No. 4 Arizona rides massive second-half run to beat Alabama 87-74
PHOENIX (AP) Arizona and Alabama traded missed shots and turnovers, neither able to get much of an offensive flow in an unfamiliar arena.
The Wildcats turned up the defensive pressure in the second half, sparking the offense in a run that changed the game.
Oumar Ballo had 16 points and 12 rebounds, Pelle Larsson added 16 points and No. 4 Arizona used a massive second-half run to beat Alabama 87-74 on Wednesday night in the Jerry Colangelo Hall of Fame Series.
“There’s ups and downs and you got to be able to weather those, you’ve got to be able to ride them out,” Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd said. “You got to be able to change the course and I thought our guys did an incredible job in the style we play.”
Two of the nation's top three scoring teams engaged in a surprising defensive battle, trading missed shots and turnovers.
With Arizona fans making the Footprint Center sound like McKale Center West, the Wildcats (9-1) had them roaring with a 19-3 run to take a 10-point lead midway through the second half.
“This was a home game for us,” Ballo said. “Everywhere we play, Arizona fans show up and they showed up for us tonight.”
Caleb Love scored nine straight points to put Arizona up 84-72 and help the team avoid losing consecutive games for the first time in three seasons under Lloyd. The Wildcats lost by eight to top-ranked Purdue on Saturday.
The Crimson Tide (6-5) arrived in the desert at the end of a brutal stretch of three games against top-10 teams for the first time in program history. Alabama failed in the first two, losing by six to Purdue and by three to No. 12 Creighton.
Poor shooting doomed the Tide in the third.
Alabama shot 34% and went 8 for 40 from the 3-point arc, exacerbating it with 18 turnovers that led to 26 Arizona points. Grant Nelson had 17 points and Sam Walters 15 to lead the Crimson Tide.
“We didn't shoot it particularly well and we turned it over too much,” Alabama coach Nate Oats said. “Their physicality bothered us. They're a tough, physical team.”
Two teams that average more than 92 points per game started out shooting like they were playing on bent rims, going a combined 4 of 26 from the floor.
Alabama started 3 of 19 and missed 11 straight shots at one point. Arizona missed its first eight shots, needing more than five minutes to hit its first.
The teams started to find the range after that - at least inside.
Alabama went 3 of 22 from and Arizona was only slightly better, hitting 3 of 12 from 3 to lead 41-40 at halftime.
“We couldn't get it down low, their guards did a good job of keeping us out of the lane,” Oats said. “We got 40 3s. We need to make more of them.”
TOMMY’S TECHNICAL
Lloyd is known for keeping his composure, repeatedly saying a technical foul would do nothing but hurt his team.
He couldn’t help himself midway through the first half, picking up the first technical of his career when guard Kylan Boswell got crushed while diving for a loose ball.
“I didn’t say anything, but he said maybe I looked at our head of officials,” Lloyd said. “Getting a technical isn’t something I aspire to do, but we’ll move on.”
BIG PICTURE
Alabama: The Crimson Tide had a hard time hitting open shots in the first half and succumbed to Arizona's defensive pressure in the second to finish 0-3 against three straight top 10 teams.
Arizona: The Wildcats were not at their best against Alabama's length, shooting 43%. They made up for it with defense and free-throw shooting, hitting 27 of 37 from the line.
UP NEXT
Alabama: Hosts Eastern Kentucky on Saturday.
