Game of Three’s: Arizona Basketball loses in final seconds to Huskies

Arizona Basketball spent most of their week in the state of Washington and took on the No. 2 ranked Pac-12 team on a court with the students sitting very close to the bench.

Arizona Basketball Associate Coach Lorenzo Romar got a standing ovation from his former fans to start the night, which was sweet, but no one wanted to beat the Huskies more than Romar tonight we could imagine. Former Huskie and NBA Player Nate Robinson sat with the students to cheer on his team wearing black for the blackout in the arena. His former players spoke highly of Romar after the game.

This was a game where Arizona could not make a three, and Washington’s three’s not only kept them in the game but beat the Cats at the Buzzer 78-75.

Arizona Wildcats Basketball

It was a game of three’s in front of a sellout crowd. Usually, they play defense, so this may have felt different for the team. Rawle Alkins played some great defense in the first half but started the game going 1-5. Deandre Ayton hit some huge Dunks which sparked “U of A” chants from the rafters.  The 7-footer ran the floor on a fast break and shocked everyone. After all, reminded by the announcers, there is nothing Ayton cannot do.

Miller played ten players in this game in both halves, and the scoring was spread out in the first half, no one had double digits. Washington, for the most part, kept the Wildcats from scoring in spurts.

The fans really boosted their team in this game, and the Huskies responded getting rebounds and second-chance points. There were hardly any shooting fouls called in the first half.

With 10 seconds left in the half, Arizona showed that they could play with the same hustle. Rawle, Dusan Ristic, and Ayton fought hard under the basket. The Cats were breaking the zone, but the ball wasn’t falling. Brandon Randolph played such tough defense than he racked up three fouls in just seven minutes.

Arizona missed a bunch of threes. They went 1-6 from beyond the arc. Trier needed to drive more, and even Ayton was 4-10.

The Huskies came out of the locker room and were ahead by 14 early on. Arizona clawed back within seven points. The starting five PJC and the addition of Emmuel Akot proved to be just the medicine the Cats needed. A Dusan to Ayton assist, two Washington tries, and Alkins disruptions caused missed shots, Trier stepped up and drove to the basket.

The time had finally come in the game where Arizona starts making their shots and playing defense. Arizona made their run. Ayton blocked two balls; each turned into points by Allonzo Trier and Dusan.

Then, Sean Miller got a Technical foul. Ayton was fouled and got called for a foul.

Ristic really pumped up the game in the second half.

Then Trier gets fouled on a three-pointer! This is why Miller got a technical…He made the free throw and completed his second four-point play in two games. Can we say Nick Young style? Then Trier does what Trier does best, and he hit a three-pointer and got fouled in the process. Zo made the free-throw. That was his second four-point play in two games.

Coach Romar couldn’t sit down. He spent so many years in that arena, he felt the energy, but he wanted his Cats to win, you could see how important it was to him.

The Cats and Dogs exchanged three’s, back and forth they went. But the key to the comeback, what the Cats had to do, hustle on defense and drive the basket. Fast breaks to get their opponent second guessing helped as well. Alkins played tough defense and got called for a foul which was ridiculous. You be the judge.

Arizona got their first lead with 6:15 to go, cue the UofA chants…..Loud UofA chants. The crowd got quiet.

Back and forth they went. Dogs scored, cats scored. Ristic never seemed to miss a shot (9-13 FGs and 3-4 FTs). The guards needed to step up, and they did. Keanu Pinder showed up when needed to with a block, but then his team fell asleep on one play, and Washington’s Dominic Green scored his third three to tie the game at 73 with 1:19 left. Both teams were in the bonus.

This game! Cardiac Cats, that was an understatement. The team never gave up.

Washington put the ball in Noah Dickerson’s hands, after all, he had 23 points, and after an Alkins block, Dickerson got a lay-up.

Arizona 73, Washington 72.

In a wild play with tons of movement and passing, PJC Drove to the basket and passed to Ayton who got fouled, AND ONE AGAIN! But Dre missed his free throw, 21 seconds left.

Arizona 75, Washington 75.

Washington had the ball, a shot went up, Dre blocked the shot, and Green made his fourth three on the night with no time left on the clock.

Arizona went down by two points 78-75.

Trier scored 17 of his 20 points in the second half. The team went 2-12 from three-point land. Ristic has really become a beast on the boards and in scoring. He ended the night scoring 29 points and ten rebounds (double-double), and Ayton logged his 15th double-double with 19 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks. Alkins added energy and second chances, two things that don’t show up in the stat book.

Brian Jeffries talked to Miller after the game on the IMG Sports Network:
“The thing about us — the ball has bounced our way sometimes — every once in a while we are going to go away a loser in a thrilling game instead of a winner. Unless we continue to improve defensively – we are going to continue to be in these types of games.” Miller felt his offense was great, but 18-29 and 4-7 from the foul line may not cut it. He said he has to work with the team on defense, guarding triple penetration, closeout and challenge three-point shots. He also felt the effort was good but did a poor job defensively. “Tonight we had no answer for anything that Washington wanted to do on offense,” explained Miller.

Arizona is still first in the Pac-12 at 9-2 (19-5 overall). Coach Mike Hopkins in his first year has figured out how to get his fans involved in the program  Kudos to him. His team has won seven games and haven’t lost one where the game is decided in five points or less.

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So the Wildcats split their road trip and lose a heartbreaker. They valiantly came back and maybe with a few more free throws the game would have ended differently, but you win some, and you lose some. The Los Angeles schools are coming to town this week, and the Wildcats are going to need your fanny in the seat! I am flying in for both games, and going to cheer with my two Wildcats, won’t you join us! Bear Down Arizona!