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Unable to figure it out on the perimeter against Cincinnati’s pesky defense, the Arizona Wildcats did what they almost always do instead.
The Wildcats pounded and drove the ball inside often, leading to a 77-51 win over Cincinnati at McKale Center. UA was just 2 of 13 from 3-point range but outscored the Bearcats 46-14 in the paint and outrebounded them 45-33 – while also taking double the amount of free throws. Arizona hit 20 of 28 freee throws while Cincinnati was 13 of 14.
Naturally, center Motiejus Krivas had a lot to do with all of that, collecting 17 points and nine rebounds while Koa Peat added 13 points and six rebounds. Guard Brayden Burries also posted a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds, the second time this season the 6-4 guard has pulled down double-digit rebounds after he had 11 at Utah on Jan. 3.
Arizona shot 42.6% overall while holding Cincinnati to 30.9% and scoring 17 points off 14 Cincinnati turnovers.
Arizona was up by six at halftime but Cincinnati cut the Wildcats’ lead to just two points on three different occasions early in the second half, the last after Jalen Celestine hit a 3-point shot and Baba Miller made two free throws nearly six minutes into the second half.
But Arizona scored eight straight points from there, including two offensive rebound baskets from Tobe Awaka, and the Wildcats built a comfortable lead from there.
Along the way, Arizona also won a successful appeal for a flagrant foul on Cincinnati’s Baba Miller. Replays appeared to show Miller grabbing Krivas and pulling him toward the ground and officials agreed with the appeal, giving Krivas a chance to hit two free throws that put UA ahead 60-46.
The Wildcats continued on what became a 15-2 run that put them ahead 67-46 when Ivan Kharchenkov hit a layup with 3:34 to go.
Arizona took a 33-27 halftime lead despite shooting just 36.7% from the field in the first half. The Wildcats shot 11 for 30 from the field, hitting just 1 of 7 3-pointers, while Cincinnati shot 37.0%. Anthony Dell'Orso and Ivan Kharchenkov both went 0-for-2 from beyond the arc.
But Cincinnati also struggled from the field, shooting just 36.0, and the Wildcats turned the Bearcats' 10 turnovers into 12 UA points. Arizona also outscored Cincinnati 20-4 in the paint, though the Bearcats kept it close in part because reserve Shon Abaev hit 2 of 3 3-pointers and hit all three free throws he took when Tobe Awaka fouled him on another 3-point attempt.
Center Motiejus Krivas led UA in the half with eight points and five rebounds while Braden Burries and Koa Peat each had seven.
The Wildcats jumped on the Bearcats early, taking a 10-4 lead with four inside baskets and a pair of free throws from Jaden Bradley, prompting Cincinnati coach Wes Miller to call a 30-second timeout.
But Cincinnati, entering the game with the seventh-best defensive efficiency in Division I, clamped down defensively while pulling to within 15-13 on a 3-pointer from Abaev heading into a timeout with 11:32 left.
With Arizona then entering a string of 10 straight missed shots, Cincinnati took a 20-16 lead midway through the half after Abaev hit his three free throws, then hit his second 3.
But Krivas hit a jumper and made a layup to tie the game at 20 with eight minutes left and it remained within two possessions for the rest of the half.
Former Arizona guard Kerr Kriisa played a minute late in the first half after sitting out Cincinnati's last four games with a separated shoulder. UA honored him with a brief pregame video on the scoreboard, saying "Thank you Kerr Kriisa."
The game was attended by several Arizona athletic notables, including Falcons running back Bijan Robinson, Reds manager Terry Francona, Diamondbacks pitcher Kevin Ginkel, former UA quarterback Kahlil Tate and former UA assistant coach Steve Robinson.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona pounds Cincinnati inside en route to win at McKale Center
Continue reading...
The Wildcats pounded and drove the ball inside often, leading to a 77-51 win over Cincinnati at McKale Center. UA was just 2 of 13 from 3-point range but outscored the Bearcats 46-14 in the paint and outrebounded them 45-33 – while also taking double the amount of free throws. Arizona hit 20 of 28 freee throws while Cincinnati was 13 of 14.
Naturally, center Motiejus Krivas had a lot to do with all of that, collecting 17 points and nine rebounds while Koa Peat added 13 points and six rebounds. Guard Brayden Burries also posted a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds, the second time this season the 6-4 guard has pulled down double-digit rebounds after he had 11 at Utah on Jan. 3.
Arizona shot 42.6% overall while holding Cincinnati to 30.9% and scoring 17 points off 14 Cincinnati turnovers.
Arizona was up by six at halftime but Cincinnati cut the Wildcats’ lead to just two points on three different occasions early in the second half, the last after Jalen Celestine hit a 3-point shot and Baba Miller made two free throws nearly six minutes into the second half.
But Arizona scored eight straight points from there, including two offensive rebound baskets from Tobe Awaka, and the Wildcats built a comfortable lead from there.
Along the way, Arizona also won a successful appeal for a flagrant foul on Cincinnati’s Baba Miller. Replays appeared to show Miller grabbing Krivas and pulling him toward the ground and officials agreed with the appeal, giving Krivas a chance to hit two free throws that put UA ahead 60-46.
The Wildcats continued on what became a 15-2 run that put them ahead 67-46 when Ivan Kharchenkov hit a layup with 3:34 to go.
Arizona took a 33-27 halftime lead despite shooting just 36.7% from the field in the first half. The Wildcats shot 11 for 30 from the field, hitting just 1 of 7 3-pointers, while Cincinnati shot 37.0%. Anthony Dell'Orso and Ivan Kharchenkov both went 0-for-2 from beyond the arc.
But Cincinnati also struggled from the field, shooting just 36.0, and the Wildcats turned the Bearcats' 10 turnovers into 12 UA points. Arizona also outscored Cincinnati 20-4 in the paint, though the Bearcats kept it close in part because reserve Shon Abaev hit 2 of 3 3-pointers and hit all three free throws he took when Tobe Awaka fouled him on another 3-point attempt.
Center Motiejus Krivas led UA in the half with eight points and five rebounds while Braden Burries and Koa Peat each had seven.
The Wildcats jumped on the Bearcats early, taking a 10-4 lead with four inside baskets and a pair of free throws from Jaden Bradley, prompting Cincinnati coach Wes Miller to call a 30-second timeout.
But Cincinnati, entering the game with the seventh-best defensive efficiency in Division I, clamped down defensively while pulling to within 15-13 on a 3-pointer from Abaev heading into a timeout with 11:32 left.
With Arizona then entering a string of 10 straight missed shots, Cincinnati took a 20-16 lead midway through the half after Abaev hit his three free throws, then hit his second 3.
But Krivas hit a jumper and made a layup to tie the game at 20 with eight minutes left and it remained within two possessions for the rest of the half.
Former Arizona guard Kerr Kriisa played a minute late in the first half after sitting out Cincinnati's last four games with a separated shoulder. UA honored him with a brief pregame video on the scoreboard, saying "Thank you Kerr Kriisa."
The game was attended by several Arizona athletic notables, including Falcons running back Bijan Robinson, Reds manager Terry Francona, Diamondbacks pitcher Kevin Ginkel, former UA quarterback Kahlil Tate and former UA assistant coach Steve Robinson.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona pounds Cincinnati inside en route to win at McKale Center
Continue reading...
