Utah
Last-second heave falls short as Utah loses to Mississippi State 52-49
Utah Utes head coach Craig Smith yells throughout a males’s basketball recreation in opposition to the Idaho State Bengals on the Huntsman Heart in Salt Lake Metropolis on Monday, Nov. 14, 2022. Utah gained 70-58. (Kristin Murphy, Deseret Information)
Estimated learn time: 3-4 minutes
SALT LAKE CITY — Utah had 4.3 seconds left to do one thing.
After build up a 5-point lead in a low-scoring affair, Mississippi State bought scorching late within the recreation and managed a 3-point lead. The Runnin’ Utes simply wanted to go the size of the courtroom, hoist up a 3-point shot and ship the sport into further time.
The ball was inbounded to Branden Carlson close to midcourt, who instantly tossed it again to a sprinting Rollie Worster up the courtroom. As Worster crossed the halfcourt line, he heaved up a shot, however the shot was considerably brief. Ball recreation.
An undefeated Mississippi State staff that shot 25% from the sector got here out on high with a 52-49 win to assert the Fort Myers Tip-Off championship on Wednesday night time.
The three-point heave should not have come as a shock contemplating Utah (4-2) completed the sport 4-of-19 from deep and will construct on a lead halfway via the second half. Utah shot solely 33% from the sector and struggled in opposition to a tricky Mississippi State (6-0) protection that pressured 14 Utah turnovers, which included 11 within the first half.
Utah’s main scorer on the season, Branden Carlson, could not get it going all night time and completed the night time with 0 factors and eight rebounds within the loss.
Fortuitously for Utah, although, freshman Keba Keita got here via and helped convey a physicality to the sport that Utah lacked and helped convey down some key rebounds on an evening when the Utes managed to outrebound the Bulldogs 49-45.
Keita did not essentially fill out the state sheet, however was a distinction maker in Utah’s push to beat an 8-point first-half deficit and to assist construct up a 5-point lead with simply over 11 minutes left to play. Keita completed with 4 factors, seven rebounds and one block in 17 minutes of play.
The Runnin’ Utes scored the primary bucket of the sport after which led Mississippi State go on a fast 8-0 run to take a fast lead. However as shortly because the Bulldogs constructed up a lead, the scoring stopped immediately. It was a constant theme of Mississippi State occurring a run, solely to enter a protracted scoring drought.
Rinse and repeat.
Utah shot barely higher from the sector and slowly dug itself out of a deficit, however turnovers continued to be the thorn in Utah’s facet and stopped any momentum the staff may need had. Utah lower down on the turnovers within the second half however then went chilly from 3-point vary and could not construct on a lead.
All of it led to a Utah staff that had its possibilities however could not capitalize in opposition to a staff ranked No. 28 in KenPom scores.
Dashawn Davis led Mississippi State with 18 factors — 15 of which got here within the second half — three rebounds and two assists within the win. He was take part double figures by Tolu Smith, who had 16 factors and rebounds, and D.J. Jeffries, who completed with 10 factors and 7 rebounds.
The Utes have been led in scoring by Marco Anthony and Ben Carlson, who each completed with 10 factors apiece. Anthony added eight rebounds and Carlson had 4 rebounds. Worster added 9 rebounds and three assists within the loss.