Arizona Wildcats Dominate West Virginia
In a dominant performance at home, the Arizona Wildcats secured their 20th victory of the season, defeating West Virginia 88-53. This game, held in Tucson, Arizona, capped off an impressive week for the top-ranked Wildcats, who also celebrated their first-time unanimous No. 1 ranking in the AP Top 25 earlier this week. With their current record standing at 20-0 and 7-0 in conference play, Arizona is enjoying its best start since the 2013-14 season when they began with 21 consecutive wins.
Key Players Shine
Leading the charge for the Wildcats was Brayden Burries, who notched 22 points, showcasing his skill with a couple of early three-pointers that set the tone for the match. Koa Peat contributed significantly as well, adding 17 points. This victory comes on the heels of a convincing 73-51 triumph over Cincinnati, indicating Arizona’s offensive prowess.
West Virginia Struggles
West Virginia, entering the game after a win against Arizona State, struggled to keep pace, managing only 29% shooting throughout the first half. Their leading scorer was Chance Moore, who finished with 12 points, but the Mountaineers were unable to find their rhythm against Arizona’s strong defensive efforts, which included limiting their three-point attempts to just 3 out of 15.
Game Highlights
Arizona quickly built a sizeable lead, going up by 20 points at halftime. A major factor in this was a last-second layup by Dwayne Aristode, which capped a chaotic final moment before the break, leaving the score at 43-23. The Wildcats did not relinquish their control over the game, extending their lead to as much as 26 points during the second half.
Looking Ahead
Looking ahead, West Virginia is set to host Kansas State on Tuesday, while Arizona will travel to challenge No. 13 BYU on Monday, aiming to maintain their undefeated streak in what has been a historic season for the program.
