SAN DIEGO – James Harden scored 18 points and helped No. 15 Arizona State take control late in a 59-52 victory over scrappy San Diego State on Tuesday night at Cox Arena.

After trailing most of the game, the Sun Devils (2-0) made three straight 3-pointers to go ahead for good. Rihards Kuksiks' long shot tied it at 44 with 6:04 left before Harden hit a 3 to give ASU just its second lead, 47-44. Kuksiks hit another shot from behind the arc for a 50-44 lead.

ASU outscored San Diego State 18-8 over the last 6:27, including five free throws down the stretch by Derek Glasser.

Kyle Spain scored 17 points for the Aztecs (1-1), who shot just 35.3 percent from the field.

San Diego State was trying for its third straight home upset of a ranked team.

The Aztecs jumped to an 11-point lead midway through the first half and led 24-23 at halftime. ASU didn't get its first lead until just less than a minute into the second half, when Jeff Pendergraph made it 25-24 with a jump-hook from the baseline.

After Billy White answered with a three-point play for SDSU, Harden was whistled for a technical foul for rolling the ball away after the Sun Devils lost it out of bounds. Spain made both free throws and Richie Williams made a shot from the key on the ensuing possession to give the Aztecs a 31-25 lead.

SDSU pushed its lead to eight points as the Sun Devils went cold, but a 3-pointer by Taylor Rohde got ASU going again.

ASU trailed 41-37 when Harden committed his fourth foul with 8:15 left and headed to the bench with 10 points. He came back in and helped the Sun Devils grab the lead.

Ty Abbott scored 13 points and Kuksiks had 10 for the Sun Devils.

White added 12 points for the Aztecs.