Boswell scores 18, No. 12 Arizona dominates Morgan State 122-59 in season opener
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) Arizona's roster is filled with new players from other programs, high school and overseas.
As first tests go, the Wildcats certainly passed.
Kylan Boswell scored 18 points, Pelle Larsson added 15 and No. 12 Arizona opened coach Tommy Lloyd's third season with a 122-59 demolition of Morgan State on Monday night.
“We have a lot of guys who have never worn an Arizona jersey so we really want to hammer home what our standards are,” Lloyd said. “And I think for the most part, our guys check those boxes."
The Wildcats dominated after an early feeling-out period, using two big runs to build a 35-point halftime lead, their largest since 1998. Arizona shot 55% from the floor, had a 58-20 advantage in the paint and scored 41 points off Morgan State's 25 turnovers.
Caleb Love had 12 points in his Arizona debut and freshman KJ Lewis had five of Arizona's 16 steals in a solid defensive effort. Arizona also had eight players score in double figures and just seven turnovers in its 23rd straight home-opening win.
Christian Oliver led Morgan State with 12 points.
“We have strength in numbers,” said Arizona forward Keshad Johnson, who had 14 points. “When it comes to March and April, that's what you need.”
Arizona lost several key players from a team that lost to Princeton in the first round of last year's NCAA Tournament, including leading scorer Azuolas Tubelis, point guard Kerr Kriisa and 7-footer Christian Koloko.
Larsson, Boswell and Oumar Ballo anchor the returning core and Lloyd filled in the rest of the roster with freshmen and transfers, including Love and Johnson from San Diego State.
The Bears had no answer no matter who Arizona had on the floor.
Morgan State kept it close early before the Wildcats ran away on runs of 15-2 and 18-3. Arizona harassed the Bears into 15 first-half turnovers - leading to 22 transition points - and dominated the paint to lead 61-26 at halftime.
The Bears added to their turnover problem by taking numerous wild shots that were nowhere near going in.
The Wildcats didn't let up to open the second half, creating turnovers that led to transition points during a 15-2 run that made it 76-30. Ballo, Arizona's 7-foot, 260-pound center, punctuated the run with a steal and breakaway dunk.
“It went really well,” Boswell said. “Everyone played well, the coaching staff had a great game plan, played hard, played with great effort. Great game.”
BIG PICTURE
Morgan State: The Bears were no match for Arizona's size and athleticism in an expected loss at one of college basketball's toughest road environments.
Arizona: The Wildcats did what they were supposed to against a small conference opponent, showing off their depth and athleticism to win their 17th straight season opener. A bigger test comes Friday, when they head to Cameron Indoor Stadium to face No. 2 Duke.
BOSWELL’S IMPACT
Boswell was in control from the start.
The 6-foot-2 guard played with loads of confidence as a 17-year-old freshman backup to Kriisa last season. With Kriisa now playing for West Virginia, the offensive reigns were Boswell’s - and he flourished.
Pulling up on the perimeter and beating his man off the dribble, Boswell had 11 first-half points as Arizona built it’s big lead. He finished 7 for 10 from the floor and 4 of 6 from 3.
UP NEXT
Morgan State: Hosts Cheyney University of Pennsylvania on Thursday.