Arizona: Faces No. 14 Florida Atlantic in Las Vegas on Saturday.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
20:00 | Mohamed Wague vs. Oumar Ballo (Rylan Griffen gains possession) | |||
19:31 | +2 | Aaron Estrada makes two point layup | 2-0 | |
19:10 | Keshad Johnson misses three point jump shot | |||
19:08 | Aaron Estrada defensive rebound | |||
19:05 | Aaron Estrada misses two point jump shot | |||
19:03 | Mohamed Wague offensive rebound | |||
18:59 | Mohamed Wague misses two point layup | |||
18:57 | Mohamed Wague offensive rebound | |||
18:54 | Caleb Love shooting foul (Mohamed Wague draws the foul) | |||
18:54 | +1 | Mohamed Wague makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 3-0 | |
18:54 | +1 | Mohamed Wague makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 4-0 | |
18:40 | Oumar Ballo turnover (bad pass) (Grant Nelson steals) | |||
18:28 | Grant Nelson misses three point jump shot | |||
18:26 | Mohamed Wague offensive rebound | |||
18:09 | Pelle Larsson blocks Mark Sears's two point layup | |||
18:07 | Pelle Larsson defensive rebound | |||
17:50 | Mohamed Wague blocks Oumar Ballo's two point layup | |||
17:48 | Grant Nelson defensive rebound | |||
17:42 | +2 | Grant Nelson makes two point layup | 6-0 | |
17:29 | Pelle Larsson misses three point jump shot | |||
17:27 | Rylan Griffen defensive rebound | |||
17:21 | Grant Nelson misses three point jump shot | |||
17:19 | Mark Sears offensive rebound | |||
17:14 | +3 | Aaron Estrada makes three point jump shot (Mark Sears assists) | 9-0 | |
17:00 | Kylan Boswell misses two point jump shot | |||
16:58 | Grant Nelson defensive rebound | |||
16:52 | Aaron Estrada misses three point jump shot | |||
16:50 | Mark Sears offensive rebound | |||
16:47 | Grant Nelson misses two point layup | |||
16:45 | Caleb Love defensive rebound | |||
16:41 | Mark Sears blocks Caleb Love's two point layup | |||
16:39 | Rylan Griffen defensive rebound | |||
16:30 | Grant Nelson misses three point jump shot | |||
16:28 | Oumar Ballo defensive rebound | |||
16:18 | Grant Nelson shooting foul (Caleb Love draws the foul) | |||
16:18 | +1 | Caleb Love makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 9-1 | |
16:18 | +1 | Caleb Love makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 9-2 | |
16:14 | Mark Sears misses three point jump shot | |||
16:12 | Nick Pringle offensive rebound | |||
16:08 | Jarin Stevenson misses three point jump shot | |||
16:06 | Caleb Love defensive rebound | |||
15:41 | Motiejus Krivas misses two point layup | |||
15:39 | Motiejus Krivas offensive rebound | |||
15:34 | Motiejus Krivas turnover (lost ball) (Nick Pringle steals) | |||
15:27 | Jarin Stevenson misses three point jump shot | |||
15:25 | Nick Pringle offensive rebound | |||
15:14 | TV timeout | |||
15:09 | Latrell Wrightsell Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
15:07 | Caleb Love defensive rebound | |||
15:04 | Caleb Love turnover (bad pass) (Mark Sears steals) | |||
14:57 | Sam Walters misses three point jump shot | |||
14:55 | Motiejus Krivas defensive rebound | |||
14:50 | +2 | Keshad Johnson makes two point layup (Motiejus Krivas assists) | 9-4 | |
14:33 | Jarin Stevenson misses three point jump shot | |||
14:31 | Kylan Boswell defensive rebound | |||
14:19 | Caleb Love misses three point jump shot | |||
14:17 | Keshad Johnson offensive rebound | |||
14:07 | KJ Lewis misses three point jump shot | |||
14:05 | Nick Pringle defensive rebound | |||
13:55 | Keshad Johnson shooting foul (Sam Walters draws the foul) | |||
13:55 | +1 | Sam Walters makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 10-4 | |
13:55 | +1 | Sam Walters makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 11-4 | |
13:45 | Nick Pringle personal foul (Oumar Ballo draws the foul) | |||
