Arizona Dominates Embry-Riddle 113-42 to Close Preseason

[WILD]

Arizona Dominates Embry-Riddle 113-42 to Close Preseason

The No. 13 Arizona Wildcats closed their exhibition schedule with a commanding 113-42 victory over Embry-Riddle on Monday night at McKale Center, finishing the preseason 2-0. Arizona dominated from the start, building a 58-26 halftime lead and never looking back, outrebounding the NAIA Eagles 58-15 overall—including 31-2 in the first half alone. The Wildcats shot 64.2% from the field (42-of-65), hit 12-of-25 threes, and dished out 28 assists while scoring 68 points in the paint and 63 from the bench. Fifteen different Arizona players scored in the 71-point rout, showcasing the depth head coach Tommy Lloyd has built heading into the regular season.

Big man Tobe Awaka, returning from a minor injury, led the way with 18 points and 14 rebounds in just 18 minutes. Freshman Ivan Kharchenkov added 17 points off the bench, including a three-point play during a 10-0 run that flipped a brief 1-0 deficit into a double-digit lead. Brayden Burries contributed 13 points, and walk-on Sven Djopmo chipped in nine. Embry-Riddle, coached by former Arizona student manager Ben Tucker, started hot with four early threes but shot just 28.6% (12-of-42) overall and went scoreless for over six minutes in the first half as Arizona's defense took control.

"We got to see our transition game click and the defense communicate well after they hit those early shots," Lloyd said postgame. "Tobe was explosive, Ivan showed his scoring feel, but we've got to keep refining. These games are about building habits." Tucker, in his first McKale appearance as a head coach, added: "Arizona's length inside was overwhelming. We competed early, but they turned it into a clinic." Arizona now turns its focus to the season opener against defending national champion Florida on November 3 in Las Vegas, entering with momentum after averaging 105 points per exhibition while holding opponents under 50.

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[KansasCityCats]

The team did well. Nothing flashy but they dominated a smaller team.