Arizona State Sun Devils Triumph Over Baylor Bears
The Arizona State Sun Devils, seeded No. 12, triumphed over the No. 13 seeded Baylor Bears with a final score of 83-79 in a nail-biting first-round matchup at the Big 12 Tournament in Kansas City on Tuesday. This victory was characterized by a stellar performance from Pig Johnson, who contributed 19 points to the scoreline, while teammates Andrij Grbovic added 14 points. Other significant contributions came from Santiago Trouet, who recorded 13 points and nine rebounds, alongside Noah Meeusen with 12 points, and Massamba Diop, who tallied 11 points.
Resilience and Comeback
The Sun Devils showcased resilience, especially after withstanding a spirited push from Baylor in the second half. Baylor’s Cameron Carr was an offensive standout, leading all scorers with 25 points, supported by Isaac Williams IV‘s 15 points before he fouled out of the game. Despite Tounde Yessoufou‘s effort contributing 14 points, Baylor struggled with 3-point shooting, going 0 for 5 from beyond the arc.
Game Highlights
Arizona State entered this tournament with momentum from recent victories over Utah and No. 14 Kansas, which galvanized their confidence. They shot out to a double-digit lead in the first half, concluding the half at 44-35. Though Baylor found themselves trailing by as much as 15 points during the second half, they began a comeback scoring on nine consecutive possessions, narrowing the score to 67-64 after an unfortunate tip-in by Diop.
However, the Sun Devils responded promptly, as Trouet answered back with a crucial basket. The Bears continued to battle, but the momentum shifted again when Williams fouled out. Arizona State seized the opportunity, scoring eight consecutive points and ultimately maintaining their lead to secure the win.
Looking Ahead
With this victory, Arizona State, now holding a record of 17-15, looks ahead to face fifth-seeded Iowa State in their next game. Meanwhile, Baylor, sitting at 16-16, will likely miss out on the NCAA Tournament for the first time since the 2006-07 season, signaling a challenging moment for the program.
As the season draws to a close, speculations continue regarding the future of Arizona State’s head coach, Bobby Hurley, as he approaches the end of his contract. Nonetheless, the performance of his squad against Baylor signifies their intent to prolong their season as much as possible.
The Sun Devils are set for a quick turnaround as they prepare to meet Iowa State in the upcoming round of the tournament.
