Eastern Adams County's Only Independent Voice Since 1887
Eastern Adams County's Only Independent Voice Since 1887
WSU falls to Arizona in double-overtime
PULLMAN – What would decide a double-overtime game between two PAC-12 early season contenders last Saturday night in Pullman?
A ball thrown off an opponent’s thigh to save a possession? A tip-away steal on the dribble in the last minute of regulation? The lingering effect of a technical on WSU coach Kyle Smith an hour-and-a-half earlier?
None of the above – it was a banked-in three-pointer from the top of the key, Arizona winning 86-82.
The silence that followed in the no-fans-allowed Beasley Coliseum was expected, if not emphasized.
“It’s tough, we’re not satisfied right now, at all,” said WSU senior point guard Isaac Bonton, after leading all scorers in the game with 25 points.
It was the Cougars’ (8-1, 1-1) league opener and first loss of the year.
A night of varied offense also brought overtime foul-outs and WSU shooting 5-of-14 from the free-throw line after regulation.
“Hat tip to (Arizona)… But we had a great opportunity, if we just do our job at the foul line,” said Smith. “We should’ve got out of there with the win. But hopefully, it’s room for growth.”
Sophomore guard Noah Willams scored 16 points for WSU and Andrej Jakimovski had 15. Efe Abogidi – a developing force from Delta State, Nigeria and last week’s PAC-12 Freshman of the Week – added 12 points, eight rebounds, three blocks and two steals, before he fouling out early in the first overtime.
At the end of the second, Terrell Brown, Jr.’s bank off-the-glass put Arizona up 84-81, before Bonton made a free-throw to cut the lead back to two. Wildcats’ guard Bennedict Mathurin then sealed the game with two free throws. Mathurin led Arizona (9-1, 3-1) on the night with 24 points and 11 rebounds.
In the press conference afterwards, Brown, Jr., when asked about his winning shot, noted his grandfather had died the night before back home in Seattle.
“I guess you could say that was him guiding that basketball in,” he said.
The game’s second overtime followed a too-late WSU putback to end the first, after Bonton led his team to a 76-76 tie, with cutting drives and assists to Jakimovksi and Abogidi.
In the first half, WSU led most of it; Arizona missing three-point shots before finally starting some inside scoring on an alley-oop dunk.
After a rebound-follow by another WSU freshman, Dishon Jackson, for 26-24, a stall in the game ensued as referees worked out what Coach Smith’s issue was. Then, after a shot block by WSU’s Tony Miller that sent the ball to halfcourt for an over-and-back call, Miller missed two free throws and Arizona spaced out the floor for the last 10 seconds of the half.
Smith had a second issue, though, after another foul call. Arizona went to the line and made two to take the lead, 27-26, then two more after the technical on Smith.
The second half stayed close. Miller found Abogidi for a slam and a foul. With the free throw, WSU had the lead again. Then a Noah Williams score-steal-score sequence put the Cougars up by six, still 15 minutes left in regulation. Right after, Jakimovski got his third personal and foul trouble moved in. Arizona stole a pass from Aljaz Kunc, just after he pulled down an offensive rebound and it was soon tied again, 41-41. Another whistle, somebody just got their fourth personal.
Arizona forward Azuolas Tubelis scored a couple times inside and the game stayed close.
Back and forth, back and forth: Bonton for three to cut the Arizona lead to one, a fifth personal on Jackson, a driving eight-footer from Williams at the shot clock, Arizona big man Tubelis inside again, Abogidi two free throws to tie it, Bonton with a scramble of a drive for 56-54 WSU, a putback by T.J. Bamba and Bonton again with a scoring drive. Arizona answers followed and Bonton passed to Jakimovski for an open three from the wing, got it. Tubelis scored again on a Wildcats rebound and putback; tie game once more.
Nothing could decide it in regulation, and nothing could in the first overtime. But in the second, it was a bounce off the glass from 24 feet.
WSU’s overall record against Arizona is 17-65.
The Cougars are set to play next at California (5-6, 0-4) Thursday night followed by a game at Stanford (5-3, 1-1) Saturday.
Garth Meyer is a reporter and sports writer at the Whitman County Gazette in Colfax, Wash.
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