Nnaji scores 21, helps sluggish Arizona beat Cal 68-52
AP
Feb 14, 2020
BERKELEY, Calif. (AP) Zeke Nnaji had 21 points and five rebounds, and Arizona Wildcats overcame a sluggish game offensively to beat California Golden Bears 68-52 on Thursday night.
Dylan Smith added 14 points and Nico Mannion had 10 points and five assists to help the Wildcats (17-7, 7-4 Pac-12) bounce back from a home loss to UCLA that knocked Arizona out of the Top 25.
Matt Bradley had 19 points and eight rebounds for California (10-4, 4-7). The Golden Bears have lost three straight and four of six.
Nnaji dominated on a night when Arizona's offense sputtered. The Wildcats committed only 10 turnovers but most were unforced errors. Mannion twice threw the ball into the stands.
Arizona also struggled beyond the arc where it was 3 of 13 until Smith made back-to-back shots and Max Hazzard added a third. That capped a 15-4 run that put Arizona ahead 62-43.
The Wildcats led comfortably most of the first half then got a big defensive play before halftime when Jemarl Baker Jr. blocked Paris Austin's 3-point try.
BIG PICTURE
Arizona: At times, it looked like the Wildcats were still suffering a hangover from Saturday's stinging loss to the Bruins but they got themselves together enough to pull away late. That made it eight straight over California. The 27 points in the first half were the third-fewest scored by Arizona this season.
California: The Bears had a six-minute scoreless stretch in the first half and a four-minute drought in the second. That was too much to overcome for a team still struggling to find a secondary scorer to complement Bradley. Cal showed more patience offensively but couldn't get enough of their shots to fall.
UP NEXT
Arizona: Play at Stanford on Saturday.
California: Host to Arizona State on Sunday.
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1st Half
ARIZ
Wildcats
27
CAL
Golden Bears
20
Time
Team
Play
Score
20:00
Jumpball received by Arizona
19:40
Shooting foul on Lars Thiemann
19:40
+1
Zeke Nnaji made 1st of 2 free throws
1-0
19:40
+1
Zeke Nnaji made 2nd of 2 free throws
2-0
19:23
+2
Matt Bradley made driving layup
2-2
19:06
+3
Stone Gettings made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Nico Mannion
5-2
18:40
Bad pass turnover on Paris Austin
18:26
Josh Green missed 3-pt. jump shot
18:24
Defensive rebound by Andre Kelly
18:07
Paris Austin missed jump shot
18:05
Defensive rebound by Dylan Smith
17:56
Dylan Smith missed 3-pt. jump shot
17:54
Defensive rebound by Matt Bradley
17:27
+3
Paris Austin made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Kareem South
5-5
17:03
+2
Josh Green made jump shot, assist by Zeke Nnaji
7-5
16:27
Paris Austin missed driving layup
16:25
Defensive rebound by Dylan Smith
16:10
Josh Green missed jump shot
16:08
Defensive rebound by Kareem South
15:59
Kareem South missed 3-pt. jump shot
15:57
Defensive rebound by Zeke Nnaji
15:49
Stone Gettings missed 3-pt. jump shot
15:47
Defensive rebound by Grant Anticevich
15:25
+3
Matt Bradley made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Paris Austin
7-8
15:02
Bad pass turnover on Zeke Nnaji
15:02
Commercial timeout called
14:42
Offensive foul on D.J. Thorpe
14:42
Turnover on D.J. Thorpe
14:21
Zeke Nnaji missed turnaround jump shot
14:19
Defensive rebound by Matt Bradley
13:59
Bad pass turnover on Matt Bradley, stolen by Zeke Nnaji
13:54
Shooting foul on Grant Anticevich
13:54
+1
Jemarl Baker Jr. made 1st of 2 free throws
8-8
13:54
Jemarl Baker Jr. missed 2nd of 2 free throws
13:54
Defensive rebound by Andre Kelly
13:31
Matt Bradley missed 3-pt. jump shot
13:29
Defensive rebound by Josh Green
13:23
Jemarl Baker Jr. missed 3-pt. jump shot
13:21
Defensive rebound by California
13:12
Personal foul on Josh Green
12:58
Andre Kelly missed layup
12:56
Defensive rebound by Jemarl Baker Jr.
