This was not the start Bobby Hurley envisioned when game-planning this game. Arizona State shot 6/23 from the field and 0/9 from deep in a terrible first half to fall behind 39-18 in the first half to Mississippi State.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Mississippi State ends the first half on a run.
The Sun Devils enter the break trailing 39-18.
— Sun Devil MBB (@SunDevilHoops) November 9, 2023
It started incredibly slow for both teams. They combined for 19 total points in the first nine minutes. Arizona was the first team to reach ten as the Barstool guys celebrated their bet cashing. That was the last time ASU saw the lead. Arizona State only made two baskets after reaching 10 points the entire half.
Mississippi State, however, completely caught fire the second ASU reached double-digits. They scored 20 points in the last 11:30 minutes, going on a 20-8 run. The key for Mississippi State has been the rebounds. They have 23 rebounds compared to Arizona State’s 11. They also have six offensive rebounds.
This game has been all Trey Fort. The Bulldogs guard has 14 points, including four threes. Fort started the game in replacement of Shakeel Moore. West Virginia transfer Jimmy Bell has 8 points. D.J. Jeffries and Cameron Matthews both have six rebounds. They do this without their two best players, Moore and Forward Tolu Smith.
As for ASU, Kamari Lands leads the team with six points, and newly acquired Jose Perez has four. Arizona State has had open looks. They just can’t put the ball through the net. Jose Perez has been the only bright spot for ASU, and he’s only been on the team for two weeks. Arizona State must do better in the second half to make this a game.
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