#1 Arizona Pulls Away Late, Tops ASU 87-74 to Set School-Record 22-0 Start

[WILD]

No. 1 Arizona Pulls Away Late, Tops ASU 87-74 to Set School-Record 22-0 Start

In a dominant Territorial Cup showdown on Saturday, the No. 1 Arizona Wildcats extended their unbeaten streak with an 87-74 victory over the Arizona State Sun Devils in Tempe. The game stayed close through the first half, ending in a 38-38 tie after a late buzzer-beating three from ASU pulled them even. But Arizona exploded in the second half, outscoring the Sun Devils 49-36 with strong inside play and sharp shooting to pull away comfortably. The win sets a new school record for the best start in program history at 22-0 (9-0 in Big 12 play), while ASU dropped to 11-11 overall and 2-7 in conference. Arizona dominated the boards 47-36 and points in the paint 50-20, turning their physical edge into a decisive advantage.

Freshman standout Koa Peat led the way with a game-high 21 points in his hometown return, delivering efficient scoring against the Sun Devils' defense. Fellow freshman Brayden Burries added 17 points and seven rebounds, while center Motiejus Krivas chipped in 15 points to anchor the frontcourt. Guard Jaden Bradley contributed 10 points, six assists, and four rebounds, helping orchestrate the balanced attack that saw Arizona shoot over 50% from the field overall. Tobe Awaka was a force on the glass with 13 rebounds. For ASU, their efforts fell short despite competitive stretches, as they struggled to match Arizona's depth and second-half surge.

Next up for the Wildcats is a return to McKale Center to face another Big 12 opponent Oklahoma St, with momentum firmly on their side as they chase an undefeated regular season push. The young core continues to gel at the perfect time, setting up what should be another exciting home test in the coming weeks.

[|ᴘ|ʀ|ʏ|ᴍ|ᴇ|]

[arxpert]