13:36 | Caleb Love turnover (bad pass) (Latrell Wrightsell Jr. steals) | |||
13:30 | Latrell Wrightsell Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
13:28 | KJ Lewis defensive rebound | |||
13:23 | +2 | Jaden Bradley makes two point layup | 11-6 | |
13:03 | Caleb Love personal foul | |||
12:47 | Aaron Estrada misses three point jump shot | |||
12:45 | Wildcats defensive rebound | |||
12:30 | Kylan Boswell turnover (out of bounds) | |||
12:19 | Jarin Stevenson offensive foul | |||
12:19 | Jarin Stevenson turnover (offensive foul) | |||
12:11 | +2 | Oumar Ballo makes two point dunk (KJ Lewis assists) | 11-8 | |
12:02 | +2 | Rylan Griffen makes two point alley-oop dunk (Aaron Estrada assists) | 13-8 | |
11:51 | Pelle Larsson misses two point layup | |||
11:49 | Crimson Tide defensive rebound | |||
11:47 | TV timeout | |||
11:35 | +2 | Nick Pringle makes two point dunk (Grant Nelson assists) | 15-8 | |
11:27 | +3 | Kylan Boswell makes three point jump shot (Jaden Bradley assists) | 15-11 | |
11:20 | Rylan Griffen misses three point jump shot | |||
11:18 | Jaden Bradley defensive rebound | |||
10:57 | Mark Sears personal foul (Jaden Bradley draws the foul) | |||
10:55 | Kylan Boswell misses three point jump shot | |||
10:53 | Keshad Johnson offensive rebound | |||
10:50 | Jaden Bradley misses two point layup | |||
10:48 | Oumar Ballo offensive rebound | |||
10:44 | +2 | Oumar Ballo makes two point tip layup | 15-13 | |
10:34 | Grant Nelson misses three point jump shot | |||
10:32 | Oumar Ballo defensive rebound | |||
10:27 | Keshad Johnson turnover (lost ball) (Aaron Estrada steals) | |||
10:20 | +2 | Mark Sears makes two point layup (Aaron Estrada assists) | 17-13 | |
10:04 | +2 | Kylan Boswell makes two point jump shot | 17-15 | |
9:49 | +2 | Aaron Estrada makes two point jump shot | 19-15 | |
9:39 | +2 | Oumar Ballo makes two point layup (Kylan Boswell assists) | 19-17 | |
9:28 | Grant Nelson misses three point jump shot | |||
9:26 | Oumar Ballo defensive rebound | |||
9:11 | Keshad Johnson offensive foul | |||
9:11 | Keshad Johnson turnover (offensive foul) | |||
8:57 | Tommy Lloyd technical foul | |||
8:57 | +1 | Sam Walters makes technical free throw 1 of 2 | 20-17 | |
8:57 | Sam Walters misses technical free throw 2 of 2 | |||
8:57 | Crimson Tide offensive rebound | |||
8:38 | Jaden Bradley shooting foul (Sam Walters draws the foul) | |||
8:38 | +1 | Sam Walters makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 21-17 | |
8:38 | Sam Walters misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
8:38 | KJ Lewis defensive rebound | |||
8:26 | Motiejus Krivas misses two point layup | |||
8:24 | Jarin Stevenson defensive rebound | |||
8:19 | Jarin Stevenson turnover (bad pass) (KJ Lewis steals) | |||
8:05 | Mohamed Wague shooting foul (KJ Lewis draws the foul) | |||
8:05 | KJ Lewis misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
8:05 | +1 | KJ Lewis makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 21-18 | |
7:57 | +2 | Latrell Wrightsell Jr. makes two point jump shot | 23-18 | |
7:44 | +3 | Pelle Larsson makes three point jump shot (KJ Lewis assists) | 23-21 | |
7:32 | Grant Nelson turnover (lost ball) (Kylan Boswell steals) | |||
7:16 | +2 | Jaden Bradley makes two point layup | 23-23 | |
6:50 | KJ Lewis personal foul (Mark Sears draws the foul) | |||
6:50 | TV timeout | |||
6:44 | +3 | Sam Walters makes three point jump shot (Mark Sears assists) | 26-23 | |
6:29 | +2 | Pelle Larsson makes two point layup | 26-25 | |
6:19 | Aaron Estrada misses two point jump shot | |||
6:17 | Caleb Love defensive rebound | |||
6:10 | Kylan Boswell misses two point layup | |||
6:08 | Oumar Ballo offensive rebound | |||
6:00 | Oumar Ballo misses two point hook shot | |||
5:47 | Wildcats offensive rebound | |||
