No. 4 Arizona basketball got off to its worst start of the season in the first half of the NIT Season Tip-Off semifinal against Drexel, trailing 29-20 in Madison Square Garden. 

The eighth-seeded Dragons (3-1) jumped out to a 9-0 lead to start the game as the top-seeded Wildcats (5-0) turned the ball over five times their opening seven possessions. In total, Arizona turned the ball over 10 times in the half. 

Drexel led as much as 27-8 as senior guard Chris Fouch’s 16 points lead both teams. However, the Wildcats woke up in the later part of the half, going on an 11-0 run to cut their deficit to eight. 

Junior guard Nick Johnson led Arizona in scoring with eight points while freshman forward Aaron Gordon pulled down eight rebounds, leading the two squads. No Wildcat earned an assist in the first half. 

Overall, the UA shot 6-for-23 from the floor and was 8-for-13 from the free throw line. Arizona was a pedestrian 0-for-6 from beyond the arc as well. 

Only junior point guard T.J. McConnell is in foul trouble with two personals. Dragons senior forward Dartaye Ruffin has been called for three personal fouls. 

Drexel had 10 fouls as a team while Arizona earned six.