Koloko, Arizona overpower Wright State in NCAA 1st round
SAN DIEGO (AP) Christian Koloko scored 17 points, grabbed 13 rebounds and keyed a second-half surge for top-seeded Arizona, which beat No. 16 Wright State 87-70 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday night.
Bennedict Mathurin scored 18 points and Dalen Terry had 16 for the Wildcats (32-3), who were cheered on by thousands of red-clad fans who made the drive from Tucson. Arizona won its seventh straight game and earned its first NCAA Tournament win since beating Saint Mary's in the second round in 2017.
First-year coach Tommy Lloyd has Arizona in the NCAAs for the first time since 2018. While he has plenty of NCAA Tournament experience after working on Gonzaga's staff from 2001-21, this was the March Madness debut for his players.
''It feels amazing,'' said Koloko, who also had six assists and five blocked shots. ''You come to Arizona to play in the NCAA Tournament. This is my third year. And this is my first time playing in this tournament. I hope we'll get the win on Sunday, too.''
Arizona advanced to the second round on Sunday to face No. 9 seed TCU, which beat No. 8 seed Seton Hall 69-42.
While the Wildcats certainly noticed the large contingent of their fans, Lloyd said it also felt ''like a pretty calm atmosphere. As you get further into this tournament you feel more like you're playing a home or a road game, which is what we're used to. It felt a little like a neutral environment in there today. Just having these guys get a good feel for that is a good deal and a good experience going forward.''
Grant Basile scored 21 points and Trey Calvin had 16 for Wright State (22-14), which beat Bryant 93-82 in a First Four game not far from its campus in Dayton, Ohio, on Wednesday night. The Raiders took a redeye flight to San Diego after their first NCAA Tournament victory.
Arizona led by 16 points late in the first half and was up 42-31 at halftime before the undersized Raiders - a 21 1/2-point underdog, according to FanDuel Sportsbook - pulled within 49-42 on a 3-pointer and a three-point play from Basile.
That woke up the Wildcats, who responded with a 15-2 run keyed by Koloko. The 7-foot-1 center from Cameroon had seven points in the run, including an alley-oop dunk, a hook shot and three free throws. Koloko, who had only four points in the first half, had two dunks in the final minutes of the game.
''I thought we came out well,'' Lloyd said. ''I was on them all week to come out aggressive, let it rip. Have some fun. First open 3, shoot it to make it. But then after that initial wave, maybe that first emotional hit, you kind of hit a little bit of a lull and they wake up a little bit and you end up in a ballgame.''
Arizona committed 19 turnovers.
''In terms of our defense we had to be tight,'' Wright State coach Scott Nagy said. ''We forced them into a lot of turnovers. We had to hope they'd miss more shots. And they shot the ball well.''
QUOTABLE
''I mean, it's good to get the result,'' Lloyd said. ''We were excited to play. It's a great opportunity. And the seed, I don't think it should add any pressure. It might, but I don't think it should because it's just a reward for having a great regular season and conference tournament.''
INJURY UPDATE
Wildcats junior point guard Kerr Kriisa warmed up but didn't play. Lloyd had left open the possibility of Kriisa not starting and playing limited minutes.
Kriisa suffered a nasty sprained ankle when he collided with Koloko in the final minute against Stanford in the Pac-12 Tournament quarterfinals on March 10. He was helped off the court and was in a wheelchair when the team headed to the bus.
BIG PICTURE
Wright State also got 15 points from Tim Finke. Tanner Holden was held to 12 points after scoring 37 points and clearing 11 rebounds in the First Four game.
