Love scores 28, No. 4 Arizona bounces back to beat Washington 91-75
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) One of the hallmark's of Tommy Lloyd's tenure at Arizona has been the ability to bounce back from a loss. The Wildcats have been doing it for three years, winning every time, almost always in a blowout.
Washington knew what was coming after the Wildcats lost to Washington State two days earlier. The Huskies just couldn't do much about it.
Caleb Love scored 28 points to eclipse 2,000 for his career and No. 4 Arizona bounced back from its first home loss of the season with a 91-75 win over Washington on Saturday.
“Today was a response game,” coach Lloyd said. “You just want to get the result.”
The Wildcats (21-6, 12-4 Pac-12) lost at McKale Center for the first time this year Thursday night, falling 77-74 to No. 21 Washington State.
Arizona shook it off quickly with a short turnaround, blistering the Huskies with a near-perfect start to build a 17-point lead in the opening 7 1/2 minutes in the teams' final meeting at McKale Center as Pac-12 members.
Arizona's Oumar Ballo controlled the paint after a quiet first half, finishing with 14 points, 14 rebounds and three blocked shots as the Wildcats turned back every Washington challenge. Arizona is 17-0 under Lloyd following a loss and has gone 99 straight games without losing two straight, the third-longest streak in Pac-12 history.
“We don’t let our last mistake affect our next opportunity,” Ballo said.
The Huskies (15-13, 7-10) had a wild night to start their two-game desert swing, beating Arizona State 84-82 in overtime on Thursday night after blowing a 25-point lead.
Washington spent most of the afternoon against Arizona unsuccessfully trying to dig out of the big early hole, getting no closer than nine after falling behind by 23.
Koren Johnson led the Huskies with 17 points, six rebounds and five assists.
“We knew they were going to come out after a loss and play with that type of intensity and fire - that’s what they do,” Washington coach Mike Hopkins said. “We just didn't handle it well.”
Arizona was plagued by bouts of questionable shot selection in the loss to Washington State.
The Wildcats had no such problem early against the Huskies.
Crisply running the offense, Arizona hit its first seven shots and opened 11 of 12 to build a 27-11 lead. Washington fought back after absorbing the early body blow, using a 10-0 run to pull within 42-31.
But Arizona kept hitting shots and even got some help from Washington big man Braxton Meah, who inadvertently tipped the ball into his own basket.
The Wildcats hit 18 of 34 shots in the first half, including 6 of 10 from 3, to lead 52-35.
Arizona went on a 9-0 run early in the second half to go up 61-38, but went cold from the floor as Washington started chipping away.
The Huskies used a 14-2 run to pull within 69-60, holding the Wildcats to 1-of-10 shooting during the rally. Arizona continued to struggle offensively, but turned up the defensive pressure to stretch the lead back out to 16.
“The character of these guys is they never give up, but you almost have to be perfect,” Hopkins said. “When you're playing from behind against a team like that, it's hard.”
LOVE'S MARK
Love started his career at North Carolina, hitting some massive shots during the Tar Heels' run to the 2022 national title game.
Love's role is slightly different at Arizona, but he's still the go-to player in key moments. He scored 20 points in the first half as Arizona built the big lead and hit a couple more baskets late as the Wildcats extended the lead back out.
Love needed 28 points to become the 22nd active player to reach 2,000 career points and got it right on the nose.
"I wanted to do it at home, God willing, but everything worked out and I got it," he said. “If I didn't get it I would have been happy to do it at their (rival Arizona State) place.”
BIG PICTURE
Washington: The Huskies had a second-half letdown against Arizona State and concluded their last Pac-12 desert trip by fighting an uphill battle most of the afternoon.
Arizona: The Wildcats will likely drop a spot or two in Monday's AP Top 25, but had a nice rebound after losing their first home game with an eighth straight win over Washington.
UP NEXT
Washington: Hosts UCLA on Thursday night.
