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Every time Bryce Drew sensed an Arizona State momentum burst Sunday, the Vanderbilt coach called time to settle his team and quiet the near-capacity crowd at Wells Fargo Arena.

Drew did it after Shannon Evans canned a 3 in the first half. He did it after another Evans 3 early in the second. But after a while, there wasn’t much more Drew could do. ASU’s explosiveness at times this season has served as a knockout punch, and the No. 5 Sun Devils delivered a such a blow in a 76-64 win.

 ASU is 10-0 for first time in school history.

Down 29-23 in the first half, ASU scored the final seven to take its first lead, 30-29 at halftime. In the second half, the Sun Devils found a higher gear. They scored 16 of the half’s first 18 points. Redshirt-freshman forward Romello White scored off a putback, Evans off penetration. By the time, sophomore forward Mickey Mitchell dunked in transition, the Sun Devils led 46-31.

This has become habit. Just a week ago, ASU scored 15 in a row at Kansas, the decisive run in one the biggest wins in recent program history. Just like the Jayhawks, Vanderbilt struggled to recover from such a burst. The Commodores (3-7) never pulled within 12 the rest of the way.

Already a two-time Pac-12 Player of the Week winner, senior guard Tra Holder scored 25 points, hitting 11 of 11 from the foul line. Evans had 15 points, while Mitchell contributed eight points and 13 rebounds.

Freshman Remy Martin provided his usual spark. In the first half, an official appeared to grab the guard's arm as Martin walked to the ASU bench during a timeout. Martin pulled it away and then exchanged words with the official. In the second half, Martin frustrated Joe Toye so much that the Vanderbilt guard gave Martin an elbow as he dribbled up court. 

Toye was called for an offensive foul. Then Drew received a technical foul. Martin finished with just six points and three rebounds, but his energy and defense continues to change games. He's become a player fans cannot afford to to take their eyes off of.  

ASU struggled at times. The Sun Devils shot just 43.1 percent and committed a season-high 17 turnovers. Defensively, they might have given up too many open looks, but Vanderbilt struggled, hitting just 4 of 30 from 3-point range. And in the end, ASU's offensive explosiveness is hard to match, and it overcomes a lot of shortcomings.

Already, this season has been crammed with unexpected accomplishments, but perhaps coach Bobby Hurley's  biggest: Filling Wells Fargo Arena.

Even with the students on break, the place was nearly filled to capacity providing an atmosphere not often seen during the none-conference season. Even new football coach Herm Edwards turned out, sitting courtside alongside Vice President of Athletics Ray Anderson.

And yet, amid all that electricity, ASU started slowly. Drew had the Commodores double-teaming ASU’s post players, which resulted in poor decisions and turnovers. The Sun Devils missed their first seven shots and fell into a 13-0 hole.

Against Kansas, ASU spread the court, allowing Holder, Evans and Martin to find penetration lanes. This time Vanderbilt defended it better, leading to a lot of 1-on-1 play with little payoff. Hurley found a spark in Mitchell, playing in his second contest after missing the first eight because of NCAA transfer rules.

He picked up a loose ball and dunked in transition to bring ASU to within 19-12. Later Martin scored off a left-handed drive and Evans hit his first shot – a 3 – igniting the crowd and pulling the Sun Devils within 24-21. ASU’s first lead, however, didn’t come until the final seconds of the half, Holder drilling a 3 for a 30-29 advantage. The Sun Devils scored the last seven points of the first half.

It was just the beginning.

Effort: How Remy Martin produces extra possessions for No. 5 ASU

Insider: Trying to explain ASU basketball's celebration photo vs. Kansas

Bobby Hurley addresses job speculation: 'I know this is where I want to be'

Contact Doug Haller at 602-444-4949 or at doug.haller@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him at Twitter.com/DougHaller.

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