How Arizona State basketball can beat Hofstra

Hofstra (1-1) at Arizona State (2-0)

Time/Site: 7 p.m. Desert Financial Arena

TV: ESPN+ Radio: ESPN 620 AM (KTAR).

About the matchup: This will be the third game for both teams. This will be just the second matchup between the schools. The first came in 1997, and Hofstra won 64-59. ASU has two players who have not yet played due to injury: sophomore forward Marcus Vaughns and senior forward Jonathan Griman. Senior Emmanuel Innocenti sustained a sprained ankle in the first game and did not play in the last.

About Hofstra: The Pride competes in the Coastal Athletic Conference. The team is coached by Speedy Claxton, a nine-year NBA veteran, who is in his sixth year as the program's coach. He is also a 2000 graduate of Hofstra. He was a first-round selection (20th pick overall) by Philadelphia in 2000. The team posted a 14-11 mark a year ago. The Pride is coming off a 60-58 loss to Princeton, in which it blew a nine-point lead with 1:31 to go. Senior guard Trey Boyd and sixth-year guard Tanner Thomas are averaging 12 points a game, while sophomore guard Nick Jefferson (10.5 ppg) is third on the team in scoring.

About ASU: The Sun Devils improved significantly in their 90-63 win over Northern Colorado. Paulius Murauskas scored a career-high 33 points after tallying 21 in the season opener. Pinnacle High School product Bryce Ford, one of just two players returning from last year, scored 17 points. Head coach Randy Bennett has indicated a desire to get more players game time. Eight players saw the majority of the time in the opener, but Bennett used 11 in the most recent game. The catalyst of the offense is sophomore point guard Joel Foxwell, who tallied eight assists and did not have a turnover in the most recent outing.

What's next: The Sun Devils will play their fourth straight home game at 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 13, against Louisiana-Monroe (1-1).

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: How Arizona State basketball can beat Hofstra