Arizona: Visits rival Arizona State on Wednesday night.
---
Get poll alerts and updates on AP Top 25 basketball throughout the season. Sign up here.
---
AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball
Copyright 2024 STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
20:00 | Braxton Meah vs. Oumar Ballo (Wildcats gains possession) | |||
19:41 | +2 | Pelle Larsson makes two point layup | 0-2 | |
19:17 | +2 | Paul Mulcahy makes two point layup | 2-2 | |
18:58 | Paul Mulcahy personal foul (Oumar Ballo draws the foul) | |||
18:47 | +2 | Pelle Larsson makes two point dunk (Caleb Love assists) | 2-4 | |
18:24 | +3 | Keion Brooks Jr. makes three point jump shot (Sahvir Wheeler assists) | 5-4 | |
18:13 | +2 | Oumar Ballo makes two point layup (Keshad Johnson assists) | 5-6 | |
17:55 | Paul Mulcahy misses two point layup | |||
17:53 | Kylan Boswell defensive rebound | |||
17:45 | +3 | Keshad Johnson makes three point jump shot (Pelle Larsson assists) | 5-9 | |
17:38 | Keshad Johnson blocks Sahvir Wheeler's two point layup | |||
17:36 | Huskies offensive rebound | |||
17:29 | Sahvir Wheeler misses two point layup | |||
17:29 | Pelle Larsson personal foul | |||
17:23 | Moses Wood misses three point jump shot | |||
17:21 | Caleb Love defensive rebound | |||
17:16 | +2 | Keshad Johnson makes two point layup (Caleb Love assists) | 5-11 | |
17:15 | Huskies 30 second timeout | |||
17:00 | Paul Mulcahy misses two point layup | |||
16:58 | Keshad Johnson defensive rebound | |||
16:51 | Oumar Ballo turnover (traveling) | |||
16:37 | Sahvir Wheeler turnover (lost ball) (Keshad Johnson steals) | |||
16:29 | +2 | Caleb Love makes two point layup (Keshad Johnson assists) | 5-13 | |
16:19 | +2 | Sahvir Wheeler makes two point jump shot | 7-13 | |
16:04 | +3 | Caleb Love makes three point jump shot (Pelle Larsson assists) | 7-16 | |
15:51 | Keshad Johnson blocks Keion Brooks Jr.'s two point layup | |||
15:51 | Huskies offensive rebound | |||
15:51 | TV timeout | |||
15:36 | Keshad Johnson blocks Sahvir Wheeler's two point layup | |||
15:34 | Keion Brooks Jr. offensive rebound | |||
15:25 | Keion Brooks Jr. misses two point jump shot | |||
15:23 | Caleb Love defensive rebound | |||
15:15 | Kylan Boswell misses three point jump shot | |||
15:13 | Huskies defensive rebound | |||
14:54 | Moses Wood misses two point jump shot | |||
14:52 | Keshad Johnson defensive rebound | |||
14:43 | Keion Brooks Jr. shooting foul (Keshad Johnson draws the foul) | |||
14:43 | Keshad Johnson misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
14:43 | +1 | Keshad Johnson makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 7-17 | |
14:22 | +2 | Wilhelm Breidenbach makes two point layup | 9-17 | |
14:10 | +2 | Oumar Ballo makes two point layup (Pelle Larsson assists) | 9-19 | |
13:56 | Koren Johnson misses two point layup | |||
13:54 | Caleb Love defensive rebound | |||
13:47 | +2 | Jaden Bradley makes two point layup (Caleb Love assists) | 9-21 | |
13:31 | +2 | Koren Johnson makes two point jump shot (Moses Wood assists) | 11-21 | |
13:24 | Jaden Bradley turnover (bad pass) | |||
13:08 | Koren Johnson turnover (lost ball) (Caleb Love steals) | |||
12:57 | +3 | Caleb Love makes three point jump shot (Pelle Larsson assists) | 11-24 | |
12:34 | Keion Brooks Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
12:32 | Pelle Larsson defensive rebound | |||
