Arizona Remains Unbeaten with 87-74 Win Over Arizona State

Arizona continued its dominance this season, defeating Arizona State 87-74 at Desert Financial Arena. The Wildcats, led by Koa Peat's 21 points, remained unbeaten and improved their record to 22-0. This win was largely expected, as CHD Scout had predicted Arizona to win by 12.8 points, a prediction that proved accurate given the 13-point margin.

The first half was closely contested, with both teams scoring 38 points to head into the break tied. However, Arizona State's Noah Meeusen, who finished with 16 points and 5 assists, couldn't maintain the pace in the second half. Arizona, on the other hand, exploded for 49 points in the final 20 minutes, led by Peat's clutch shooting and the supporting cast of Brayden Burries, who added 17 points and 7 rebounds, and Motiejus Krivas, who chipped in 15 points.

Meeusen was joined by Maurice Odum and Massamba Diop, who scored 15 and 13 points, respectively, but it wasn't enough to overcome the balanced attack of Arizona. The Wildcats' ability to spread the scoring and control the tempo in the second half proved too much for the Sun Devils.

The game unfolded with Arizona State keeping pace early, but the Wildcats' depth and talent eventually took over. A key run midway through the second half, sparked by Peat's outside shooting, gave Arizona the separation it needed to secure the win. Despite a valiant effort from Meeusen and the Sun Devils, Arizona's superiority was evident, and they cruised to their 22nd consecutive victory.

This win, while not an upset, holds real consequences for both teams' tournament resumes. For Arizona State, the loss drops them to 11-11, but the fact that this was a Quadrant 1 game for the Sun Devils means they still have a chance to bolster their resume. For Arizona, this Quadrant 2 win keeps them atop the rankings and solidifies their position as a top seed in the tournament.

As the season progresses, Arizona want to continue its unbeaten streak, while Arizona State will aim to use this game as a learning experience to improve its chances of making a deep tournament run. The Wildcats' resume continues to grow, with this win serving as another testament to their strength and depth. With their sights set on a championship, Arizona must maintain this level of performance to achieve their goals.