TUCSON, Ariz. — In a commanding display, Tobe Awaka put forth an impressive performance with 18 points and 15 rebounds, leading No. 10 Arizona to a resounding 102-44 victory over Old Dominion in a nonconference matchup on Saturday.
Awaka, a junior forward who recently joined the team from Tennessee, showcased his efficiency by shooting 8 of 10 from the field. He also played a crucial role in Arizona collecting 24 offensive rebounds, marking the program’s highest number in a game since 2005. Freshman Carter Bryant contributed 12 points, while center Henri Veesaar added a solid 10 points and nine rebounds for the Wildcats, who improved their record to 2-0.
Devin Ceaser led Old Dominion with 12 points, but the team struggled, shooting just 31.6% from the floor and failing to capitalize on free throws, converting only 6 of 17 attempts. This defeat marks the most significant loss in the history of the Monarchs, surpassing a previous 111-65 loss to Florida Christian in 1956.
**Takeaways**
For Old Dominion, the absence of sophomore guard Robert Davis Jr. was felt, as he was sidelined due to injury after scoring 25 points in their opening game against Buffalo. Arizona demonstrated dominance in the paint, outscoring Old Dominion with an impressive 58-24 advantage, despite missing multiple layup attempts and still managing to turn those misses into 23 second-chance points.
**Key Moment**
Late in the first half, Arizona went on a decisive 13-0 scoring run, solidifying their lead. During this stretch, Caleb Love delivered eight points, including two successive three-pointers, while KJ Lewis capped it off with a powerful putback dunk.
**Key Stat**
For the second consecutive game, Arizona started with an early scoring run, jumping out to an 11-0 lead less than four minutes into the match. In their season opener, they similarly began with a 13-0 run against Canisius, showcasing their ability to seize control of games early.
**Up Next**
Old Dominion will be looking for redemption on the road as they visit Radford on Tuesday, while Arizona is set to take on Wisconsin on Friday.