discussion with one of the game officials after a call against his Sun Devils during a first-half timeout against Arizona at McKale Center on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023.

Arizona guard Pelle Larsson (3), left, guard Kerr Kriisa (25) and center Oumar Ballo (11) surround Arizona State forward Jamiya Neal (5) on his shot attempt in the second half of their Pac-12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 25, 2023.

Arizona forward Azuolas Tubelis (10) and Arizona State forward Jamiya Neal, left, chase an elusive rebound in the second half of their Pac-12 game at McKale Center on Feb. 25, 2023.

Arizona guard Cedric Henderson Jr. (45) gathers in the ball he pried away from Arizona State guard Frankie Collins (10) in the second half of their Pac-12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 25, 2023.

Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd coaches up forward Azuolas Tubelis (10) in the second half against Arizona State at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 25, 2023.

Arizona forward Azuolas Tubelis (10) offers a bit of flex after drawing a foul on a bucket against Arizona State in the second half of their Pac-12 game at McKale Center, on Feb. 25, 2023.

Arizona State coach Bobby Hurley voices his displeasure to a call against the Sun Devils in the second half of their Pac-12 game against Arizona at McKale Center on Feb. 25, 2023.

Arizona guard Kerr Kriisa (25) hugs center Oumar Ballo (11) after he drew a foul on a shot against Arizona State in the second half of their Pac-12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 25, 2023.

Arizona center Oumar Ballo (11) celebrates his score and his foul against Arizona State forward Warren Washington (22) in the second half of their Pac-12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 25, 2023.

Arizona guard Cedric Henderson Jr. (45) watches his dunk attempt bounce away from the rim in the first half against Arizona State at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 25, 2023.

Arizona State head coach Bobby Hurley and his bench react to a foul against the Sun Devils in the second half of their Pac-12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 25, 2023.

All eyes are on the officials as Arizona center Oumar Ballo gets called for an offensive foul against Arizona State in the first half of their epic Pac-12 showdown at McKale Center on Feb. 25.

Arizona guard Pelle Larsson (3) goes flying after colliding with Arizona State guard Frankie Collins (10) on a drive in the second half of their Pac-12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 25, 2023.

Arizona State guard Devan Cambridge, left, paws at Arizona guard Cedric Henderson Jr. in the second half of their Pac-12 game at McKale Center on Feb. 25, 2023.

Arizona forward Azuolas Tubelis (10) goes in and picks up a foul from Arizona State forward Duke Brennan (24) in the first half of their Pac-12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 25, 2023.

Arizona State guard Frankie Collins (10) bats away shot from Arizona guard Pelle Larsson (3) in the second half of their Pac-12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 25, 2023.

Arizona State guard DJ Horne (0) and Arizona forward Jordan Mains (22) get tangled up in the lane chasing a loose ball in the first half of their Pac-12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 25, 2023.

Arizona guard Kerr Kriisa (25), left, has a big hug for guard Matthew Lang (23) as he sub in for him in the first half against Arizona State at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 25, 2023.

Arizona State guard Frankie Collins (10) picks up the foul guarding Arizona guard Pelle Larsson (3) in the first half of their Pac-12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 25, 2023.

Arizona guard Kylan Boswell gets hemmed in from all sides while looking for an open teammate against Arizona State in the first half of their Pac-12 game at McKale Center in February.

Arizona guard Courtney Ramey (0) acknowledges the crowd as he takes the floor on senior night before the Wildcats' game against Arizona State at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 25, 2023.

Arizona guard Cedric Henderson Jr. (45) gets fives from the crowd as the senior heads to the court for the Wildcats' final home game of the season against Arizona State at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 25, 2023.

One of the members of the Pride of Arizona pep band uses the band's pad to get a message to center Oumar Ballo (11) before the game against Arizona State at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 25, 2023.

Arizona guard Kylan Boswell (4) poses for selfies with fans just before the Wildcats tip against Arizona State at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 25, 2023.

In-game host Sarah Kezele gets the crowd fired up from the ZonaZoo student section before tipoff of the Arizona-Arizona State game.

Arizona governor Katie Hobbs heads for her seat for the Arizona/Arizona States game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 25, 2023.