The University of Arizona men’s basketball team (22-0, 9-0 in Big 12) remained undefeated as they took their second win against Arizona State University (11-11, 2-7 in Big 12) on Saturday, Jan. 31 at 12 p.m. in the Desert Financial Arena. This marks the best start to a season in program history.
First half
ASU started off strong, taking a 4 point lead on the Wildcats with a short jumper from Massamba Diop and a layup by Santiago Trouet. Arizona responded immediately, with Motiejus Krivas tying the game 6-6 on a fast break layup.
ASU held a two point advantage over Arizona until Jaden Bradley was sent to the line shooting 2-for-2. This pulled the Wildcats ahead of the Sun Devils 17-16. Arizona went on a run with layups from Krivas and an alleyoop dunk from Peat to extend their lead 25-18.
With just four minutes remaining in the first half, ASU closed the gap that Arizona had built with Santiago Trouet shooting 2-for-2 second-chance free throws and a driving layup from Anthony Johnson. This tied the game 30-30.
A defensive rebound by Burries set up a Peat layup assisted by Anthony Dell’Orso. Trouet went to the line after a personal foul on Dell’Orso which pulled the Sun Devils ahead 35-34.
Dell’Orso made a driving layup in the paint with thirty seconds left which brought the Wildcats up 38-35. Then with just two seconds left in the half, Noah Meeusen made a 3-pointer to tie up the game 38-38.
Second half
The second half started off physically, with ASU forcing a turnover. There was a foul sending Peat to the line for Arizona where he brought Arizona ahead 39-38.
Arizona then went on a run with a 3-pointer from Peat assisted by Burries, followed by a second chance layup by Krivas. After an ASU timeout, the Sun Devils put up their first points of the half after Maurice Odum made a 3-point jumper.
Diop was sent to the line for ASU where he shot 2-for-2 bringing the Sun Devils just 3 points behind the Wildcats. Awaka got an offensive rebound and was sent to the stripe to make a second chance free throw where he shot 2-for-2.
On a dunk attempt from Dwayne Aristode, the ball got stuck between the hoop and the backboard which sent Aristode to the line. Both teams were playing extremely physical, diving and stealing the ball to force turnovers. Aristode grabbed the rebound after a failed 3-point jumper leading to a dunk by Peat. This brought the Wildcats up 9 points on the Sun Devils.
Burries made a driving layup on the fast break followed by another layup from Awaka bringing their lead to 10 points. With an assist from Dell’Orso, Kharchenkov put up a second chance 3-pointer.
The Wildcats were able to build a comfortable gap within the last five minutes. With one minute left in the game, Bradley shot 2-for-2 on the fast break bringing their lead up 20 points. Arizona took their second victory of the season against ASU and extended their run to 22-0. The Wildcats won 87-74.
Looking forward
Arizona will return home to McKale Center to take on Oklahoma State University on Saturday, Feb. 7 at 2 p.m. MST.
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