TEMPE, Ariz. — In an intense showdown on Saturday, Caleb Love led the Arizona Wildcats to a hard-fought 81-72 victory over their rivals, the Arizona State Sun Devils, scoring 27 points in the process. Jaden Bradley contributed significantly as well, adding 14 points to the Wildcats’ total. This win advanced Arizona’s record to 15-6 overall and 9-1 in the Big 12 Conference. Earlier in the week, the Wildcats had stunned No. 3 Iowa State with an impressive 86-75 win, largely thanks to Love’s dramatic halfcourt shot that sent the game into overtime.

During the game in Tempe, Love showcased his shooting prowess, hitting 5 of 9 attempts from beyond the arc. However, his game came to an abrupt end when he was ejected alongside Arizona State’s B.J. Freeman after an argument that followed a headbutt incident under the basket, just 30 seconds before the final buzzer.

Carter Bryant also made an impact for Arizona, posting eight points, securing 10 rebounds, and contributing defensively with four steals and three blocked shots. The Wildcats demonstrated remarkable accuracy at the free-throw line, making 21 of 22 attempts.

For the Sun Devils, who now stand at 12-9 overall and 3-7 in their conference, the second half started strong but ultimately began to falter. Arizona State managed to sink 12 three-pointers throughout the game but struggled with their overall shooting, finishing at 38% from the field. Freeman was the top scorer for Arizona State with 19 points, while Adam Miller added 16 points to his tally.

The game had a sluggish start with both teams finding it difficult to maintain offensive momentum, largely due to the early tipoff at 11 a.m. local time. The first half was particularly plagued by fouls, with a total of 19 called, leading to both teams struggling from the field. Arizona State shot 11 for 36 and 4 of 17 from long range, while Arizona was slightly better with 12 made baskets out of 36 attempts, ending the half with a narrow 35-34 lead.

Things picked up for both teams in the second half, as Arizona State hit five of their first seven attempts and briefly held a five-point lead. However, Arizona quickly retaliated with a 12-2 run, highlighted by two consecutive three-pointers from Love. As the game progressed, Arizona’s defense began to hinder Arizona State’s offense, holding them to just one basket in an eight-shot stretch. This defensive effort helped Arizona extend their lead to 76-69 with just two and a half minutes remaining.

Looking ahead, Arizona is set to face BYU, while Arizona State will host Kansas State, both games taking place on Tuesday.