Arizona Wildcats Roar their Way to Victory over the Washington State Cougars 78-59

The Arizona Wildcats continued their winning ways with a road victory over the Washington State Cougars 78-59.

Slow starts have certainly been a trademark of Arizona Wildcats basketball so far this season, and this game wasn’t any different. The Wildcats trailed the Cougars for most of the first half, but with a late first half run and impressive second half of offensive, the Wildcats were able to win 78 -59. With Kadeem Allen out due to a dislocated pinky, Parker Jackson-Cartwright stepped up; he led the Wildcats with a career-high 20 points, three rebounds, and three assists.

The Wildcats improved their record to 13-1 in the Pac- 12 and 24-3 overall. With this win, they remain at the top of the Pac-12 with a one-game lead over the Oregon Ducks. The Cougars headed into this game with a four-game losing streak and 11 straight losses to the Cats. Wazzu head coach Ernie Kent and his team will need to finish the season strong to make the Pac-12 conference tournament and to have any chance to make it to the Big Dance.

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Right from tip-off, things were looking much better for Lauri Marrkanen when he scored an easy bucket in the paint to start the game. As the half continued on ‘the Markkanen of old’ returned, he finished the first half with 11 points, five rebounds, and this one remarkable assist to Dusan Ristic down low:

https://twitter.com/AZATHLETICS/status/832419924781862912

Markkanen ended up finishing the game with his fourth double-double, scoring 19 points and 11 rebounds. After scoring less than ten points in his last five games, this game showed why he is predicted to go high in the NBA draft.

Also, Cartwright, aka Frodo according to the Cougar students in the stands, had an incredible game! With everything Cartwright has been through this season, it was great to see him have a game like he did tonight. He shut up the ten Cougars students in the empty arena, and he was able to step into the leadership role tonight.

PJC gave his coach Sean Miller and his team just what they needed since Allen is out due to injury, “Parker has had one of the best games he has had at Arizona — says a lot about him — I think he responded with a career-high.”

Cartwright finished the game with a career-high 20 points and was 4-5 from 3pt range, which included this buzzer beater at the end of the first half:

Another player who had an impact in the first half was Chance “The Chief” Comanche (Or The Jammer).  Talk about a player that has improved tremendously over the course of the season! He contributed in the first half with two rebounds, but also had six points and a putback slam off an Alonzo Trier miss:

After the strong early start from the Cougars, they began to turn the ball over, and shots weren’t falling. Ike Iroegbu led their team in scoring in the first half and finished the game with 17 points and three rebounds.

What really hurt the Cougars was the second chance points. They were unable to handle the size and strength of their opponent. The Wildcats had a total rebounding edge of 42-28 and 17-2 in 2nd chance points. That will win you some games!

In the second half, the Wildcats continued where they left off and went 5-6 from 3-point range. Trier had a quiet first half but finished the game with eight points and a season-high 12 rebounds. Kobi Simmons, who came off the bench, did not score in the first half but finished the game with eight points.

Dusan Ristic left the game late in the first half with a right ankle sprain, he is vquestionable to return for Saturday. Rawle Alkins played another solid game for the Wildcats, finishing the game with 13 points and six rebounds. He continued hustling for the ball and was noticed by Miller, “Rawle Alkins was great tonight as well. When we really needed good plays – he made them.”

And last but not least, Keanu Pinder had the highlight of the night! The man from down under defined what it means to hustle:

This game had it all. From injuries to slow starts and a limited bench, Miller has instilled mental toughness in his players which allowed them to come out on top. Even he was impressed with his team’s performance, “I have never been part of a team, as a player, coach, assistant coach, head coach that has been through more than we have.”

Next: Arizona Baseball opening weekend

With February wrapping up and the Big Dance right around the corner, this should be one exciting ride! As long as all the players are healthy and playing confident, they may have a chance to do something special right up to the street in Phoenix. Bear Down!