Arizona State on Friday wrapped up the most remarkable and unexpected non-conference season in school history, routing Pacific 104-65 before a near-capacity crowd to stay perfect in coach Bobby Hurley’s third season. 

The past seven weeks have unfolded in such a way no one could’ve predicted, putting the Sun Devils on a level in which they haven’t dribbled in decades.  At 12-0, they are one of four unbeaten teams in college basketball.  Their No.  3 ranking technically makes them a Final Four contender. 

Amazing. 

"Television really doesn't (do) them justice," said Pacific coach Damon Stoudamire, a former Arizona standout and assistant coach. " What I see is a team that's tired of losing.  I see a team that, they were like Pacific.  They were a laughing stock.  People were saying Hurley is (in) over his head. ...  And I've been in this arena enough times to know what the energy was in this gym is different." 

It's all a warm-up act to what happens next.  On Dec. 30, ASU will travel to Tucson to face No.  18 Arizona to start the Pac-12 season.  Fans will see it as a battle of state supremacy, but it also will set the conference pecking order.  Even with Arizona's struggles in the Bahamas, many still view the Wildcats as Pac-12 favorites.  In that sense, ASU still has much to prove. 

"As a competitor, there's nothing more that you'd want than to be in that building next Saturday," Hurley said. " I hope every fan from Arizona and Arizona State is trying like heck to get in that building.  It's going to be a fun, competitive game to be a part of.  It's certainly a great place to start." 

In front of 10,646 fans at Wells Fargo Arena, ASU on Friday had brief stretches of lackadaisical play but no letdown.  A defining moment: Midway through the second half with the Sun Devils up 23, senior guard Kodi Justice flipped the ball high to the left side of the rim.  At first, it looked like a bad pass, like the ball would sail out of bounds.  Then junior forward De’Quon Lake reached up, controlled the ball with his right hand and slammed it through, igniting the crowd. 

ASU might get overmatched in the post.  The Sun Devils might not match up as well on defense.  But they might just be the country’s most explosive team.  They can blitz opponents in minutes, reversing momentum, extinguishing hope.  With 12 minutes left Friday, Pacific pulled within 64-47.  The Tigers were outworking ASU, getting better shots, feeling confident. 

Nearly seven minutes later, after Remy Martin put back his own miss and Mickey Mitchell scored in transition and Lake dunked and Shannon Evans drilled a 3, ASU led 90-54.  At one point the Sun Devils scored 15 in a row.  Those type of runs suck the wind from opponents.  It did against Xavier.  It did against Kansas.  And it did against Pacific, which fell to 5-8. 

"They all kind of take turns driving to the hoop, throwing the lobs, pushing the ball down the floor, getting to the rim, hitting the 3," Hurley said of his guards. " And you don't really know where it's coming or when it's coming." 

Behind the second-half tidal wave, ASU shot 53.7 percent, including from 12 of 26 from 3-point range.  The Sun Devils outscored Pacific 40-18 over the final 13 minutes. 

"The guards are really good, and to me, it's not the fact that they make shots, it's the fact that they put pressure on you downhill," Stoudamire said. " Then they got bigs that just play those alleys, and then that makes them difficult to deal with." 

In the final minutes, after ASU had reached 100 points, Hurley emptied his bench and inserted walk-ons Jordan Salzman, Grant Fogerty and Austin Witherill.  The crowd stood and cheered, a final send-off for the holidays, a lasting moment before the Pac-12 moment of truth. 

Justice tried to put it in perspective. 

"We created this," he said. " That's what's so great about it.  Nobody can take that away from us.  We did this.  We put the work in." 

Senior guard Austin Witherill throws up a sign after hitting a corner 3-pointer in ASU's win over Pacific on Friday.(Photo: Patrick Breen/azcentral sports)

Free throws

– Hurley told azcentral sports that Kimani Lawrence should be cleared for full-contact next week, but that does not mean the freshman forward will be ready for the Arizona contest. " He'll get four days (of practice) and then we'll make a determination on where he's at," Hurley said.  A Top 100 high school prospect, Lawrence started in ASU's three preseason contests, but suffered a stress fracture in his left foot before the season opener.  He has not played since. 

