Allonzo Trier dropped 28 points on near perfect offense as Arizona men’s basketball moved to 3-0 after downing Cal State Bakersfield 91-59 Thursday at the McKale Center.
Trier started the game off with a slick stepback jumpshot that left Zona Zoo oohing and aahing. After that he never looked back. Trier scored 28 points against the Roadrunners on a highly efficient 8-for-9 shooting. After winning Pac-12 player of the week last week, Trier continues his hot streak, now averaging 30 points on 70 percent shooting so far in the season.
“He is a preseason All-American and that is how he is playing,” Sean Miller said. “It’s through his own determination and hard work that he has made himself into a great shooter, that’s part of why you see his efficiency, because it’s easy for him. He can score at the basket, at the foul line, and in transition.”
Deandre Ayton also recorded another double double, finishing with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Ayton started the game off uncharacteristically quiet with two missed 3-pointers from the top of the key and did not take another shot attempt until he scored a tip-in with under two minutes left in the first half. But when the second half began he looked like a different player. Ayton was much more aggressive, calling for the ball, hitting his first 3-pointer of the season and dominating in the paint.
“In the first half I wasn’t really making any shots, I mean my teammates were making good passes and getting me the ball, I just had to play through it,” Ayton said.
Ayton said he is going to be hitting a lot more 3-pointers in the future and Miller said that he approves of his 3-point shooting, saying that he doesn’t take bad shots.
“He took four three’s tonight, I thought all four were excellent shots and I’m never surprised when he makes it,” Miller said. “Now I do think that we can start convincing him to come in a little extra to work on it, maybe a little before or after practice could do him well, I think that’s the next conversation to have with him.”
Arizona’s defense looked much better than it did in the first two games as the Wildcats held the Roadrunners to 59 points. They also kept the Roadrunners to 1-for-16 from deep.
Despite the defensive intensity, Arizona’s pace on offense was a bit slower, as the Wildcats finished with over 10 less than in the first two games. The Wildcats still shot the ball well, shooting 55 percent on the floor and 56 percent from deep, but they did not seem to run the floor as quickly as in the first two games.
Dusan Ristic also scored in double figures with 12 points and six rebounds on 4-for-6 shooting.
Brandon Randolph, who only played four minutes against UMBC after coming back from a concussion, played 13 minutes aginst the Roadrunners but shot the ball poorly, going 0-for-6 and finishing with one point.
The Wildcats go on to play in Deandre Ayton’s hometown when they go to the Bahamas for Wednesdays game at the Battle 4 Atlantis. Ayton said he is excited to go back and he might visit his dad while he is there.
“I’m looking for a big crowd, Arizona is about to shut it down.” Ayton quipped. “Atlantis is pretty, I mean that’s paradise Island, it’s pretty nice over there so I’m excited to see that.”
The Wildcats will face NC State Wednesday at 5:00 p.m.
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