12:23 | +3 | Caleb Love makes three point jump shot (Pelle Larsson assists) | 11-27 | |
12:23 | Huskies 30 second timeout | |||
12:23 | TV timeout | |||
12:09 | +2 | Moses Wood makes two point layup (Keion Brooks Jr. assists) | 13-27 | |
11:53 | Motiejus Krivas misses two point hook shot | |||
11:51 | Jaden Bradley offensive rebound | |||
11:42 | Jaden Bradley misses two point jump shot | |||
11:40 | Wilhelm Breidenbach defensive rebound | |||
11:31 | +3 | Koren Johnson makes three point jump shot (Paul Mulcahy assists) | 16-27 | |
11:25 | Koren Johnson shooting foul (Caleb Love draws the foul) | |||
11:25 | +1 | Caleb Love makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 16-28 | |
11:25 | +1 | Caleb Love makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 16-29 | |
11:16 | Keion Brooks Jr. turnover (bad pass) (Keshad Johnson steals) | |||
11:09 | Wilhelm Breidenbach personal foul (Motiejus Krivas draws the foul) | |||
10:57 | +2 | Keshad Johnson makes two point jump shot (KJ Lewis assists) | 16-31 | |
10:41 | +3 | Koren Johnson makes three point jump shot (Moses Wood assists) | 19-31 | |
10:20 | Keshad Johnson misses three point jump shot | |||
10:18 | Koren Johnson defensive rebound | |||
10:11 | Koren Johnson misses two point jump shot | |||
10:09 | Motiejus Krivas defensive rebound | |||
9:59 | KJ Lewis misses two point layup | |||
9:57 | Wilhelm Breidenbach defensive rebound | |||
9:39 | KJ Lewis personal foul (Moses Wood draws the foul) | |||
9:33 | +2 | Moses Wood makes two point jump shot (Koren Johnson assists) | 21-31 | |
9:19 | +2 | Kylan Boswell makes two point jump shot | 21-33 | |
8:58 | Wilhelm Breidenbach misses two point hook shot | |||
8:56 | Oumar Ballo defensive rebound | |||
8:50 | Wilhelm Breidenbach shooting foul (Kylan Boswell draws the foul) | |||
8:50 | +1 | Kylan Boswell makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 21-34 | |
8:50 | +1 | Kylan Boswell makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 21-35 | |
8:29 | Anthony Holland misses three point jump shot | |||
8:27 | Oumar Ballo defensive rebound | |||
8:13 | Anthony Holland shooting foul (Keshad Johnson draws the foul) | |||
8:13 | Keshad Johnson misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
8:13 | Keshad Johnson misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
8:13 | Braxton Meah defensive rebound | |||
7:59 | Paul Mulcahy turnover (bad pass) (Oumar Ballo steals) | |||
7:55 | Paul Mulcahy shooting foul (Jaden Bradley draws the foul) | |||
7:55 | TV timeout | |||
7:55 | Jaden Bradley misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
7:55 | +1 | Jaden Bradley makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 21-36 | |
7:42 | Sahvir Wheeler misses two point jump shot | |||
7:40 | Caleb Love defensive rebound | |||
7:40 | Paul Mulcahy personal foul (Caleb Love draws the foul) | |||
7:40 | +1 | Caleb Love makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 21-37 | |
7:40 | +1 | Caleb Love makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 21-38 | |
7:32 | Caleb Love personal foul (Braxton Meah draws the foul) | |||
7:14 | Keion Brooks Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
7:12 | Oumar Ballo defensive rebound | |||
6:59 | +2 | Pelle Larsson makes two point jump shot | 21-40 | |
6:42 | Koren Johnson misses three point jump shot | |||