– Hurley started Mitchell for the first time, bringing redshirt-freshman forward Vitaliy Shibel off the bench.  In 27 minutes, the sophomore forward had six points, nine rebounds and two assists.  Hurley said inserting Mitchell made for a better matchup against Pacific, but also he wanted to try and spark the Sun Devils.  ASU had gotten off to slow starts in its past three contests. 

– Martin was instrumental in ASU's second-half surge, producing 13 points, three rebounds and three assists in 13 minutes. " Energy, man," Stoudamire said of the freshman guard. " Every team has a curve ball.  Seeing them play, being at Arizona for a couple years, the difference is they've never had a guy that can change the game like that." 

Mar 14, 2018: Syracuse Orange guard Tyus Battle (25) goes to the basket defend by Arizona State Sun Devils forward De'Quon Lake (35) in the second half during the First Four of the 2018 NCAA Tournament at Dayton Arena.  Brian Spurlock/USA TODAY Sports

Mickey Mitchell and Romello White of Arizona State battle for the ball with Paschal Chukwu of Syracuse during their First Four game in the 2018 NCAA Tournament on March 14, 2018 in Dayton, Ohio.  Joe RobbinS/Getty Images

Mar 14, 2018: Arizona State Sun Devils guard Shannon Evans II (11) reacts to losing game against the Syracuse Orange during the First Four of the 2018 NCAA Tournament at Dayton Arena.  Rick Osentoski/USA TODAY Sports

Mar 14, 2018: Arizona State Sun Devils guard Kodi Justice (44) shoots a free throw in the second half against the Syracuse Orange during the First Four of the 2018 NCAA Tournament at Dayton Arena.  Rick Osentoski/USA TODAY Sports

Mar 14, 2018: Syracuse Orange forward Oshae Brissett (11) attempts to stop a shot from Arizona State Sun Devils forward Mickey Mitchell (3) in the second half during the First Four of the 2018 NCAA Tournament at Dayton Arena.  Rick Osentoski/USA TODAY Sports

Mar 14, 2018: Arizona State Sun Devils forward Romello White (23) dunks the ball in the second half against the Syracuse Orange during the First Four of the 2018 NCAA Tournament at Dayton Arena.  Rick Osentoski/USA TODAY Sports

Mar 14, 2018: Arizona State Sun Devils forward Mickey Mitchell (3) hangs from the basket in the first half against the Syracuse Orange during the First Four of the 2018 NCAA Tournament at Dayton Arena.  Brian Spurlock/USA TODAY Sports

Mar 14, 2018: Syracuse Orange guard Frank Howard (23) goes to the basket in the first half against the Arizona State Sun Devils during the First Four of the 2018 NCAA Tournament at Dayton Arena.  Rick Osentoski/USA TODAY Sports

Mar 14, 2018: General view of the court at tip off in the first half in the game between the Syracuse Orange and the Arizona State Sun Devils during the First Four of the 2018 NCAA Tournament at Dayton Arena.  Rick Osentoski/USA TODAY Sports

Arizona State Sun Devils head coach Bobby Hurley argues a call with the referee during a men's basketball game against Stanford Cardinal at the Wells Fargo Arena in Tempe, Az.  on March 3, 2018.  Cheryl Evans/The Republic

Arizona State Sun Devils head coach Bobby Hurley argues a call with the referee during a men's basketball game against Stanford Cardinal at the Wells Fargo Arena in Tempe, Az.  on March 3, 2018.  Cheryl Evans/The Republic

Arizona State Sun Devils head coach Bobby Hurley argues a call with the referee during a men's basketball game against Stanford Cardinal at the Wells Fargo Arena in Tempe, Az.  on March 3, 2018.  Cheryl Evans/The Republic

Arizona State Sun Devils guard Remy Martin (1) goes up for a layup while being guarded by Stanford Cardinal forward Kezie Okpala (0) during a men's basketball game at the Wells Fargo Arena in Tempe, Az.  on March 3, 2018.  Cheryl Evans/The Republic

