Arizona State Shocks Michigan to Win Legends Classic

BROOKLYN, NY – The Legends Classic, presented by Old Trapper, hosted its second night of College Basketball in a terrific doubleheader.

First was a consolation game between the Pittsburgh Panthers (1-2) facing off against the VCU Rams (2-1); following the first game, we had the Legends Classic Championship game between the Michigan Wolverines (3-0) taking on the Arizona State Sun Devils (3-1) for the right to be called the Legends Classic Champion.

Zeb Jackson and John’s Jr. Shine in Victory Over Pittsburgh

Both the Rams and the Panthers struggled to maintain possession of the ball throughout the opening 13 minutes of the game, as they combined for 11 turnovers.

In John Hughley’s absence, Jorge Diaz Graham and Guillermo Diaz Graham did a great job for the Panthers. They had 14 of the team’s 24 first-half points between them at halftime; despite that, the Panthers trailed by six. 

Coach Capel’s Panthers got out to a hot start in the second half. First, it was Blake Hinson hitting a three-pointer, followed by a Nelly Cummings layup and G. Diaz Graham dunk to take a two-point lead with 16:10 remaining in the game.

Brandon Johns Jr. led VCU in scoring with 18 points and went 9-for-11 from the free-throw line. Zeb Jackson was right behind him with a career-high 16 points, along with three rebounds and three assists.

The Panthers led by as much as six during the ball game, but down the stretch, the ill-advised fouls were a costly factor in the loss to VCU as they allowed 35 free throw attempts, which led to 26 VCU points which ultimately would seal the victory for VCU as they won a close game over the Panthers 71-67.

Key Game Deciders

• Greg Elliot shooting 0-4 shooting from deep
• Allowing VCU to shoot 26-35 from the free-throw line
• Pittsburgh’s 18 turnovers

Arizona State Leads As Much As 32 in Wire-To-Wire Win

Michigan and Arizona State faced off in the second game of our doubleheader for the Legends Classic Championship, and it was Arizona State who came out of the gate hot and led by 18 at halftime, and never looked back in their wire-to-wire victory over Michigan.

Desmond Cambridge Jr was dialed in from the three-point line, shooting 6-for-12 from the field and a sizzling 4-for-8 from the three-point line. It wasn’t just him on the offensive side of the ball that was dialed in, DJ Horne added 19 points of his own while shooting 3-for-5 from the three-point line.

The team as a whole shot 11-for-19 from the three-point line and shot a lights-out shooting 32-53 (60.4%) for the game.

Hunter Dickinson scored 14 points, and Jett Howard added 12. On Wednesday, Michigan knocked off Pittsburgh 91-60, but against ASU, they only shot 34%.

Desmond Cambridge Jr. took home MVP honors in the Legends Classic Championship game.