12:32
Shooting foul on Andre Kelly
12:32
Josh Green missed 1st of 2 free throws
12:32
+1
Josh Green made 2nd of 2 free throws
9-8
12:01
Shot clock violation turnover on California
11:39
+2
Ira Lee made layup
11-8
11:22
Grant Anticevich missed 3-pt. jump shot
11:20
Defensive rebound by Max Hazzard
11:04
Ira Lee missed hook shot
11:02
Offensive rebound by Arizona
11:02
Commercial timeout called
10:55
+2
Zeke Nnaji made jump shot, assist by Nico Mannion
13-8
10:27
Paris Austin missed driving layup
10:25
Defensive rebound by Josh Green
10:17
+2
Nico Mannion made driving layup
15-8
9:51
Matt Bradley missed layup
9:49
Offensive rebound by Lars Thiemann
9:42
Lost ball turnover on Lars Thiemann, stolen by Josh Green
9:34
Nico Mannion missed 3-pt. jump shot
9:32
Defensive rebound by California
9:32
Personal foul on Stone Gettings
9:16
+2
Kareem South made driving layup
15-10
8:50
+2
Stone Gettings made hook shot
17-10
8:24
Offensive foul on Matt Bradley
8:24
Turnover on Matt Bradley
8:08
Bad pass turnover on Nico Mannion
7:47
+3
Matt Bradley made 3-pt. jump shot
17-13
7:23
Zeke Nnaji missed fade-away jump shot
7:21
Defensive rebound by Andre Kelly
7:17
Matt Bradley missed layup, blocked by Jemarl Baker Jr.
7:15
Defensive rebound by Jemarl Baker Jr.
7:06
+2
Nico Mannion made floating jump shot, assist by Jemarl Baker Jr.
19-13
6:49
Matt Bradley missed 3-pt. jump shot
6:47
Offensive rebound by Andre Kelly
6:42
Andre Kelly missed hook shot
6:40
Defensive rebound by Nico Mannion
6:31
Dylan Smith missed jump shot
6:29
Defensive rebound by Andre Kelly
6:04
Personal foul on Stone Gettings
6:04
Commercial timeout called
6:03
Bad pass turnover on Paris Austin
5:53
Lost ball turnover on Ira Lee
5:42
Kareem South missed jump shot
5:40
Defensive rebound by Jemarl Baker Jr.
5:34
Bad pass turnover on Jemarl Baker Jr., stolen by Andre Kelly
5:23
Paris Austin missed floating jump shot
5:21
Defensive rebound by Max Hazzard
5:19
Offensive foul on Max Hazzard
5:19
Turnover on Max Hazzard
5:03
Shooting foul on Chase Jeter
5:03
D.J. Thorpe missed 1st of 2 free throws
5:03
+1
D.J. Thorpe made 2nd of 2 free throws
19-14
4:42
Chase Jeter missed layup
4:32
Defensive rebound by Kuany Kuany
4:32
Lost ball turnover on Kuany Kuany, stolen by Ira Lee
4:32
+2
Ira Lee made layup
21-14
4:20
Grant Anticevich missed 3-pt. jump shot
4:18
Defensive rebound by Ira Lee
4:10
+2
Chase Jeter made hook shot, assist by Nico Mannion
23-14
3:44
Grant Anticevich missed 3-pt. jump shot
3:44
Grant Anticevich missed jump shot
3:42
Defensive rebound by Chase Jeter
3:34
Nico Mannion missed jump shot
3:32
Defensive rebound by D.J. Thorpe
3:12
Personal foul on Chase Jeter
2:55
+2
Paris Austin made jump shot
23-16
2:35
+2
Zeke Nnaji made turnaround jump shot, assist by Josh Green
25-16
2:16
Matt Bradley missed jump shot
2:14
Defensive rebound by Zeke Nnaji
2:08
Bad pass turnover on Nico Mannion
1:44
+2
Andre Kelly made hook shot
25-18
1:18
Josh Green missed 3-pt. jump shot
1:16
Defensive rebound by Andre Kelly
1:00
+2
Kareem South made floating jump shot
25-20
53.0
30-second timeout called
40.0
+2
Jemarl Baker Jr. made jump shot
27-20
6.0
Paris Austin missed 3-pt. jump shot, blocked by Jemarl Baker Jr.
