Oregon too much for Arizona Basketball in Final Game of 2021

EUGENE, OR – Things didn’t quite go the way Arizona Basketball (17-9, 11-9) hoped as the Wildcats close out 2020-21 with an 80-69 loss to Oregon (17-5, 12-5).

James Akinjo finished with 19 points and eight assists, while Azoulas Tubelis had 12 points and four rebounds, however, it wasn’t enough as Arizona Basketball fell to Oregon on the road 80-69 to close out the 2020-21 season.

Coming into their final game of the season, there was no pressure for the Wildcats to perform. They could play loose and free, making them a dangerous team.

Arizona Wildcats

Unfortunately, Oregon didn’t see it that way, as the Ducks got off to a hot start, climbing out to an 18-6 lead.

Arizona would respond in kind by tying it at 21-21, even take their first lead of the game after a Ben Mathurin three made it 24-23.

Outscoring the Ducks 9-4 over the next few minutes, the Wildcats would grow their lead to as many as six, but unfortunately, that would be the biggest lead for Arizona in this one as Oregon came right back, ending the half on a 13-3 run, regaining the lead that they would not relinquish.

As well as Arizona played in the first half, Oregon played better, saved by the three-ball as the Ducks shot 8-12 from three.

The second half wouldn’t go any better for the Arizona Basketball team either as Oregon paced themselves to the win.

Picking up right where they left off, Oregon would continue their hot shooting, just physically dominating the Wildcats.

In a game where the Wildcats needed a strong defensive performance, they did not get one as Oregon finished the game 25-55 shooting (45.5 percent) from the field and 12-22 (54.5 percent) from three.

Even worse, Arizona, who is one of the better rebounding teams in the conference, was dominated on the glass, 37-29.

Overall, it was just not the Wildcats’ evening as Oregon grew their lead to as many as 15 in the second half, getting the eventual 80-69 win.

With the loss, the Wildcats’ fall to 17-9 (11-9) on the season, and 2020-21 comes to an unceremonious end.

Listen to head coach Sean Miller following his teams’ loss.