Arizona Basketball routes Western New Mexico in Exhibition win

TUCSON, AZ – The Arizona Basketball team kicked-off the 2018-19 season with a route over Western New Mexico in their exhibition match.

It’s back! It’s back! IT’S FINALLY BACK! The season that numerous Wildcat fans longingly wait for, the return of Arizona Basketball!

In front of a large crowd of over 12,000 fans and a televised audience, we finally got to see a glimpse of this team in a true, competitive setting. The Wildcats kicked-off the 2018-19 season with an exhibition match with Western New Mexico.

Arizona Wildcats

Just a lowly Division II school from Silver City, NM, the Mustangs returned to McKale Center on Tuesday evening, for the first time since 2009, Sean Miller’s inaugural season in Tucson.

Curious to see how this team looks, we at least saw a small dosage despite all the outside noise.

Missing from action was Chase Jeter, the highly hyped center transfer from Duke (out with a sprained ankle), also we have the ongoing distraction of the FBI probe (misreporting and misinformation aside).

Regardless, Miller and the Wildcats got to work, showing why this team could be much better than anticipated for 2018-19!

Starting for the Wildcats were; senior point guard Justin Coleman, freshman guard Brandon Williams, sophomore forward Brandon Randolph, senior forward Ryan Luther and sophomore post player, Ira Lee.

The Mustangs would get the first bucket of the game, but that’s the last time they would lead in this one. Immediately Arizona would respond by going on a 21-0 run to take control of this one early on.

Despite, Western New Mexico trying to climb back into the game, unfortunately they wouldn’t have much of an answer. Trailing just 23-9 with roughly nine-and-a-half minutes to go in the first half, Arizona would turn up the intensity, finishing the first with a 25-6 run.

The Wildcats would head into halftime with a dominating, 48-15 lead. Randolph would lead the way with 13 points in that half, and Williams, Dylan Smith and Emmanuel Akot added with seven of their own each.

The second half would be much of the same, more Wildcat dominance. WMNU would do their best to close the gap, but as they go closer, the Wildcats dug in and responded with a flurry of shots from the outside, and a stifling defense.

At about the 10-minute mark, Arizona would connect on a Lee jumped to make it 59-25. Nearly three minutes later, freshman wing Devonaire Doutrive would get McKale charged on a high-flying dunk that was sparked by a Williams steal to an assist to make it 70-29 Wildcats!

Leading 82-39 with 4:15 left to go, Miller would begin to bring in his walk-on’s from the bench to see their first action of 2018.

In the final few minutes to play, the Wildcats wouldn’t disappoint. Junior forward Jake Desjardins would lead the way in the waning moments to ultimately secure the victory, scoring seven points in his first bit of action since receiving a scholarship!

Arizona would pace themselves to the 95-44 win, having a nice start to the season!

Randolph finished the game with a team and game high 20 points, going a perfect five-of-five from beyond the arc. Williams and Luther finished with 14 and 13 points respectively, and senior transfer Justin Coleman had a nice game as well, scoring four points, grabbing five rebounds, while dishing out six assists to just one turnover!

The Wildcats conclude their exhibition slate of games, when they return to action on Sunday against Chaminade inside McKale Center. Jeter’s status for that game is still unknown at this time.

Here’s a little recap from Arizona’s game against the Mustangs!

At Zona Zealots, we are excited for the return of Arizona Basketball, and were pleased to see how the team performed on Tuesday! Bear Down, Arizona!