Final
Johnson, No. 8 Arizona down Southern Miss
Dec 5, 2012 - 7:27 AM Tucson, AZ (Sports Network) - Nick Johnson scored a game-high 23 points as eighth-ranked Arizona rallied in the second half to top Southern Miss, 63-55, on Tuesday.Kevin Parrom added 14 points and eight rebounds for the Wildcats (6-0), who remained undefeated on the season.
"This game proved how tough we are," Parrom said. "They gave us problems early on, but we figured it out and got in the zone. It was a tough game, but I'm glad we pulled through and got the win."
Neil Watson paced Southern Miss (6-2) with 17 points and Michael Craig contributed 10 with seven rebounds in the Eagles' second straight loss.
Southern Miss held an early 10-3 advantage until Arizona reeled off a 12-2 run to go on top, 15-12, on Johnson's 3-pointer with 8 1/2 minutes left in the first half.
But that would be the last lead the Wildcats would hold over the opening 20 minutes, as Southern Miss responded with a Norville Carey jumper followed by Rashard McGill's triple for a two-point edge.
It would remain a one-possession game from there until back-to-back field goals by McGill and Craig sparked a 16-9 run over the final five-plus minutes of the half to give the Eagles a 35-27 lead entering the break.
"We felt like we had the game in our hands and within our grasp, but coming into the second half we started getting loose," Watson admitted.
The second half, however, belonged to Arizona.
After Watson opened the frame with a jumper to give Southern Miss a double- digit lead, the Wildcats reeled off a 22-7 push to jump ahead, 49-44, at the midpoint of the second half.
The Eagles netted the next seven points to regain the lead, but they would then be held without a basket for nearly five minutes while Parrom and Solomon Hill each connected on a 3-pointer during a 10-0 spurt to put Arizona on top for good at 59-51.
Watson halted the drought with a jumper to get within 59-53 with a minute left, but Arizona was able to close out the game at the foul line to hang on for the win.
Game Notes
It was the first meeting between the teams since Dec. 30, 1954. Arizona leads the all-time series, 3-0 ... The Wildcats shot 45.2 percent from the floor in the game, while Southern Miss was held to 39 percent shooting ... Arizona turned the ball over 27 times ... The Eagles committed 22 turnovers.
- SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI: 55
ARIZONA: 63
Final
Dec 4 11:32 PM - 163
rootsRUWTbot Added 7 roots (Close Finish, Upset)
Southern Mississippi 51, Arizona(8) 54 2nd - 2:37Dec 4 11:22 PM - 156
rootsRUWTbot Added 7 roots (Close Finish, Upset)
Southern Mississippi 51, Arizona(8) 54 2nd - 3:43Dec 4 11:19 PM - 149
rootsRUWTbot Took away 38 roots (Close Finish, Upset)
Southern Mississippi 51, Arizona(8) 54 2nd - 4:30Dec 4 11:17 PM - 187
rootsRUWTbot Added 9 roots (Close Finish, Upset)
Southern Mississippi 51, Arizona(8) 51 2nd - 5:00Dec 4 11:17 PM - 178
rootsRUWTbot Added 9 roots (Close Finish, Upset)
Southern Mississippi 51, Arizona(8) 51 2nd - 5:30Dec 4 11:16 PM - 169
rootsRUWTbot Added 9 roots (Close Finish, Upset)
Southern Mississippi 49, Arizona(8) 49 2nd - 6:02Dec 4 11:15 PM - 160
rootsRUWTbot Added 9 roots (Close Finish, Upset)
Southern Mississippi 49, Arizona(8) 49 2nd - 6:57Dec 4 11:14 PM - 151
rootsRUWTbot Added 9 roots (Close Finish, Upset)
Southern Mississippi 49, Arizona(8) 49 2nd - 7:30Dec 4 11:13 PM - 142
rootsRUWTbot Added 18 roots (Close Finish, Upset)
Southern Mississippi 49, Arizona(8) 49 2nd - 8:07Dec 4 11:08 PM - 124
roots - SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI: 35
ARIZONA: 27
Halftime
Dec 4 10:28 PM - 104
roots - 94
roots - 84
roots - 74
roots - 64
roots - 30
roots - SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI: 0
ARIZONA: 0
1st Half - 20:00
Dec 4 9:38 PM
Related News
- Arizona men’s basketball remains at No. 4 in AP Top 25 rankings Dec 25
- Despite losses, nonconference schedule proved Arizona men’s basketball has what it takes Dec 25
- 5-star PG Zoom Diallo commits to Washington over Arizona Dec 23
- What Tommy Lloyd said after Arizona's double-overtime loss to FAU Dec 23
- Arizona men’s basketball falls in double overtime to No. 14 Florida Atlantic, first loss in Las Vegas under Tommy Lloyd Dec 23
- Arizona men’s basketball vs. Florida Atlantic game thread Dec 23
- Arizona men’s basketball vs. Florida Atlantic: Game time, TV schedule, odds, streaming and more Dec 23
- Florida Atlantic men’s basketball expert previews the Arizona game, makes a score prediction Dec 22
- What Tommy Lloyd, Oumar Ballo and Pelle Larsson said after Arizona’s win over Alabama Dec 21
- Arizona men’s basketball outruns Alabama in second half Dec 21
- Arizona men’s basketball vs. Alabama game thread Dec 20
- Third quarter dooms Arizona women’s basketball again in loss to No. 20 Gonzaga Dec 20