UA’s defense put the clamps on the Bearcats down stretch of a 77-51 victory
HIGHLIGHTS: No. 1 Arizona 77, Cincinnati 51
TUCSON — Freshman Brayden Burries logged 12 point, 10 rebounds and four assists as the No. 1 Arizona stayed unblemished with a 77-51 walloping of Cincinnati on Wednesday in front of 14,380 fans at McKale Center.
TOMMY LLOYD POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCE (Arizona)
Motiejus Krivas totaled 17 points and nine rebounds, and Ivan Kharchenkov had 14 points as the Wildcats (19-0, 6-0 Big 12) wore down the Bearcats. Arizona’s leading scorer on the season, Koa Peat, managed 13 points and six boards.
The Wildcats shot 42.9% from the field but held Cincinnati to 30.4% in grinding out an impressive win.
Arizona held a massive 48-14 advantage in points in the paint.
After beating then-No. 2 Iowa State in their previous outing, the Bearcats (10-9, 2-4) saw their two-game winning streak come to an end as Baba Miller had 14 points and six rebounds. Shon Abaev netted 13 points.
Arizona Postgame Download: Brayden Burries & Ivan Kharchenkov
Arizona was hot over the first 2 1/2 minutes, connecting on 4 of 5 shots from the floor and getting four points each from Peat and Kharchenkov for a 10-4 lead.
However, the Bearcats trimmed it to 15-12, and they did it by making 5 of 11 shots and limiting Arizona to just two field goals in nine attempts after the fast start.
Fouled on a 3-point attempt, Abaev made all three free throws to put the squad up for the first time 17-16 midway through the half, all while the Wildcats were trapped in an 0-for-10 shooting slump.
The half closed with a 5-2 run that left the Wildcats with a 33-27 advantage.
Burries’ follow-up of a miss with 17:06 remaining gave the Wildcats breathing room at 38-31.
WES MILLER POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCE (Cincinnati)
As the frame reached the 13-minute mark, the Bearcats continued to hang in behind the play of the 6-foot-11 Miller, who was a matchup problem for Arizona as was 7-foot-2 Krivas for the Bearcats.
The Wildcats created their biggest lead at the time, 48-38, behind Tobe Awaka’s strong putback with 11:52 to go while the visitors were caught in a 1-for-11 skid from the field.
Arizona played its best in the final six minutes and moved to 6-0 all-time and 2-0 in Big 12 play vs. the Bearcats.
Meridian Wealth Management Postgame Show
— Field Level Media
