By ASHTON FERGUSON
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Tra Holder scored a career-high 40 points to lead Arizona State to a 102-86 upset of No. 15 Xavier in the championship game of the Las Vegas Invitational on Friday.
Holder scored 23 of his 40 points in the second half for Arizona State (6-0), which shot 55.9 percent from the field. The 6-foot-1 senior guard finished 14-of-22 shooting from the field, including 5 of 8 from 3-point range, and added four rebounds and four assists. He was named the tournament’s MVP.
The Sun Devils trailed by 15 points in the first half but closed the half on a 15-2 run — capped by a leaning 3-pointer at the buzzer by Holder — and headed into the locker room trailing 46-44.
Holder gave Arizona State its first lead since the opening minutes after converting two free throws 45 seconds into the second half.