Despite trailing for much of the game, No. 2 Arizona men’s basketball remained perfect by beating UC Irvine 71-54.
The Anteaters only led by as much as six but were ahead for about 15 minutes. Arizona (3-0) went on a 15-0 run and held on for the win.
For the third game in a row, forward Rondae Hollis-Jefferson started the game on the bench. He scored 19 points, grabbed six rebounds and had one block.
The Wildcats shot 40 percent from the floor and 29 percent from 3, while the Anteaters shot 37 percent from the field and 33 percent from 3.
Forward Stanley Johnson got a double double with 10 points and 10 rebounds after UA head coach Sean Miller criticized his rebounding on Sunday.
Point guard T.J. McConnell had 12 points, nine rebounds, four assists and six steals.
Check back with us later for a full recap of tonight’s action.
Game Nuggets:
-Arizona’s last home loss was to UCLA on Jan. 24, 2013, a 84-73 defeat.
-The game was tied four times, and there were four lead changes.
-The UA had 18 second-chance points; UC Irvine, with two players of at least 7-2, had five.
-The Wildcats had five blocks and 11 steals. Irvine had one block and four steals.