6:40 | Kylan Boswell defensive rebound | |||
6:32 | Oumar Ballo misses two point hook shot | |||
6:30 | Caleb Love offensive rebound | |||
6:16 | +2 | Caleb Love makes two point layup | 21-42 | |
6:10 | Sahvir Wheeler misses three point jump shot | |||
6:08 | Keion Brooks Jr. offensive rebound | |||
6:03 | +2 | Keion Brooks Jr. makes two point layup | 23-42 | |
5:54 | Kylan Boswell misses two point jump shot | |||
5:52 | Braxton Meah defensive rebound | |||
5:45 | +3 | Nate Calmese makes three point jump shot (Sahvir Wheeler assists) | 26-42 | |
5:23 | Kylan Boswell turnover (lost ball) (Sahvir Wheeler steals) | |||
5:16 | +2 | Sahvir Wheeler makes two point layup | 28-42 | |
4:57 | Oumar Ballo misses two point dunk | |||
4:56 | Huskies defensive rebound | |||
4:36 | +3 | Nate Calmese makes three point jump shot | 31-42 | |
4:35 | Wildcats 30 second timeout | |||
4:23 | Caleb Love misses two point layup | |||
4:21 | Motiejus Krivas offensive rebound | |||
4:19 | Motiejus Krivas misses two point layup | |||
4:19 | Motiejus Krivas offensive rebound | |||
4:18 | +2 | Motiejus Krivas makes two point layup | 31-44 | |
3:49 | Sahvir Wheeler misses three point jump shot | |||
3:47 | Motiejus Krivas defensive rebound | |||
3:32 | Jaden Bradley misses two point jump shot | |||
3:30 | Keion Brooks Jr. defensive rebound | |||
3:20 | Koren Johnson misses two point layup | |||
3:18 | Jaden Bradley defensive rebound | |||
3:15 | Keion Brooks Jr. shooting foul (Keshad Johnson draws the foul) | |||
3:13 | TV timeout | |||
3:13 | +1 | Keshad Johnson makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 31-45 | |
3:13 | +1 | Keshad Johnson makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 31-46 | |
3:04 | Wilhelm Breidenbach misses three point jump shot | |||
3:02 | Jaden Bradley defensive rebound | |||
2:53 | Jaden Bradley misses three point jump shot | |||
2:51 | Jaden Bradley offensive rebound | |||
2:44 | Caleb Love misses three point jump shot | |||
2:42 | Sahvir Wheeler defensive rebound | |||
2:38 | +2 | Koren Johnson makes two point layup (Sahvir Wheeler assists) | 33-46 | |
2:25 | Caleb Love misses two point jump shot | |||
2:23 | Caleb Love offensive rebound | |||
2:21 | Caleb Love misses two point layup | |||
2:20 | Wilhelm Breidenbach defensive rebound | |||
2:18 | Jaden Bradley shooting foul (Nate Calmese draws the foul) | |||
2:18 | Nate Calmese misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
2:18 | Nate Calmese misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
2:18 | Motiejus Krivas defensive rebound | |||
2:06 | Caleb Love turnover (bad pass) | |||
1:52 | KJ Lewis personal foul (Koren Johnson draws the foul) | |||
1:34 | Nate Calmese misses three point jump shot | |||
1:32 | Jaden Bradley defensive rebound | |||
1:25 | +3 | Caleb Love makes three point jump shot (Jaden Bradley assists) | 33-49 | |
1:01 | +2 | Braxton Meah makes two point alley-oop dunk (Koren Johnson assists) | 35-49 | |
0:48 | KJ Lewis misses two point layup | |||
0:46 | Sahvir Wheeler defensive rebound | |||
0:36 | Braxton Meah misses two point layup | |||
0:34 | Oumar Ballo defensive rebound | |||
0:26 | +3 | Pelle Larsson makes three point jump shot (Jaden Bradley assists) | 35-52 | |
0:03 | Koren Johnson misses three point jump shot | |||
0:01 | Pelle Larsson defensive rebound | |||
0:00 | End of period |