As Bill Henry wrote 104 years ago, “The Arizona men showed the fight of wild cats.”
Saturday’s game was the second for Arizona without Allonzo Trier (failed drug test) and Ira Lee (concussion), and the first without Head Coach Sean Miller. Associate Head Coach Lorenzo Romar stepped in to lead the team in Miller’s absence.
Deandre Ayton led the Wildcats with 28 points and 18 rebounds with 17 and 11 in the first half. Arizona got out to a great start, going 6-6 from the field including 2-2 from three. The first miss came from Rawle Alkins, who promptly followed his shot and tipped in his miss to give Arizona a 16-6 lead with 16:26 to go in the first half.