A Malik Pope update

After San Diego State handled Alabama State, Mark Ziegler wrote:

"A Papal sighting   
                                                                                    
It wasn’t the Malik Pope who was once projected as a first-round NBA pick, or even the Malik Pope that dominated at times late last season. But it also wasn’t the Malik Pope we saw as recently as Saturday afternoon against Arizona State, the one who had four points in the opening three minutes and never scored again – the poster child for SDSU’s second-half disintegration.

Pope’s line against Monday night’s ASU: 16 points, 6 of 10 shooting, seven rebounds, two assists, one turnover in 28 minutes.

The points are a season high, and the rebounds equaled it. And he wasn’t benched down the stretch, as he was in the two previous games.

“I’m not disappointed, I’m more frustrated,” Pope said afterward, speaking extensively about his junior season for the first time. “I’m trying to stay away from injuries, trying to stay healthy and get out of this little slump I’m in. I just want to play for my team. If I’ve got to go out there hurt or healthy, whatever it is, I’ll do whatever I can.

“Today I just tried to put two halves together, and I actually felt great. That really helped...”