5:40 | Nick Pringle shooting foul (Oumar Ballo draws the foul) | |||
5:40 | +1 | Oumar Ballo makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 26-26 | |
5:40 | Oumar Ballo misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
5:40 | Mark Sears defensive rebound | |||
5:26 | KJ Lewis personal foul (Sam Walters draws the foul) | |||
5:26 | +1 | Sam Walters makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 27-26 | |
5:26 | +1 | Sam Walters makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 28-26 | |
5:12 | KJ Lewis misses three point jump shot | |||
5:10 | Grant Nelson defensive rebound | |||
5:04 | Latrell Wrightsell Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
5:02 | Pelle Larsson defensive rebound | |||
4:47 | Oumar Ballo misses two point layup | |||
4:45 | Latrell Wrightsell Jr. defensive rebound | |||
4:41 | Mark Sears turnover (lost ball) (Kylan Boswell steals) | |||
4:31 | +2 | KJ Lewis makes two point layup (Pelle Larsson assists) | 28-28 | |
4:16 | Grant Nelson misses three point jump shot | |||
4:14 | Oumar Ballo defensive rebound | |||
4:05 | Caleb Love misses three point jump shot | |||
4:03 | Wildcats offensive rebound | |||
3:54 | Pelle Larsson misses two point layup | |||
3:52 | Mohamed Wague defensive rebound | |||
3:42 | Mohamed Wague turnover (Kylan Boswell steals) | |||
3:25 | +2 | Kylan Boswell makes two point jump shot | 28-30 | |
3:21 | +2 | Mohamed Wague makes two point dunk (Rylan Griffen assists) | 30-30 | |
3:14 | Latrell Wrightsell Jr. personal foul (Keshad Johnson draws the foul) | |||
3:14 | TV timeout | |||
3:14 | +1 | Keshad Johnson makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 30-31 | |
3:14 | +1 | Keshad Johnson makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 30-32 | |
3:11 | Aaron Estrada turnover (lost ball) (Kylan Boswell steals) | |||
3:04 | Kylan Boswell turnover (bad pass) | |||
2:50 | Jaden Bradley personal foul (Mark Sears draws the foul) | |||
2:50 | +1 | Mark Sears makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 31-32 | |
2:50 | +1 | Mark Sears makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 32-32 | |
2:38 | Jaden Bradley turnover (bad pass) | |||
2:31 | Mark Sears turnover (traveling) | |||
2:08 | +2 | Pelle Larsson makes two point layup | 32-34 | |
1:55 | +3 | Sam Walters makes three point jump shot (Aaron Estrada assists) | 35-34 | |
1:39 | Kylan Boswell misses two point layup | |||
1:37 | Oumar Ballo offensive rebound | |||
1:32 | +2 | Oumar Ballo makes two point layup | 35-36 | |
1:24 | Grant Nelson misses three point jump shot | |||
1:22 | Mohamed Wague offensive rebound | |||
1:18 | Pelle Larsson personal foul (Mark Sears draws the foul) | |||
1:18 | +1 | Mark Sears makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 36-36 | |
1:18 | +1 | Mark Sears makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 37-36 | |
1:04 | Pelle Larsson misses three point jump shot | |||
1:02 | Caleb Love offensive rebound | |||
0:50 | +3 | Keshad Johnson makes three point jump shot (Kylan Boswell assists) | 37-39 | |
0:43 | Mark Sears misses three point jump shot | |||
0:41 | Grant Nelson offensive rebound | |||
0:37 | Kylan Boswell personal foul | |||
0:37 | +1 | Grant Nelson makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 38-39 | |
0:37 | +1 | Grant Nelson makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 39-39 | |
0:31 | Mouhamed Dioubate personal foul (Oumar Ballo draws the foul) | |||
0:31 | +1 | Oumar Ballo makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 39-40 | |
0:31 | +1 | Oumar Ballo makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 39-41 | |
0:22 | Crimson Tide 30 second timeout | |||
0:07 | KJ Lewis personal foul (Mark Sears draws the foul) | |||
0:07 | Mark Sears misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
0:07 |