Arizona: Plays at No. 2 Duke on Friday.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
20:00 | Christian Oliver vs. Oumar Ballo (Kylan Boswell gains possession) | |||
19:47 | Pelle Larsson misses two point jump shot | |||
19:45 | Wynston Tabbs defensive rebound | |||
19:30 | Wynston Tabbs misses three point jump shot | |||
19:28 | Caleb Love defensive rebound | |||
19:19 | Caleb Love misses three point jump shot | |||
19:17 | Kylan Boswell offensive rebound | |||
19:13 | +3 | Kylan Boswell makes three point jump shot | 0-3 | |
18:50 | Ahmarie Simpkins offensive foul (Pelle Larsson draws the foul) | |||
18:50 | Ahmarie Simpkins turnover (offensive foul) | |||
18:42 | +3 | Pelle Larsson makes three point jump shot (Caleb Love assists) | 0-6 | |
18:20 | +2 | Myles Thompson makes two point pullup jump shot (Kamron Hobbs assists) | 2-6 | |
18:07 | +2 | Oumar Ballo makes two point layup (Caleb Love assists) | 2-8 | |
17:54 | Wynston Tabbs turnover (bad pass) (Keshad Johnson steals) | |||
17:49 | Keshad Johnson turnover (lost ball) | |||
17:34 | +3 | Wynston Tabbs makes three point jump shot (Ahmarie Simpkins assists) | 5-8 | |
17:16 | Myles Thompson shooting foul (Keshad Johnson draws the foul) | |||
17:16 | +1 | Keshad Johnson makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 5-9 | |
17:16 | Keshad Johnson misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
17:16 | Oumar Ballo offensive rebound | |||
17:10 | +2 | Oumar Ballo makes two point dunk (Caleb Love assists) | 5-11 | |
16:45 | Christian Oliver misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | |||
16:43 | Kylan Boswell defensive rebound | |||
16:39 | Kylan Boswell turnover (bad pass) (Ahmarie Simpkins steals) | |||
16:30 | +3 | Kamron Hobbs makes three point jump shot | 8-11 | |
16:25 | Kylan Boswell misses three point jump shot | |||
16:23 | Caleb Love offensive rebound | |||
16:20 | Caleb Love misses three point jump shot | |||
16:18 | Wynston Tabbs defensive rebound | |||
16:13 | Wynston Tabbs turnover (lost ball) (Pelle Larsson steals) | |||
16:05 | +2 | Caleb Love makes two point layup | 8-13 | |
15:51 | +2 | Christian Oliver makes two point jump shot | 10-13 | |
15:35 | Oumar Ballo misses two point layup | |||
15:33 | Keshad Johnson offensive rebound | |||
15:28 | Keshad Johnson misses two point layup | |||
15:26 | Christian Oliver defensive rebound | |||
15:25 | Wynston Tabbs misses three point jump shot | |||
15:23 | Oumar Ballo defensive rebound | |||
15:16 | Ahmarie Simpkins shooting foul (Pelle Larsson draws the foul) | |||
15:16 | TV timeout | |||
15:16 | +1 | Pelle Larsson makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 10-14 | |
15:16 | +1 | Pelle Larsson makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 10-15 | |
14:56 | Myles Thompson misses three point jump shot | |||
14:54 | Christian Oliver offensive rebound | |||
14:48 | Kamron Hobbs misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
14:46 | Oumar Ballo defensive rebound | |||
14:40 | Christian Oliver shooting foul (Pelle Larsson draws the foul) | |||
14:40 | +1 | Pelle Larsson makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 10-16 | |
14:40 | +1 | Pelle Larsson makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 10-17 | |
14:14 | Will Thomas turnover (lost ball) (KJ Lewis steals) | |||
14:12 | Kiran Oliver personal foul (KJ Lewis draws the foul) | |||
14:04 | Trent Edwards personal foul (Oumar Ballo draws the foul) | |||
14:02 | Kiran Oliver blocks Caleb Love's three point jump shot | |||
14:00 | Wildcats offensive rebound | |||
13:55 | +3 | Caleb Love makes three point jump shot (Jaden Bradley assists) | 10-20 | |
13:31 | Kamron Hobbs misses two point jump shot | |||
13:29 | KJ Lewis defensive rebound | |||
13:24 | +2 | Pelle Larsson makes two point layup (KJ Lewis assists) | 10-22 | |
13:24 | Bears 30 second timeout | |||