4.0
Defensive rebound by Josh Green
0.0
End of period
2nd Half
ARIZ
Wildcats
41
CAL
Golden Bears
32
Time
Team
Play
Score
19:32
Shooting foul on Nico Mannion
19:32
+1
Paris Austin made 1st of 2 free throws
27-21
19:32
Paris Austin missed 2nd of 2 free throws
19:32
Defensive rebound by Dylan Smith
19:16
Personal foul on Lars Thiemann
19:10
+3
Dylan Smith made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Nico Mannion
30-21
18:55
+3
Kareem South made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Paris Austin
30-24
18:39
Zeke Nnaji missed jump shot
18:37
Defensive rebound by Kareem South
18:35
Personal foul on Josh Green
18:08
Paris Austin missed jump shot
18:06
Defensive rebound by Stone Gettings
17:40
+2
Dylan Smith made driving layup
32-24
17:40
Shooting foul on Kareem South
17:40
Dylan Smith missed free throw
17:40
Defensive rebound by Kareem South
17:20
Kareem South missed 3-pt. jump shot
17:18
Defensive rebound by Stone Gettings
17:07
Zeke Nnaji missed 3-pt. jump shot
17:05
Defensive rebound by Matt Bradley
16:43
+2
Andre Kelly made floating jump shot
32-26
16:30
Bad pass turnover on Nico Mannion, stolen by Kareem South
16:24
Kareem South missed layup
16:18
Offensive rebound by Matt Bradley
16:18
Matt Bradley missed layup
16:18
Defensive rebound by Josh Green
16:18
Shooting foul on Kareem South
16:18
Josh Green missed 1st of 2 free throws
16:02
+2
Grant Anticevich made layup, assist by Matt Bradley
33-28
16:18
+1
Josh Green made 2nd of 2 free throws
33-26
16:02
+2
Grant Anticevich made layup, assist by Matt Bradley
33-28
15:41
Personal foul on Grant Anticevich
15:41
Commercial timeout called
15:27
Max Hazzard missed 3-pt. jump shot
15:25
Defensive rebound by Joel Brown
15:08
+2
Andre Kelly made layup, assist by Matt Bradley
33-30
14:42
Traveling violation turnover on Ira Lee
14:29
Matt Bradley missed 3-pt. jump shot
14:27
Defensive rebound by Jemarl Baker Jr.
14:15
Zeke Nnaji missed reverse layup
14:13
Defensive rebound by Grant Anticevich
13:58
+2
Grant Anticevich made jump shot, assist by Joel Brown
33-32
13:52
Commercial timeout called
13:35
+2
Zeke Nnaji made driving layup
35-32
13:52
Shooting foul on Andre Kelly
13:52
Zeke Nnaji missed free throw
13:52
Defensive rebound by Matt Bradley
13:24
Bad pass turnover on Paris Austin
13:12
+2
Zeke Nnaji made fade-away jump shot, assist by Dylan Smith
37-32
12:49
Grant Anticevich missed jump shot
12:47
Defensive rebound by Dylan Smith
12:41
Personal foul on Kareem South
12:38
Nico Mannion missed 3-pt. jump shot
12:36
Defensive rebound by Andre Kelly
12:25
Personal foul on Stone Gettings
12:16
Offensive foul on Lars Thiemann
12:16
Turnover on Lars Thiemann
12:00
Jemarl Baker Jr. missed jump shot
11:58
Offensive rebound by Jemarl Baker Jr.
11:52
+3
Dylan Smith made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Jemarl Baker Jr.
40-32
11:46
30-second timeout called
11:38
Personal foul on Dylan Smith
11:38
Personal foul on Jemarl Baker Jr.
11:36
Bad pass turnover on Matt Bradley
11:32
Lost ball turnover on Dylan Smith
11:16
Kareem South missed 3-pt. jump shot
11:14
Offensive rebound by Andre Kelly
11:14
Personal foul on Dylan Smith
11:11
Kareem South missed floating jump shot
11:09
Offensive rebound by D.J. Thorpe
11:08
Shooting foul on Stone Gettings
11:08
D.J. Thorpe missed 1st of 2 free throws
11:08
D.J. Thorpe missed 2nd of 2 free throws
11:08
Defensive rebound by Josh Green
11:00
Josh Green missed driving layup
10:58
Offensive rebound by Zeke Nnaji
10:58
+2
Zeke Nnaji made dunk
42-32
10:58
Shooting foul on D.J. Thorpe
10:58
+1
Zeke Nnaji made free throw
43-32
10:48
Personal foul on Zeke Nnaji
10:48
D.J. Thorpe missed free throw
10:48
Defensive rebound by Jemarl Baker Jr.
