Mississippi State guard Dee Bost passes during the first half against Arizona. Photo by Anthony Gruppuso-US PRESSWIRE
Arizona suffers its first defeat of the season, losing 67-57 to Mississippi State in the championship game of the 2K Sports Classic in Madison Square Garden.
The Wildcats never led but kept it close until going cold in the final 10 minutes of the game. A game after hitting 14 3-pointers against the zone of St. John’s, Arizona hits only six from behind the arc against the Bulldogs’ man-to-man defense.
After Arizona’s Kevin Parrom hit a 3-pointer with 10:01 to play, the only other field goals for the Cats were a wide-open layup by Jesse Perry and a jumper by Solomon Hill with 5.6 seconds left.
The Cats were 2 of 11 from the field in the final 10 minutes.
Arizona drops to 4-1.
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Arizona can’t break the ice, and Mississippi State’s Arnett Moultrie has two inside baskets in a row for a 61-55 lead with 4:01 to play. He has 17 points and has made 8 of 10 shots. It shouldn’t come as a shock that Arizona’s interior defense is a weakness.
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That’s the vision we all heard Josiah Turner had, as he whips a bounce pass from up top to Jesse Perry for an all-alone layup.
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Coach Sean Miller said recently that it was unrealistic for Jesse Perry to keep up a double-double pace through the season, but he’s close to having his fourth double-double in five games as this one is headed down the stretch.
Arizona trails 52-48 with 7:58 to play and has yet to lead.
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Jordin Mayes with four fouls with 11:29 to play. Gulp. It’s Nick Johnson at the point right now.
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Naturally, soon after praising Alex Jacobson for his steal, he misses an 18-footer from up top, lets DeVille Smith drive the baseline for a layup and misses badly on a little running hook.
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With a few less-than-ideal shots on offense, the Cats have hit a lull, while the Bulldogs’ energy is leading to east baskets. Mississippi State leads 50-43 with 11:59 to play.
Arizona’s depth has been a positive factor late in games; it will need to be again tonight.
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Tree!
That’s all.
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After a slumbering start to the second half, the action picks up again. Jesse Perry, always active, keeps alive a ball under the basket and kicks it to an open Jordin Mayes for a 3-pointer. That basket cuts the deficit to 42-41 at the first media timeout of the half, with 15:03 to play.
One difference so far is that the Cats are aggressively double-teaming Renardo Sidney in the post, forcing him to try to find the open man.
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Tweets Jeff Goodman of CBSSports.com: “I just spent the entire first half working Arizona AD @Greg_Byrne about the football search and I got absolutely nothing. #frustrating”
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Arizona has a chance to take the lead on the final possession of the first half, but Nick Johnson’s 3-pointer comes up short off the rim. Mississippi State leads 35-34, and now the Cats will have to deal with big man Arnett Moultrie in the second half.
Solomon Hill’s eight points lead Arizona.
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Tweets ex-Cat David Bagga: “Miss state is athletic but arizonas defense is better, gotta stay aggressive and get it done”
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Arizona taking advantage of Mississippi State big man Arnett Moultrie being on the bench most of the first half. The Wildcats trail 31-29 with 3:39 to play before the break.
Amazingly, Moultrie had nine points and five rebounds in about 5 1/2 minutes.
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Kevin Parrom doesn’t check in until there are about five minutes left in the half. Sean Miller being cautious about Parrom’s leg injuries on back-to-back nights.
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Hitting an 18-foot jump shot will only encourage Kyryl Natyazhko to try it again.
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Could not be more impressed with Kyle Fogg in the past few games. Takes good shots. Has great elevation on his jumper this season.
He has six points as Arizona trails 27-25 with 7:05 to go in the first half.
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Mississippi State no longer so big, with Arnett Moultrie on the bench with two fouls and Renardo Sidney on the bench, holding his left hand.
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Sean Miller says an open 3-point shot for Jesse Perry is a good shot. Perry makes his coach look good, hitting a shot from behind the arc along the left baseline.
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Nick Johnson poses after blocking a spinning drive to the basket. Kevin Parrom-esque.
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Alex Jacobson making an immediate impact. He draws a charge on Renardo Sidney, sets a big screen to free Nick Johnson for a 3-pointers and then his defense probably contributes to a traveling call as Sidney tries to spin to the baseline.
MSU leads 21-16 withh 11:34 to play.
Angelo Chol didn’t fare well in less than three minutes of playing time. He picked up two fouls and was beaten inside for a couple of hoops.
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Alex Jacobson makes his season debut with 13:31 to play in the first half.
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Arnett Moultrie picks up his second foul with 14:35 to go in the half. Best news for Arizona yet.
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So much for Angelo Chol’s defense. He flops and picks up a blocking foul as Arnett Moultrie puts in a short jumper in the lane.
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Mississippi State leads 11-7 at the first media timeout with 15:41 to play. Of the Bulldogs’ 11 points, eight have come from shots right at the basket. We’re going to have see Angelo Chol for defense really soon.
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Sean Miller burns a timeout early after a 7-0 start for Mississippi State. The Bulldogs have scored on each of their first three possessions, including another basket inside, this one from Arnett Moultrie after a dish from Dee Bost.
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Inauspicious start: Renardo Sidney puts the moves on Kyryl Natyazhko underneath the basket for a layup on the first possession of the game.
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Arizona plays Mississippi State in the championship game of the 2K Sports Classic in Madison Square Garden, and this will be a different challenge than last night’s game vs. St. John’s.
The Bulldogs are big, big, big — led up front by 6-11 Arnett Moultrie (14.3 points, 11.5 rebounds) and talented-but-enigmatic 6-10 Renardo Sidney. Freshman starting guard Rodney Hood is 6-8.
And guard Dee Bost is a dynamic player who earned second-team All-SEC honors last season.
Unlike last night, when power forward Jesse Perry played center a majority of the time, the Wildcats are going to need 15-plus good minutes from Kyryl Natyazhko, and contributions from freshmen Angelo Chol and Sidiki Johnson.
Senior 7-footer Alex Jacobson, who has been sidelined by back problems, could be available — and this would be the kind of game in which he might be able to help for short stretches.
From last night: Arizona storms back for a Garden win (ESPN’s Andy Katz, with video interview with Kyle Fogg)