13:16 | Demajion Topps turnover (bad pass) (KJ Lewis steals) | |||
13:10 | +2 | Jaden Bradley makes two point reverse layup (KJ Lewis assists) | 10-24 | |
12:52 | +2 | Demajion Topps makes two point driving layup | 12-24 | |
12:52 | Jaden Bradley shooting foul (Demajion Topps draws the foul) | |||
12:52 | Demajion Topps misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | |||
12:52 | Motiejus Krivas defensive rebound | |||
12:29 | +2 | Kylan Boswell makes two point layup (KJ Lewis assists) | 12-26 | |
12:06 | KJ Lewis personal foul | |||
11:57 | Demajion Topps misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
11:55 | KJ Lewis defensive rebound | |||
11:49 | Will Thomas personal foul (Motiejus Krivas draws the foul) | |||
11:49 | TV timeout | |||
11:49 | +1 | Motiejus Krivas makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 12-27 | |
11:49 | Wynston Tabbs turnover (lane violation) | |||
11:49 | +1 | Motiejus Krivas makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 12-28 | |
11:27 | +3 | Christian Oliver makes three point jump shot (Wynston Tabbs assists) | 15-28 | |
11:13 | Kamron Hobbs personal foul (Keshad Johnson draws the foul) | |||
11:13 | Keshad Johnson misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | |||
11:13 | Will Thomas defensive rebound | |||
10:57 | Will Thomas misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
10:55 | KJ Lewis defensive rebound | |||
10:46 | Keshad Johnson offensive foul | |||
10:46 | Keshad Johnson turnover (offensive foul) | |||
10:37 | Christian Oliver misses three point jump shot | |||
10:35 | Jaden Bradley defensive rebound | |||
10:19 | +3 | Kylan Boswell makes three point stepback jump shot | 15-31 | |
10:00 | Kevon Wiggins turnover (lost ball) | |||
9:49 | Jaden Bradley misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
9:47 | Will Thomas defensive rebound | |||
9:43 | Filip Borovicanin personal foul | |||
9:32 | Wynston Tabbs turnover (lost ball) (Keshad Johnson steals) | |||
9:19 | Motiejus Krivas misses two point jump shot | |||
9:17 | Keshad Johnson offensive rebound | |||
9:08 | Keshad Johnson misses two point layup | |||
9:06 | Filip Borovicanin offensive rebound | |||
9:02 | +3 | Kylan Boswell makes three point jump shot (Filip Borovicanin assists) | 15-34 | |
8:49 | Will Thomas misses two point fadeaway jump shot | |||
8:47 | Motiejus Krivas defensive rebound | |||
8:33 | +2 | Keshad Johnson makes two point dunk (Motiejus Krivas assists) | 15-36 | |
8:03 | Wynston Tabbs turnover (lost ball) | |||
7:50 | Keshad Johnson misses three point jump shot | |||
7:48 | Filip Borovicanin offensive rebound | |||
7:47 | Allen Udemadu shooting foul (Filip Borovicanin draws the foul) | |||
7:47 | TV timeout | |||
7:47 | +1 | Filip Borovicanin makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 15-37 | |
7:47 | +1 | Filip Borovicanin makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 15-38 | |
7:30 | +3 | Myles Thompson makes three point jump shot (Allen Udemadu assists) | 18-38 | |
7:12 | Filip Borovicanin misses three point jump shot | |||
7:10 | Bears defensive rebound | |||
6:57 | Kylan Boswell personal foul | |||
6:46 | Paulius Murauskas personal foul | |||
6:39 | +3 | Myles Thompson makes three point jump shot (Trent Edwards assists) | 21-38 | |
6:22 | Paulius Murauskas misses three point jump shot | |||
6:20 | Caleb Love offensive rebound | |||
6:19 | Kiran Oliver shooting foul (Caleb Love draws the foul) | |||
6:19 | +1 | Caleb Love makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 21-39 | |
6:19 | +1 | Caleb Love makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 21-40 | |
6:03 | +2 | Demajion Topps makes two point layup | 23-40 | |
5:50 | Kylan Boswell misses two point driving layup | |||
5:48 | Oumar Ballo offensive rebound | |||
5:42 | +2 | Oumar Ballo makes two point putback dunk | 23-42 | |
