Tuesday, March 18th, 11:00 p.m. (et).

FACTS & STATS: Site: Wells Fargo Arena (14,198) -- Tempe, Arizona. Television: ESPN2. NIT Record: Alabama State 0-1, Arizona State 3-9. Series Record: First-ever meeting.

GAME NOTES: First-round action of the 2008 NIT is set to kick off tonight in Tempe, as the Arizona State Sun Devils entertain the Alabama State Hornets at Wells Fargo Arena. The eighth-seeded Hornets, regular-season champions of the SWAC, come into tonight's matchup with a 20-10 ledger, which includes a 15-3 mark in league play. The club's spectacular SWAC run came to an end last Friday night, however, as the Hornets dropped a heartbreaking 77-72 overtime decision to Jackson State to dash any NCAA Tournament hopes. Top-seeded Arizona State comes into this contest with a 19-12 record, and it owns a 9-9 mark in Pac-10 play. The Sun Devils fell from the Pac-10 Tournament last Thursday in a 59-55 decision against USC in the quarterfinals. Tonight's tilt marks the first-ever meeting between these two teams on the hardwood.

The Hornets were outscored by a 14-9 margin in Friday's overtime loss to Jackson State, spoiling a furious comeback bid during which the Hornets erased an 11-point second-half deficit. Alabama State shot at a respectable 46.0 percent clip during the contest, and held Jackson State to just 40.3 percent from the floor. Unfortunately, the Hornets struggled from long range (7-of-23) as well as from the charity stripe (7-of-13), and were guilty of a game-high 16 turnovers. Richard Lott scored 14 points and collected eight rebounds to pace Alabama State, while Robert Hayles added 13 points in the losing effort. Brandon Gordon tallied 11 points to go with seven boards and five assists for the Hornets. Hayles represents the team's lone double-digit scoring average at just over 14 ppg.

Arizona State shot a lackluster 35.3 percent from the floor, including a 5- of-23 showing from beyond the arc, during the recent loss to USC, and the Sun Devils were outrebounded by a 36-26 margin. James Harden scored 16 points to lead the Sun Devils in the losing effort, while Jeff Pendergraph tallied 14 points and six rebounds, and Richards Kiksiks added 12 points. Harden tallies 17.6 points and collects 5.0 rebounds per game to lead the Sun Devils this season, followed by Pendergraph and his 12.5 ppg. Pendergraph also owns a team-best 6.5 rpg, and Ty Abbott has been good for 9.9 ppg as well. The club averages just 67.3 ppg, but has managed to hold opponents to an even worse 62.3 ppg.

Expect Arizona State to take control of this one early. The Sun Devils play aggressive defense, and will no doubt keep the Alabama State offense at bay.

Predicted Outcome

Arizona State 69, Alabama State 59