Arizona Basketball loses to North Carolina State to start Tournament

The Battle For Atlantis kicked off on Wednesday, and it was a rather disappointing opening night for the Arizona Basketball team!

It is still early in the season with a fairly young team, but the youthfulness certainly showed on Wednesday night, when the Arizona Basketball team lost to North Carolina State in the opening round of the Battle for Atlantis Tournament.

The game started off rough for the Wildcats, as the Wolfpack jumped out to a 15-6 lead early on. Shots were falling for NC State, and Arizona couldn’t seem to get much of a rhythm going.

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As the Wildcats continued to battle in the first half, with every big shot or run Arizona would make, the Wolfpack would recover. Early gut feelings were that it’s just going to be one of those games.

Junior guard Allonzo Trier would be pretty quiet in the first half, having just three points on 1-5 shooting. Despite this, the Wildcats were tied 40-40 at the half!

It’s not that Arizona didn’t play well offensively, the team shot around 48 percent from the field, and had out rebounded NC State 20 to 15. It was the defense that let the Wolfpack control much of the first half!

The second half would start much like the first. NC State would control the tempo again to start the half!

Arizona would again tie it at 45-45, but then NC State would go on a 12-3 run, giving the Wolfpack a nine-point lead.

Trier would start to get things going in the second, helping Arizona to stay within striking distance in the second half. The Wildcats would even take their first lead of the game at 64-62, since Dylan Smith hit a jumper to make it 2-0 early on.

Just as you thought things were turning in Arizona’s favor, and this was the moment the Wildcats would begin to wear down its opponent, NC State would respond in a big way.

The Wildcats would again seemingly trade buckets, going tit for tat. Defense would continue to struggle, allowing the Wolfpack to drive, getting buckets around the hoop with ease.

NC State would really control the last few minutes of the game, going on another 12-3 run before Arizona would have any sort of response. By then, it was too late!

Despite Trier and Deandre Ayton having 27 points apiece, it was ultimately Arizona’s lack of bench production, and defense that cost them this game. The Wildcats lost 90-84, dropping to 3-1 on the year.

The loss hurts, but it’s definitely a good lesson for the younger guys. Miller preaches defense, and he has indicated early on that this team has a ways to go. They have the talent, but now it’s on them to respond. Last night was a good wake up call for that!

More shocking is that this was the first time in a non-OT game, where the Wildcats gave up 90 or more points.

Arizona will move to the losers bracket of the ‘Battle 4 Atlantis’ Tournament, and will face SMU on Thursday at 7:30 PM MST. The Wildcats are a seven-point favorite over the Mustangs entering this one, but as we learned last night anything can happen.

SMU’s Shake Milton will likely give the Wildcats fits, if the team doesn’t bring the intensity and effort tonight!

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At Zona Zealots, we are bummed for the loss, but it’s early. This team is extremely talented, and we are sure Miller will get his guys playing better with every game! Bear Down, Arizona!