In a remarkable feat, the Arizona Wildcats (19-5, 10-3 Pac-12) secured victories against both the University of Utah and the University of Colorado during their recent road trip to the mountain schools, a feat no other PAC-12 team had managed this season. The Wildcats edged past the Utes in a thrilling triple-overtime showdown, clinching a 105-99 victory on Thursday, before dominating the Buffaloes 99-79 on Saturday at the CU Events Center in Boulder, Colorado.
Photo Cred: Arizona Desert Swarm
Arizona’s lead at halftime against Colorado was a modest 47-40, spearheaded by standout performances from guards Pelle Larson and Caleb Love, who each contributed 11 points. Shooting an impressive 51.6% from the field in the first half, the Wildcats managed to maintain a solid lead despite the Buffaloes’ efforts to narrow the gap, culminating in a 47-36 advantage with just over a minute remaining. However, a late 4-0 run by Colorado reduced the deficit to seven points heading into halftime.
The Wildcats wasted no time asserting their dominance in the second half, opening with consecutive three-pointers by Love and forward Keshad Johnson to extend their lead to 53-40. Despite Colorado’s attempts to mount a comeback, including a brief moment where they closed the gap to ten points, Arizona responded with a commanding 10-0 run, pushing their lead to a comfortable 20-point margin at 65-45, effectively sealing the victory.
Photo Cred: Arizona Desert Swarm
Notably, this triumph marks Arizona’s first win in Boulder since 2015, ending a five-game losing streak against the Buffaloes. Larson led the charge with 18 points and 4 rebounds, supported by Love’s 19 points on 6-15 shooting. Center Oumar Ballo delivered a dominant performance in the paint, securing a double-double with 16 points and 13 rebounds. The victory completes a season sweep for the Wildcats, who previously defeated Colorado 97-50 in Tucson on January 4th.
For Colorado, the loss represents a missed opportunity to bolster their NCAA tournament credentials, as it would have marked their second quad 1 win. Despite solid performances from Tristan Da Silva and senior guard KJ Simpson, who both notched 20 points, the Buffaloes struggled to contain Arizona’s offensive onslaught, surrendering 23 points off 16 turnovers and being outscored 44-32 in the paint.
“Sometimes it’s necessary that you’ve just got to tip your cap to the other team,” remarked CU head coach Tad Boyle in the post-game press conference. “I thought Arizona played great tonight. They deserved to win.”
Looking ahead, Colorado will aim to regroup as they embark on a challenging road trip next week, facing off against UCLA and USC. With a disappointing 1-6 record on the road this season, the Buffaloes face an uphill battle to secure crucial victories. Meanwhile, Arizona seeks to maintain their top spot in the PAC-12 standings as they prepare to host in-state rivals Arizona State next Saturday.
