The No. 10 University of Arizona men’s basketball team opened up the 2024-25 regular season with a demolishing 93-64 victory over Canisius University at 8 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 4 in McKale Center. The Wildcats came off of back-to-back exhibition wins heading into this game.
First half
Arizona started strong, putting up high pressure against Canisius. The Golden Griffins had trouble finding the basket, unable to score until five minutes into the game. The Wildcats went on a 20-2 run early in the first half after a layup made by Jaden Bradley. This pressure led to 10 Canisius turnovers in the first half. Bradley, a junior guard, had two essential steals early in the game, resulting in the staggering lead for the Wildcats.
“I just feel like as a team, we’re just so active and on our defensive side, we got high energy,” Bradley said.
Arizona dominated the board with 23 rebounds and shot over 45% on field goals in the first half. The Wildcats kept a high zone defense, limiting Canisius in points and shots overall. The Wildcats went into halftime leading 52-30 with 24 of their points coming from the bench.
Second Half
Canisius was able to get off multiple 3-pointers early on in the second half. However, Arizona retaliated with points of its own from Caleb Love, a fifth year guard, and KJ Lewis, a sophomore guard.
“I thought he looked really good tonight,” head coach Tommy Lloyd said about Love. “The role he played alongside Jayden [Bradley] and KJ [Lewis], it just seems like it felt really good and the pieces fit together.”
Arizona continued to dominate the board, putting up 20 rebounds. However, the offense went cold as shots stopped falling for a stretch in the second half.
“I think it’s just the first game jitters. I mean, we all know how to play Arizona basketball. I think the new guys and everybody that came in, we’re still building,” Lewis said.
The fouls were kept nearly even in the latter half as Arizona gained eight and Canisius had seven. With five minutes remaining in the second period, Canisius forward Jasman Sangha was ejected from the game after fouling Arizona’s Henri Veesaar underneath the basket, resulting in one of two made free throws for Veesaar.
“Listen, it’s a fine line. I mean, I get it. Guys get pissed and something like that happens. You want to respond, but you know, you also got to calculate winning into the equation,” Lloyd said in response to Veesaar’s reaction to the foul.
The Wildcats ended the game victorious with a 29-point lead over the Golden Griffins. Love led Arizona with 17 points, six assists and four rebounds. Bradley led second, following with 15 points and Lewis added on 14 points.
Looking ahead
The Wildcats remain home as they prepare to take on Old Dominion University at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 9 in McKale Center. This will be the first meeting between the Wildcats and the Monarchs since 1975.
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