The No. 1 University of Arizona men’s wheelchair basketball team (28-4) dominated the No. 2 University of Texas, Arlington 75-65 on Saturday, March 29 in the State Farm Center in Champaign, Ill. Arizona waltzed its way through the National Intercollegiate Wheelchair Basketball Tournament, defeating the likes of No. 8 Edinboro University and No. 5 Southwest Minnesota State University.
This was the Wildcats’ third straight time in the NIWBT National Championship game as they were finally able to capture the elusive title behind some big-time performances.
Three Wildcats finished the game in double digits with Justyn Newman leading the helm with 26 points. Dylan Zander followed, putting up 24 points and seven assists while Brandon Louie finished with 12 points. Despite 3-pointers being limited in the match, attempting a postseason low of six, Arizona was able to shoot 47.6% from the field (30-of-63) to control its advantage.
Despite having a rough shooting night, Blaise Mutware excelled in steals. Mutware more than doubled Texas’ postseason high of four by recording a 10-steal game against UTA. He also provided as a key aid for the Wildcats, putting up team game-highs in blocks and rebounds, with two and eight respectively.
The Wildcats came into the postseason riding a massive 11-game winning streak, with notable wins including a 36-point win over the No. 7 University of Wisconsin, Whitewater, on Feb. 8, an 84-69 revenge win over No. 4 Auburn University, and two 20+ point wins over No. 2 UTA.
Newman, the 2024-2025 National Championship MVP and 2023 NIWBA Player of the Year, has been electric for the Wildcats in the postseason. Newman has averaged a combined 27 points, 7.7 assists and five rebounds per game. His best outing came in the second round against No. 4 SMSU, where the senior dropped 30 points on 12-for-22 shooting from the field alongside 12 assists and two steals. In the National Championship, Newman posted 26 points, with seven assists and a personal postseason high of seven rebounds.
Arizona proved their skill and came to play, maintaining a strong lead in the end of the third quarter that would send them to victory.
First half
Arizona’s Zander would get the scoring started, shooting a mid-range that would start the Wildcats’ opening 6-0 scoring run. Mutware would be crucial in this start, collecting a steal and a pass for Ben Thorton to score, followed by a lay-in of his own.
UTA came back on its end with two lay-ins to cut the lead 6-4. This was followed by several back-and-forth possessions with Arizona and UTA players both trading shots. The Wildcats caught fire once again going on another 6-0 scoring run, capped off by Zander and Newman hitting shots from beyond the arc.
The Wildcats were then held scoreless from the field for nearly four minutes of play, with their only point coming from Newman’s single shot at the free-throw line. Despite this, Arizona ended the first quarter culminating in a last minute shot taken by Louie to take the 23-14 lead.
To open the second quarter, Arizona’s offense would stagnate, allowing the Movin’ Mavs to close the lead to just 23-20. Continuing on the slow start, Arizona scored only 4 points in the first half of the second quarter compared to UTA’s 8. Despite a late push by Newman nailing in a shot, the Mavericks crawled their way back to make it a 1-point game in the final minute. However, on the other end, Louie found an open shot in the paint to keep the Mavericks at bay. This allowed Arizona to go into the half leading UTA 35-32.
Second half
Arizona’s early first quarter advantage withered away as the Mavericks scored 18 points over Arizona’s 12 in the second quarter. Both programs continued to trade possessions back-and-forth. Despite Zander hitting crucial shots for the Wildcats, UTA did not trail too far behind, bringing the deficit to a narrow 39-38 after two made free-throws.
With the game remaining at a neck-and-neck score, UTA eventually took a five point lead over the Wildcats. Arizona wouldn’t let this advantage last long, as Newman and Louie hit back to back shots to gain the 49-46 lead back. Arizona ended the third quarter on a made shot from Zander that kept the Wildcats ahead, 51-48.
Arizona opened the final quarter going on a huge 10-0 scoring run that saw Louie find two crucial shots from mid-range and a lay-in. Newman secured two free-throws and a mid-range shot and Zander kept it going with another lay up to top off the run. Despite UTA looking to erase the growing lead with a trip to the line, Zander came right back to keep the game in the hands of the Wildcats, 63-50.
With under a minute and a half remaining, the Movin’ Mavs looked to push the Wildcats, scoring two straight possessions and cutting the lead to single digits at 67-58. Despite the limited amount of time left on the clock, the two programs put up a combined 15 points in the remaining two minutes of the quarter, with Arizona putting up 8 to clinch the championship. After multiple trips to the free-throw line, the Wildcats stopped any resurgence of a UTA comeback, sealing the win 75-65.
Celebration
Donning NIWBT Championship shirts and hats, the team hoisted the title that had eluded them the last three years. Posed with awards in hand, assistant head coach Jose Maravilla would be the one to hold up the Championship trophy for photos. Newman was awarded the Championship moments after, spinning the golden ball signifying his importance to the championship team. Mutware cut down the all-important net, enshrining the Wildcats in NIWBT history.
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