LOS ANGELES (AP) — Madina Okot had 14 points and 13 rebounds before fouling out late and ninth-seeded Mississippi State beat California 59-46 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday.
Eniya Russell added 14 points for the Bulldogs (22-11), who are back in March Madness for the first time in two years. They lost in the national title game in 2017 and 2018.
“I think what everyone just witnessed was our best defensive effort of the season,” Bulldogs coach Sam Purcell said.
The Bulldogs improved their shooting to 50% in the second half when they outscored the Bears 15-10 in the third and 18-17 in the fourth. They had 15 steals.
“Physicality and rebounding wins us games. I don’t think they were used to that,” Russell said. “I definitely think our defense disrupted them.”
Michelle Onyiah led the eighth-seeded Golden Bears with 17 points and 15 rebounds despite four fouls. Lulu Twidale added 13 points before fouling out in the final seconds.
The Bears were just 3 of 21 from 3-point range, with Twidale missing 6 of 7 and Ioanna Krimili missing 8 of 10.
“There were just too many people who couldn't get into a groove and that meant we couldn't survive the turnovers and missed shots,” Bears coach Charmin Smith said.
Cal's only lead was by one point in the first quarter, when the Bears managed just five points. They recovered to play the Bulldogs evenly in the second but trailed 26-19 at halftime.
“Us not being able to score definitely set us back," Twidale said. “Most of us, it was the first time in tournament. I’m proud we were able to keep fighting to the end.”
The Bears (25-9) capped their first season in the Atlantic Coast Conference by making the NCAAs for the first time since 2019, when current USC coach Lindsay Gottlieb was in charge.
“I think we put Cal basketball back on the map,” Smith said.
The Bears got within six in the third quarter only to see the Bulldogs close on a 9-3 run to lead 41-29 going into the fourth. Four players scored in the spurt.
The Bears committed 24 turnovers and got outscored 32-18 in the paint and 15-0 in bench points.
Mississippi State will play JuJu Watkins and top-seeded USC in the second round on Monday at Galen Center. The Bulldogs last made the Sweet 16 in 2019.
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California forward Ugonne Onyiah, left, goes to the basket against Mississippi State center Madina Okot (15) during the second half in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Saturday, March 22, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Mississippi State center Madina Okot (15) drives to the basket against California forward Marta Suarez (7) during the first half in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Saturday, March 22, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
DENVER (AP) — Now this was finally a role Julian Strawther could sink his teeth into, even if it cost him one.
Playing meaningful extended minutes for first time in the series, the Denver Nuggets guard provided a spark off the bench as he scored all 15 of his points in the second half Thursday night. His big game helped propel Denver to a 119-107 victory over the Thunder and force a Game 7 on Sunday in Oklahoma City.
“That’s the moment you dream of when you’re a little kid — come to the game, having all the guys believe in you, find you in your spots and be able to just make an impact on the game,” said Strawther, a second-year player out of Gonzaga.
Strawther certainly left it all on the floor, including a tooth (a prosthetic one) that happened to pop out in the fourth quarter when he took contact from an Oklahoma City player. He tried to get the officials to stop play long enough to gather it up. But the action was already heading the other way.
A ball boy scooped it up for him in a towel and returned it to the bench. By the time Strawther addressed the media following the game, he had it back in place.
He explained that after he lost a baby tooth as a kid, the adult version — located on the right side next to his front tooth — never grew in.
“We got it back,” Strawther said.
Just like that, the Nuggets are going back to OKC. It was their sole mission after frittering away a fourth-quarter lead and losing there in Game 5.
The Nuggets bench made a big impact behind the play of Strawther, Russell Westbrook (eight points) and Peyton Watson (four).
Sure, the reserves of the Thunder outscored them 32-27n. Before Thursday, though, the average production of the bench was 34-22 through five games in favor of the Thunder.
“(Julian) was amazing,” said Nikola Jokic, who had 29 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists. “He had the big points, the big moments of the game.”
Strawther finished 3 of 4 from 3-point range and 4 of 4 from the line. Above all, he helped the Nuggets maintain their momentum in the fourth quarter as Jokic sat on the bench to get some valuable rest. Strawther played 19 1/2 minutes, his playoff high.
This after being limited to 14 minutes combined over the last three games, including a “DNP” — did not play — in Game 3. Interim coach David Adelman told him to stay ready.
He listened.
“Understanding that there’s a night that I may not check in at all,” Strawther explained. "And there’s a night like tonight where he’s going to ride with me.
“Me and (Adelman) have had a transparent relationship through these playoffs, and I’m really appreciative for him throwing me out there tonight.”
His role may increase even more depending on the status of Aaron Gordon, who hurt his left hamstring late in the game.
“I feel OK. We'll see,” Gordon said after the game. “I'm going to start the recovery process now, to make sure I'm ready for a Game 7.”
Another player who found a groove was banged-up forward Michael Porter Jr., who was 4 of 9 for 10 points. He's been dealing with a sprained left shoulder.
“For me, with what I've been through, there's so much extra things I have to be on top of,” explained Porter, who said he had a lidocaine injection in his shoulder before Game 6 and plans to have another leading into Sunday. “Since I hurt my shoulder I'm not able to be on top of things like I want to. ... I don't feel as comfortable and confident in my shot as I want to feel throughout these playoffs.
“But I'm still out there and still trying to space the floor and shooting it when I'm getting it, whether it goes in or out. I just have to stay confident.”
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/nba
Denver Nuggets guard Julian Strawther, front, is fouled by Oklahoma City Thunder guard Alex Caruso in the second half of Game 6 in the Western Conference semifinals of the NBA basketball playoffs Thursday, May 15, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Nuggets guard Julian Strawther gestures after hitting a 3-point basket against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second half of Game 6 in the Western Conference semifinals of the NBA basketball playoffs Thursday, May 15, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Nuggets guard Julian Strawther reacts after hitting a 3-point basket in the second half of Game 6 in the Western Conference semifinals of the NBA basketball playoffs against the Oklahoma City Thunder Thursday, May 15, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
