Arizona continued its perfect season with a hard-fought 89-82 victory over Arizona State at the McKale Memorial Center. The Wildcats, now 21-0, were led by Tobe Awaka's impressive 25-point performance, which included several key baskets late. Awaka's scoring prowess was complemented by Koa Peat's double-double, as the freshman contributed 24 points and 10 rebounds to the winning effort.
The first half was a back-and-forth affair, with Arizona State taking a slim 39-38 lead into the break. Maurice Odum was the catalyst for the Sun Devils, scoring 13 of his 23 points in the opening period. However, Arizona's offense found its rhythm in the second half, outscoring Arizona State 51-43 to secure the win. Ivan Kharchenkov added 15 points for the Wildcats, helping to stretch the defense and create scoring opportunities for his teammates.
Odum's strong performance was not enough to overcome the balanced attack of Arizona, as the Sun Devils fell to 11-10 on the season. Massamba Diop and Noah Meeusen provided support for Odum, scoring 16 and 12 points, respectively, but Arizona State's defense struggled to contain the Wildcats' high-powered offense.
The victory marks a Quadrant 3 win for Arizona, which will likely have minimal impact on their tournament resume. However, the win does help to maintain the Wildcats' position as the top-ranked team in the country. For Arizona State, the loss is a Quadrant 1 defeat, which could potentially boost their tournament chances if they can build on this performance and secure more wins against top opponents.
As the season progresses, Arizona want to continue its unbeaten streak, while Arizona State will aim to use this game as a building block for future success. The Wildcats' perfect record is a reflection of their depth and talent, and they will likely be a force to be reckoned with in the tournament. For now, Arizona's resume remains unblemished, and they want to add to their win total in their next outing. With their strength of schedule and continued dominance, the Wildcats are poised to make a deep run in the tournament, and this win over Arizona State is just another step in that direction.