Arizona was back in action for the first time since an impressive run through the Pac-12 Tournament, capped by a big comeback win over UCLA. Arizona also won the regular-season title.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
20:00 | Â | Grant Basile vs. Christian Koloko (Justin Kier gains possession) | Â | |
19:41 | +2 | Dalen Terry makes two point floating jump shot (Christian Koloko assists) | 0-2 | |
19:24 | Â | Trey Calvin misses two point floating jump shot | Â | |
19:22 | Â | Azuolas Tubelis defensive rebound | Â | |
19:18 | Â | Justin Kier turnover (traveling) | Â | |
19:01 | Â | AJ Braun misses two point hook shot | Â | |
18:59 | Â | Christian Koloko defensive rebound | Â | |
18:40 | +2 | Azuolas Tubelis makes two point turnaround hook shot | 0-4 | |
18:15 | +2 | Grant Basile makes two point driving hook shot | 2-4 | |
18:07 | Â | Azuolas Tubelis misses three point jump shot | Â | |
18:05 | Â | Grant Basile defensive rebound | Â | |
17:49 | Â | Christian Koloko blocks Grant Basile's two point fadeaway jump shot | Â | |
17:47 | Â | Justin Kier defensive rebound | Â | |
17:36 | +2 | Dalen Terry makes two point dunk (Justin Kier assists) | 2-6 | |
17:26 | Â | Tim Finke misses two point jump shot | Â | |
17:24 | Â | Bennedict Mathurin defensive rebound | Â | |
17:15 | +3 | Justin Kier makes three point jump shot (Dalen Terry assists) | 2-9 | |
16:57 | +3 | Tim Finke makes three point jump shot (Trey Calvin assists) | 5-9 | |
16:46 | Â | Bennedict Mathurin misses three point jump shot | Â | |
16:44 | Â | Dalen Terry offensive rebound | Â | |
16:39 | +2 | Dalen Terry makes two point floating jump shot | 5-11 | |
16:27 | Â | Trey Calvin misses two point layup | Â | |
16:25 | Â | Bennedict Mathurin defensive rebound | Â | |
16:23 | +2 | Azuolas Tubelis makes two point layup (Justin Kier assists) | 5-13 | |
16:23 | Â | Tanner Holden shooting foul (Azuolas Tubelis draws the foul) | Â | |
16:24 | Â | Azuolas Tubelis misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | Â | |
16:24 | Â | Grant Basile defensive rebound | Â | |
15:56 | Â | Trey Calvin misses two point floating jump shot | Â | |
15:54 | Â | Christian Koloko defensive rebound | Â | |
15:44 | +3 | Bennedict Mathurin makes three point floating jump shot (Christian Koloko assists) | 5-16 | |
15:17 | Â | Tim Finke misses three point jump shot | Â | |
15:15 | Â | Grant Basile offensive rebound | Â | |
15:11 | Â | TV timeout | Â | |
15:04 | Â | Dalen Terry blocks Tanner Holden's two point layup | Â | |
15:02 | Â | Christian Koloko defensive rebound | Â | |
14:58 | Â | Bennedict Mathurin turnover (bad pass) | Â | |
14:45 | Â | Grant Basile misses three point jump shot | Â | |
14:43 | Â | Azuolas Tubelis defensive rebound | Â | |
14:35 | Â | Azuolas Tubelis turnover (bad pass) (Grant Basile steals) | Â | |
14:27 | Â | Grant Basile misses two point driving layup | Â | |
14:25 | Â | Christian Koloko defensive rebound | Â | |
14:12 | +2 | Azuolas Tubelis makes two point jump shot | 5-18 | |
13:58 | Â | Tim Finke misses three point jump shot | Â | |
13:56 | Â | Bennedict Mathurin defensive rebound | Â | |
13:49 | Â | Bennedict Mathurin misses three point jump shot | Â | |
13:47 | Â | Tim Finke defensive rebound | Â | |
