SEATTLE, WA – Finally getting that elusive, conference road win, the Arizona Basketball team (14-6, 4-3) came out on top by a 75-72 final!
It wasn’t the prettiest game, but it all counts the same as the Arizona Basketball team got the much needed conference road win over the Washington Huskies on Thursday evening!
Redshirt Jemarl Baker, Jr. finished with a career high 17 points, while going 4-7 from three, in addition to Nico Mannion scoring 16 points and dishing five assists to pace the Wildcats to the 75-72 win!
Arizona Wildcats
Looking to put their awful loss to ASU just days prior behind them, the Wildcats were still looking for their first, conference road win of 2019-20.
Yes, the same team that started out the 8-0, was 13-6 (3-3) entering this game. Very unprecedented for a squad many had felt would be much better at this point.
Starting out strong, Arizona jumped out to the commanding 21-11 lead, but as we’re learning, no lead is safe with this young team, especially on the road.
Slowly but surely, Washington would begin to climb back into this one, hitting timely shots, relying on some boneheaded Arizona turnovers, eventually taking the lead at 31-30, albeit briefly.
Trailing by just one with just 2:21 to play in the first half, Arizona would respond with Baker hitting a three to push the Cats back up two.
The Huskies would unfortunately respond, tying the game at 33 with 0:31 to go. However, unlike the previous game, senior transfer Max Hazzard would hit a wide open corner three this time, giving Arizona the 36-33 lead at halftime!
Hoping to come out strong, once again the Wildcats were ice cold, opening the half by going 1-7 from the field over the first few minutes. The Huskies would take advantage, opening the half on a 14-3 run, pulling ahead 47-39 with 15:48 to play.
Unlike the ASU game though, the Wildcats were able to respond in this one, climbing back into it, although down by as many as nine at one point.
Trailing 53-44, the Cats would finally wake up. Soaring on a 26-16 run, Arizona would eventually take the lead at 70-69 with 4:17 to play after yet another Baker three pointer!
Still leading by just one, Arizona would have a chance to extend their lead when Stone Gettings went to the line with 3:06 to go, but after missing both attempts, the Huskies responded by hitting another three, and regaining the lead at 72-70.
Luckily for Arizona, the Wildcats would close out the game by going on a 5-0 run, hitting a couple clutch free throws, but also being bailed out by Washington’s sloppy play, as the Huskies essentially helped to deliver that win for us.
Arizona would ice the game after a couple UW turnovers and misses, leading to the 75-72 win!
Road W!#APlayersProgram pic.twitter.com/OIFtyiaPY0
— Arizona Basketball (@ArizonaMBB) January 31, 2020
With the victory, the Wildcats now improve to 14-6 (4-3) on the year, and will wait to take on Washington State (13-9, 4-5) on Saturday!
At Zona Zealots, we’re just glad to see our Cats come away victorious! As always, Bear Down, Arizona!