Arizona Basketball Overcomes slow Start beats Colorado at Home

TUCSON, AZ - DECEMBER 30: Head coach Sean Miller of the Arizona Wildcats gestures during the first half of the college basketball game against the Arizona State Sun Devils at McKale Center on December 30, 2017 in Tucson, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)
TUCSON, AZ - DECEMBER 30: Head coach Sean Miller of the Arizona Wildcats gestures during the first half of the college basketball game against the Arizona State Sun Devils at McKale Center on December 30, 2017 in Tucson, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)

Arizona Basketball (17-4, 7-1) overcomes a slow start in the game to take down the Colorado Buffaloes (12-9, 4-5) in McKale Center.

Hoping to avenge their loss to Colorado earlier in the season, the Arizona Basketball team was going to have their hands full without sophomore Rawle Alkins.

It was another slow start for the Wildcats, seemingly missing that spark from the opening tip. Much like the start of their game in Boulder nearly three weeks ago, Arizona trailed 14-4 early, before slowly climbing back into this one.

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The Wildcats were atrocious from the field to start, converting on just one of 12 attempts in the first eight minutes of the game. However, Arizona would eventually find their groove, chipping away at the Buffaloes’ lead.

Arizona would tie the game at 22 a piece, when Allonzo Trier would connect on two-point jumper. Both squads would seemingly trade baskets just before halftime, with both teams going into the locker room, knotted at 30.

Deandre Ayton led at halftime, scoring eight points, and grabbing four rebounds. Dylan Smith and Trier each had seven, despite them going just 2-7 from outside, and Dusan Ristic added six points, and five rebounds.

The Wildcats started off the second half much stronger, outscoring the Buffaloes 17-6 in roughly just the first five minutes, however, with every Arizona run, Colorado seemed to have a response.

Even though Arizona jumped by 12, Colorado rallied right back, eventually cutting the Wildcats’ lead to just one point.

Fortunately, the Wildcats were just too strong in this one. With every Colorado response, Arizona would always seem to have an answer. The play of Trier, Ristic and Ayton certainly helped that.

The trio combined for 58 of the teams’ 80 points, with Trier leading all scorers with 23. He would finish eight of 13 from the field, connecting on just two of six attempts from three. Smith added 13 of his own.

Parker Jackson-Cartwright would only score three points, while dishing at four assists. However, his lone bucket perhaps being the biggest, securing the win for Arizona.

Here were the final stats from the game

Following the win, the Wildcats improve to 17-4 (7-1) on the season, with Utah coming to town on Saturday. That game is set for 3:30 pm MST/ 2:30 PST on FOX.

Listen to head coach Sean Miller as he discusses his teams win over the Buffaloes!

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At Zona Zealots, we’re ecstatic following the win, and only hope that momentum carries into the weekend as well! Bear Down, Arizona!

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