13:39 | +2 | Trey Calvin makes two point fadeaway jump shot | 7-18 | |
13:39 | Â | Azuolas Tubelis shooting foul (Trey Calvin draws the foul) | Â | |
13:39 | Â | Trey Calvin misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | Â | |
13:39 | Â | Pelle Larsson defensive rebound | Â | |
13:20 | +3 | Pelle Larsson makes three point jump shot (Dalen Terry assists) | 7-21 | |
13:01 | +3 | Keaton Norris makes three point jump shot (Tim Finke assists) | 10-21 | |
12:50 | Â | Azuolas Tubelis turnover (bad pass) | Â | |
12:39 | Â | Grant Basile misses two point hook shot | Â | |
12:37 | Â | Wildcats defensive rebound | Â | |
12:37 | Â | AJ Braun personal foul (Azuolas Tubelis draws the foul) | Â | |
12:26 | Â | Bennedict Mathurin offensive foul (Keaton Norris draws the foul) | Â | |
12:26 | Â | Bennedict Mathurin turnover | Â | |
12:14 | Â | Azuolas Tubelis shooting foul (AJ Braun draws the foul) | Â | |
12:14 | Â | AJ Braun misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | Â | |
12:14 | Â | AJ Braun misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | Â | |
12:14 | Â | Pelle Larsson defensive rebound | Â | |
12:01 | +2 | Christian Koloko makes two point dunk (Dalen Terry assists) | 10-23 | |
11:40 | Â | Justin Kier personal foul (Keaton Norris draws the foul) | Â | |
11:40 | Â | TV timeout | Â | |
11:30 | +2 | Trey Calvin makes two point pullup jump shot | 12-23 | |
11:20 | Â | Christian Koloko turnover (bad pass) (Grant Basile steals) | Â | |
10:59 | +3 | Trey Calvin makes three point jump shot (Tim Finke assists) | 15-23 | |
10:41 | +3 | Pelle Larsson makes three point jump shot (Christian Koloko assists) | 15-26 | |
10:27 | Â | Christian Koloko shooting foul (Tanner Holden draws the foul) | Â | |
10:26 | +1 | Tanner Holden makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 16-26 | |
10:26 | +1 | Tanner Holden makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 17-26 | |
10:18 | Â | Pelle Larsson turnover (traveling) | Â | |
9:54 | Â | Oumar Ballo blocks Grant Basile's two point layup | Â | |
9:52 | Â | Tanner Holden offensive rebound | Â | |
9:52 | Â | Oumar Ballo blocks Tanner Holden's two point putback layup | Â | |
9:50 | Â | Raiders offensive rebound | Â | |
9:46 | Â | Christian Koloko blocks Tanner Holden's two point jump shot | Â | |
9:44 | Â | Christian Koloko defensive rebound | Â | |
9:38 | Â | Trey Calvin personal foul (Pelle Larsson draws the foul) | Â | |
9:28 | +2 | Bennedict Mathurin makes two point reverse layup (Christian Koloko assists) | 17-28 | |
9:01 | Â | Oumar Ballo blocks Tanner Holden's two point layup | Â | |
8:59 | Â | Christian Koloko defensive rebound | Â | |
8:46 | Â | Justin Kier turnover (bad pass) (Tim Finke steals) | Â | |
8:26 | Â | Trey Calvin turnover (bad pass) (Justin Kier steals) | Â | |
8:17 | Â | Justin Kier turnover (bad pass) | Â | |
8:03 | Â | Trey Calvin misses two point jump shot | Â | |
8:01 | Â | Dalen Terry defensive rebound | Â | |
7:48 | Â | Bennedict Mathurin misses two point jump shot | Â | |
7:46 | Â | Christian Koloko offensive rebound | Â | |
7:42 | Â | Pelle Larsson turnover (bad pass) | Â | |
7:42 | Â | TV timeout | Â | |
7:22 | Â | Tanner Holden turnover (bad pass) (Dalen Terry steals) | Â | |
