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Arizona State guns for ninth straight win

Jan 9, 2008 - 2:37 PM No. 24 Arizona (10-4) at Arizona St (12-2) 9:30 pm EST

TEMPE, Arizona (Ticker) - Arizona State will try for its ninth consecutive victory on Wednesday against Pac-10 and in-state rival Arizona.

The Sun Devils (12-2) are 2-0 in conference play for the first time since the 1987-88 team started 4-0. The Wildcats (10-4, 1-1) have won 24 of 25 games in a series that dates back to 1914 and hold a 138-73 all-time advantage. The last three games between the teams have been decided by a total of 15 points.

Freshman guard James Harden is averaging a team-high 17.6 points per game for Arizona State, 8-22 last season. The youngest player in the Pac-10, Harden is the first McDonald's All-American to sign with the Sun Devils out of high school since 1984.

Junior forward Jeff Pendergraph is averaging 13.7 points and 7.1 rebounds, while freshman guard Ty Abbott is averaging 10.4 points for Arizona State. Guard Antwi Atuahene is the only senior for second-year coach Herb Sendek.

Arizona is 1-2 since freshman guard Jerryd Bayliss (18.3 points per game) injured his right knee prior to the game against Memphis on December 29. Sophomore guard Nic Wise has averaged 15 points and 6.0 assists in the last three games, playing 119 out of 120 minutes.

The Wildcats are 1-1 in conference play for the first time since 2001-02. Sophomore forward Chase Budinger is averaging 17.3 points and 5.6 rebounds for Arizona. Sophomore forward Jordan Hill is averaging 13.9 points and 7.6 rebounds.