Arizona Basketball (4-2) capped off their run at the Maui Invitational on Wednesday evening, losing to No. 8 Auburn by a 73-57 final.
It was a tough couple of days for the Arizona Basketball team as they traveled to Maui for the Annual Invitational Tournament. Coming in, we knew this was going to be a tough tournament for a young and unproven team.
On Monday night, the Wildcats started out with a bang as I’m sure they surprised a few, winning a close game over a talented Iowa State squad. Tuesday however wouldn’t quite have the same result.
Arizona Wildcats
The Wildcats would have a much bigger challenge, as they took on No. 3 Gonzaga.
They got off to a great start, leading by as many as 13, but a tough collapse over the last 13 minutes of the game allowed Gonzaga to come back and ultimately come away victorious.
That would leave for their third and final game on Wednesday as Arizona would take on No. 8 Auburn for third place in the tournament. The final game was all about competing and getting better against a good team.
However, from the start it was not a particularly great showing by the Wildcats as they came out ice cold. The Tigers would jump out to a 14-5 lead just nine minutes into the half, before Arizona would begin to respond.
Slowly but surely, the Wildcats would widdle away Auburn’s lead, pulling within two on a jumper made from Justin Coleman to make it 24-22. Unfortunately, Auburn would finish the half on a 4-0 run to give them the 28-22 halftime lead.
The second half would start out much more competitive. Arizona would use a 9-3 run to tie the game at 31-31, but unfortunately that was as close as the Wildcats would get it.
Poor shooting and ineffectual offense doomed the Wildcats as they couldn’t quite climb back into this one or even take the lead. Trailing 40-39, Auburn would use a a 23-12 run over the next eight minutes to really take control of this one.
In the last five minutes of play, Arizona did everything to try and claw back into this one, but it wasn’t enough as the No. 8 Tigers cruised to the 73-57 victory.
FINAL: Arizona-57 Auburn-73
— Arizona Basketball (@ArizonaMBB) November 22, 2018
Wildcats end Maui Jim Maui Invitational with a win and a pair of losses to two top-ten teams. #BearDown
Despite the stellar play of Chase Jeter, Brandon Randolph and Coleman, it wasn’t enough. Arizona’s poor bench play and 19 turnovers gave the Tigers all they needed to win.
With the loss, the Wildcats fall to 4-2 on the year. Arizona will have a week off before returning to action against Georgia Southern inside McKale Center next Thursday.