7:15 | +2 | Dalen Terry makes two point dunk | 17-30 | |
7:06 | Â | Pelle Larsson shooting foul (Trey Calvin draws the foul) | Â | |
7:06 | +1 | Trey Calvin makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 18-30 | |
7:06 | +1 | Trey Calvin makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 19-30 | |
6:56 | Â | Pelle Larsson misses two point layup | Â | |
6:54 | Â | Dalen Terry offensive rebound | Â | |
6:47 | +2 | Adama Bal makes two point jump shot | 19-32 | |
6:36 | Â | Keaton Norris misses two point pullup jump shot | Â | |
6:34 | Â | Wildcats defensive rebound | Â | |
6:21 | Â | Bennedict Mathurin misses three point jump shot | Â | |
6:19 | Â | Tim Finke defensive rebound | Â | |
6:14 | +2 | Tim Finke makes two point driving jump shot | 21-32 | |
5:50 | +3 | Justin Kier makes three point jump shot (Christian Koloko assists) | 21-35 | |
5:36 | Â | Grant Basile misses three point jump shot | Â | |
5:34 | Â | Dalen Terry defensive rebound | Â | |
5:14 | +2 | Christian Koloko makes two point dunk (Justin Kier assists) | 21-37 | |
5:03 | Â | Grant Basile misses three point jump shot | Â | |
5:01 | Â | Dalen Terry defensive rebound | Â | |
4:52 | Â | Tanner Holden personal foul (Dalen Terry draws the foul) | Â | |
4:46 | Â | Bennedict Mathurin misses two point floating jump shot | Â | |
4:44 | Â | Trey Calvin defensive rebound | Â | |
4:34 | +3 | Tim Finke makes three point jump shot (Keaton Norris assists) | 24-37 | |
4:16 | +3 | Bennedict Mathurin makes three point jump shot (Oumar Ballo assists) | 24-40 | |
4:02 | +2 | Trey Calvin makes two point driving layup | 26-40 | |
3:50 | +2 | Adama Bal makes two point pullup jump shot (Oumar Ballo assists) | 26-42 | |
3:29 | Â | TV timeout | Â | |
3:19 | +2 | Grant Basile makes two point hook shot | 28-42 | |
3:02 | Â | Trey Calvin personal foul (Dalen Terry draws the foul) | Â | |
2:55 | Â | Bennedict Mathurin misses three point jump shot | Â | |
2:53 | Â | Keaton Norris defensive rebound | Â | |
2:44 | Â | Keaton Norris misses three point jump shot | Â | |
2:42 | Â | Pelle Larsson defensive rebound | Â | |
2:23 | Â | Bennedict Mathurin misses two point jump shot | Â | |
2:21 | Â | Keaton Norris defensive rebound | Â | |
2:15 | Â | Andrew Welage misses three point jump shot | Â | |
2:13 | Â | Wildcats defensive rebound | Â | |
1:43 | Â | Grant Basile blocks Pelle Larsson's two point reverse layup | Â | |
1:41 | Â | Pelle Larsson offensive rebound | Â | |
1:34 | Â | Pelle Larsson misses two point jump shot | Â | |
1:32 | Â | Keaton Norris defensive rebound | Â | |
1:21 | +3 | Trey Calvin makes three point jump shot (Grant Basile assists) | 31-42 | |
1:15 | Â | Grant Basile blocks Adama Bal's two point layup | Â | |
1:13 | Â | Keaton Norris defensive rebound | Â | |
1:02 | Â | Trey Calvin misses two point jump shot | Â | |
1:00 | Â | Bennedict Mathurin defensive rebound | Â | |
0:43 | Â | Keaton Norris personal foul (Adama Bal draws the foul) | Â | |
0:29 | Â | Pelle Larsson misses three point jump shot | Â | |
0:27 | Â | Tim Finke defensive rebound | Â | |
0:20 | Â | Raiders 30 second timeout | Â | |
0:00 | Â | Trey Calvin misses two point floating jump shot | Â | |
0:01 | Â | Raiders offensive rebound | Â | |
0:00 | Â | End of period | Â |