5:35 | Allen Udemadu turnover (bad pass) (Oumar Ballo steals) | |||
5:26 | +3 | Caleb Love makes three point jump shot (Pelle Larsson assists) | 23-45 | |
5:03 | Trent Edwards misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
5:01 | Pelle Larsson defensive rebound | |||
4:58 | Kiran Oliver shooting foul (Pelle Larsson draws the foul) | |||
4:58 | +1 | Pelle Larsson makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 23-46 | |
4:58 | +1 | Pelle Larsson makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 23-47 | |
4:37 | Caleb Love blocks Wynston Tabbs's three point jump shot | |||
4:35 | Myles Thompson offensive rebound | |||
4:34 | Oumar Ballo shooting foul (Myles Thompson draws the foul) | |||
4:34 | Myles Thompson misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
4:34 | +1 | Myles Thompson makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 24-47 | |
4:04 | Caleb Love misses three point jump shot | |||
4:02 | Myles Thompson defensive rebound | |||
3:48 | Wynston Tabbs misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
3:46 | Kylan Boswell defensive rebound | |||
3:40 | +2 | Pelle Larsson makes two point layup (Kylan Boswell assists) | 24-49 | |
3:19 | +2 | Wynston Tabbs makes two point floating jump shot | 26-49 | |
3:10 | Daniel Akitoby blocks Oumar Ballo's two point layup | |||
3:08 | Myles Thompson defensive rebound | |||
3:02 | Myles Thompson offensive foul | |||
3:02 | Myles Thompson turnover (offensive foul) | |||
3:02 | TV timeout | |||
2:45 | Christian Oliver shooting foul (Caleb Love draws the foul) | |||
2:45 | +1 | Caleb Love makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 26-50 | |
2:45 | +1 | Caleb Love makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 26-51 | |
2:27 | Wynston Tabbs turnover (lost ball) (KJ Lewis steals) | |||
2:22 | KJ Lewis misses two point layup | |||
2:20 | Keshad Johnson offensive rebound | |||
2:19 | +2 | Keshad Johnson makes two point putback dunk | 26-53 | |
2:10 | Keshad Johnson blocks Will Thomas's two point layup | |||
2:08 | KJ Lewis defensive rebound | |||
1:55 | +2 | Motiejus Krivas makes two point layup (Jaden Bradley assists) | 26-55 | |
1:55 | Allen Udemadu shooting foul (Motiejus Krivas draws the foul) | |||
1:55 | +1 | Motiejus Krivas makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 26-56 | |
1:47 | Daniel Akitoby turnover (lost ball) (Keshad Johnson steals) | |||
1:40 | Daniel Akitoby shooting foul (Keshad Johnson draws the foul) | |||
1:40 | +1 | Keshad Johnson makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 26-57 | |
1:40 | +1 | Keshad Johnson makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 26-58 | |
1:28 | Will Thomas misses three point jump shot | |||
1:26 | Daniel Akitoby offensive rebound | |||
1:26 | Motiejus Krivas blocks Daniel Akitoby's two point layup | |||
1:24 | Bears offensive rebound | |||
1:18 | Kevon Wiggins turnover (KJ Lewis steals) | |||
1:10 | Jaden Bradley misses two point layup | |||
1:08 | Demajion Topps defensive rebound | |||
1:03 | Keshad Johnson blocks Demajion Topps's two point layup | |||
1:01 | Bears offensive rebound | |||
0:54 | Kevon Wiggins misses two point cutting layup | |||
0:52 | Keshad Johnson defensive rebound | |||
0:44 | Demajion Topps personal foul (Motiejus Krivas draws the foul) | |||
0:44 | +1 | Motiejus Krivas makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 26-59 | |
0:44 | Motiejus Krivas misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
0:44 | Wildcats offensive rebound | |||
0:32 | Daniel Akitoby blocks Motiejus Krivas's two point layup | |||
0:30 | Keshad Johnson offensive rebound | |||
0:26 | +2 | Keshad Johnson makes two point dunk | 26-61 | |
0:04 | Kamron Hobbs turnover (bad pass) | |||
0:02 | Jaden Bradley misses two point driving layup | |||
0:00 | Motiejus Krivas offensive rebound | |||
0:00 | End of period |