Arizona State Sun Devils guard Kodi Justice (44) reacts after shooting a 3-point shot during a men's basketball game against the Stanford Cardinal at the Wells Fargo Arena in Tempe, Az.  on March 3, 2018.  Cheryl Evans/The Republic

Arizona State Sun Devils guard Kodi Justice (44) reacts after shooting a 3-point shot during a men's basketball game against the Stanford Cardinal at the Wells Fargo Arena in Tempe, Az.  on March 3, 2018.  Cheryl Evans/The Republic

Arizona State Sun Devils guard Kodi Justice (44) loses his shoe during a men's basketball game against Stanford Cardinal at the Wells Fargo Arena in Tempe, Az.  on March 3, 2018.  Cheryl Evans/The Republic

Arizona State Sun Devils head coach Bobby Hurley talks to his team during timeout in a men's basketball game against Stanford Cardinal at the Wells Fargo Arena in Tempe, Az.  on March 3, 2018.  Cheryl Evans/The Republic

Arizona State Sun Devils guard Remy Martin (1) celebrates a basket during a men's basketball game against Stanford Cardinal at the Wells Fargo Arena in Tempe, Az.  on March 3, 2018.  Cheryl Evans/The Republic

Arizona State Sun Devils head coach Bobby Hurley reacts after a call during a men's basketball game against Stanford Cardinal at the Wells Fargo Arena in Tempe, Az.  on March 3, 2018.  Cheryl Evans/The Republic

Arizona State head coach Bobby Hurley, center, disagrees with a call in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Oregon State in Corvallis, Ore., Saturday, Feb. 24, 2018. ( AP Photo/Timothy J. Gonzalez) Timothy J. Gonzelez, AP

Oregon head basketball coach Dana Altman encourages his team from the sidelines during the second half of their NCAA college basketball game against Arizona State Thursday Feb. 22, 2018, in Eugene, Ore. Chris Pietsch/AP

Oregon's Elijah Brown, left, reaches for the ball held by Arizona State's Shannon Evans II during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Feb. 22, 2018, in Eugene, Ore. Chris Pietsch/AP

Oregon's Payton Pritchard, left, passes as he falls under pressure from Arizona State's Shannon Evans II during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Feb. 22, 2018, in Eugene, Ore. Chris Pietsch/AP

Arizona State Sun Devils guard Shannon Evans II (11) reacts to his team losing late during the second half against Arizona at Wells Fargo Arena on February 15, 2018 in Tempe, Ariz. Patrick Breen/The Republic

Arizona State Sun Devils guard Kodi Justice (44) points to his head after hitting a three pointer during the second half at Wells Fargo Arena on February 15, 2018 in Tempe, Ariz. Patrick Breen/The Republic

Arizona State Sun Devils guard Shannon Evans II (11) reacts to the team being down during the second half against Arizona at Wells Fargo Arena on February 15, 2018 in Tempe, Ariz. Patrick Breen/The Republic

Arizona State Sun Devils guard Shannon Evans II (11) celebrates with the fans during the second half against Arizona at Wells Fargo Arena on February 15, 2018 in Tempe, Ariz. Patrick Breen/The Republic

Arizona State Sun Devils guard Shannon Evans II (11) enters the court through the fans before a game against Arizona at Wells Fargo Arena on February 15, 2018 in Tempe, Ariz. Patrick Breen/The Republic

Arizona State Sun Devils guard Kodi Justice (44) goes up for a layup while being guarded by Arizona Wildcats guard Rawle Alkins (1) during a men's basketball game at Wells Fargo Arena in Tempe on February 15, 2018. # asu basketball Cheryl Evans/The Republic

Arizona State Sun Devils head coach Bobby Hurley argues a call with the referee during a men's basketball game at Wells Fargo Arena in Tempe on February 15, 2018. # asu basketball Cheryl Evans/The Republic

Arizona State Sun Devils guard Kodi Justice (44) looks up at the scoreboard near the end of the second half against Arizona at Wells Fargo Arena on February 15, 2018 in Tempe, Ariz. Patrick Breen/The Republic