Caleb Love, Oumar Balllo energy Arizona Wildcats to a 100-81 win over California in Pac-12 opener
BERKELEY, Calif. — Caleb Love scored 22 factors, Motiejus Krivas had 18 and No. 4 Arizona beat California 100-81 on Friday night time within the Pac-12 opener for each groups.
Oumar Ballo added 17 factors and 11 rebounds for the Wildcats (10-2). Pelle Larsson had 12 factors and 7 assists.
It was the proper bounce-back sport for Arizona after taking a three-day break following a 96-95 loss in double-overtime to then-No. 14 Florida Atlantic final Saturday.
“We have high standards and our guys wanted to respond from our last game, and we want to establish a standard of how we play,” Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd mentioned. “I thought we did that in the first half. I just think our guys came out and played with spirit and energy and kind of really took it to them right away.”
Love scored 20 or extra factors for the fifth time this season and the thirty first time in his profession. He shot 7 for 10 from the sector.
Love additionally received a technical foul for taunting. He drew the decision after making a strong dunk over Gus Larson and obvious on the California participant within the second half.
“If you make a highlight play and even look at the guy you had the highlight against, it’s like an automatic technical,” Lloyd mentioned. “I don’t think he said anything. I think he maybe looked at the guy, showed him up, or something like that.”
Jaylon Tyson had 22 factors and 10 rebounds and Jaylen Celestine added 14 factors because the Bears (4-8) misplaced for the seventh time in 9 video games.
Cal fell behind early, made slightly run within the second half, however couldn’t fairly get it going.
Arizona by no means trailed and led by double digits over the ultimate 34 minutes. The Wildcats have received 14 straight in opposition to Cal.
“We know Cal is a team, they always get up big in the first 4-10 minutes,” Ballo mentioned. “We had to come out and try to outscore them and make some steps to make them uncomfortable.”
The Bears have proven dramatic enchancment underneath first-year Cal coach Mark Madsen, however had been no match in opposition to the Wildcats.
Arizona sped to an early lead and prolonged that benefit to 31 factors.
“Our defense was not good enough,” Madsen mentioned. “They made shots, they ran it down our throat and they established a dominant post presence inside.”
The Wildcats shot practically 70% within the first half and had been equally efficient on the protection facet whereas outhustling and outmuscling the Bears.
Arizona made 13 of its first 16 photographs and received consecutive 3-pointers from Love throughout a 14-0 run.
BIG PICTURE
Arizona: This had the makings of a blowout and it was precisely that. The Wildcats did absolutely anything they needed in opposition to the smaller, slower Bears and set the tempo early with a 14-0 run. It was the seventeenth time this season that Arizona has had a 10-0 run or extra, second-most within the nation behind Houston. It’s the fourth time this season that the Wildcats have scored 100 or extra.
California: The Bears didn’t shoot properly and stored hurting themselves making an attempt to assault the lane, the place they had been stymied by the highly effective Ballo and his 7-foot-2 freshman backup Krivas. The Arizona twin towers repeatedly altered photographs and prevented Cal from getting something going within the paint. The Bears by no means discovered any consistency with their offense and paid the value.
UP NEXT
Arizona: At Stanford on Sunday.
California: Hosts Arizona State on Sunday.
