In a thrilling season opener at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago, the Mississippi State men's basketball team showcased their prowess, securing a convincing 71-56 victory over Arizona State. Junior college transfer Trey Fort emerged as the star of the night, sinking six impressive 3-pointers and contributing a total of 21 points to the Bulldogs' triumph.
Fort's outstanding performance was highlighted by a remarkable sequence of three consecutive 3-pointers, propelling Mississippi State to a commanding 39-18 lead by the end of the first half. The Bulldogs continued their dominance in the second half, extending their lead to as much as 25 points.
Despite the efforts of Arizona State, who welcomed seven Division I transfers to their roster this season, the team struggled to find its rhythm. Louisville transfer Kamari Lands led the Sun Devils with 13 points, while Frankie Collins added 10 points and five steals. However, Arizona State faced challenges with a 32% shooting accuracy from the field and a mere 24% from beyond the arc.
The Sun Devils' starting lineup featured a mix of returners and newcomers, with Jamiya Neal and Collins joined by Lands, Jose Perez, and Shawn Phillips Jr. The Bulldogs, on the other hand, benefited from the contributions of West Virginia graduate transfer Jimmy Bell, who added 13 points to the team's overall 40% shooting performance.
A significant turnaround from their previous season, where they ranked as the worst 3-point shooting team in Division I with a 26.6% success rate, Mississippi State showcased marked improvement by hitting 38% of their 3-point attempts against Arizona State. The Sun Devils, in contrast, struggled from beyond the arc, missing all nine of their first-half 3-point shots and finishing the game with a 5-of-21 record.
Trey Fort's sharpshooting skills were on full display, as he went 4 of 8 on 3-pointers in the first half alone, contributing 14 points to the Bulldogs' formidable lead. The neutral site at Wintrust Arena set the stage for an intense matchup between the two teams, with Mississippi State emerging victorious.
Looking ahead, Arizona State will regroup as they prepare to face Texas Southern at home on Saturday, aiming to bounce back from their season opener defeat.