10:37
Jemarl Baker Jr. missed floating jump shot
10:35
Defensive rebound by California
10:35
Personal foul on Zeke Nnaji
10:35
D.J. Thorpe missed free throw
10:35
Defensive rebound by Zeke Nnaji
10:17
Personal foul on D.J. Thorpe
10:17
+1
Nico Mannion made 1st of 2 free throws
44-32
10:17
+1
Nico Mannion made 2nd of 2 free throws
45-32
10:00
+3
Matt Bradley made 3-pt. jump shot
45-35
9:43
Personal foul on Andre Kelly
9:43
Zeke Nnaji missed 1st of 2 free throws
9:43
+1
Zeke Nnaji made 2nd of 2 free throws
46-35
9:23
Matt Bradley missed jump shot
9:21
Defensive rebound by Josh Green
9:10
Personal foul on Grant Anticevich
9:10
+1
Zeke Nnaji made 1st of 2 free throws
47-35
9:10
Zeke Nnaji missed 2nd of 2 free throws
9:10
Defensive rebound by California
9:09
Personal foul on Ira Lee
9:09
+1
Matt Bradley made 1st of 2 free throws
47-36
9:09
+1
Matt Bradley made 2nd of 2 free throws
47-37
8:53
Stone Gettings missed hook shot
8:51
Defensive rebound by Andre Kelly
8:37
+2
Grant Anticevich made driving layup
47-39
8:17
+2
Nico Mannion made floating jump shot
49-39
7:55
Bad pass turnover on Grant Anticevich, stolen by Nico Mannion
7:49
Josh Green missed driving layup
7:48
Offensive rebound by Stone Gettings
7:48
+2
Stone Gettings made dunk
51-39
7:38
Lars Thiemann missed hook shot, blocked by Christian Koloko
7:38
Lars Thiemann missed hook shot, blocked by Christian Koloko
7:36
Offensive rebound by California
7:34
Matt Bradley missed reverse layup, blocked by Zeke Nnaji
7:30
Offensive rebound by Matt Bradley
7:28
Kareem South missed floating jump shot, blocked by Christian Koloko
7:27
Offensive rebound by California
7:19
Paris Austin missed jump shot
7:15
Defensive rebound by Dylan Smith
6:59
+2
Zeke Nnaji made jump shot, assist by Jemarl Baker Jr.
53-39
6:44
Matt Bradley missed 3-pt. jump shot
6:42
Offensive rebound by D.J. Thorpe
6:39
Lost ball turnover on D.J. Thorpe
6:22
Offensive foul on Dylan Smith
6:22
Turnover on Dylan Smith
6:08
+2
Andre Kelly made hook shot
53-41
5:46
Nico Mannion missed 3-pt. jump shot
5:44
Defensive rebound by California
5:25
+2
Matt Bradley made floating jump shot
53-43
4:59
+3
Dylan Smith made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Zeke Nnaji
56-43
4:45
Lost ball turnover on Paris Austin, stolen by Stone Gettings
4:37
+3
Dylan Smith made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Stone Gettings
59-43
4:21
Defensive rebound by Zeke Nnaji
4:23
Kareem South missed driving layup
4:21
Defensive rebound by Zeke Nnaji
4:05
+3
Max Hazzard made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Stone Gettings
62-43
3:46
+2
Matt Bradley made jump shot
62-45
3:27
Nico Mannion missed driving layup
3:25
Defensive rebound by Matt Bradley
3:20
Lost ball turnover on Matt Bradley, stolen by Nico Mannion
3:20
Commercial timeout called
2:53
Stone Gettings missed layup
2:51
Defensive rebound by Matt Bradley
2:41
Paris Austin missed driving layup
2:39
Offensive rebound by Grant Anticevich
2:35
+2
Grant Anticevich made dunk
62-47
2:16
Personal foul on Matt Bradley
2:16
+1
Nico Mannion made 1st of 2 free throws
63-47
2:16
+1
Nico Mannion made 2nd of 2 free throws
64-47
2:11
+2
Matt Bradley made driving layup
64-49
1:41
+2
Zeke Nnaji made layup, assist by Dylan Smith
66-49
1:29
Matt Bradley missed driving layup, blocked by Zeke Nnaji
1:27
Defensive rebound by Max Hazzard
1:03
+2
Zeke Nnaji made dunk, assist by Nico Mannion
68-49
37.0
+3
Dimitrios Klonaras made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Joel Brown