In a commanding performance at Tucson, Caleb Love spearheaded No. 22 Arizona’s 83-66 triumph over Utah, marking the start of a new chapter for the Utes following the dismissal of coach Craig Smith. Utah, with a current record of 15-13 and 7-10 in the Big 12, transitioned on Monday by appointing assistant coach Josh Eilert as interim leader. However, this strategic shift was insufficient in overturning their longstanding struggle against the Wildcats, who are now 19-9 and 13-4 in the conference.
From the onset, Arizona seized control of the match, accumulating a formidable 14-point advantage by halftime and maintaining momentum to ensure Utah remained without a victory in Tucson since 1986. Tobe Awaka’s contribution for Arizona included a solid showing with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Utah’s efforts were highlighted by Keanu Dawes and Ezra Ausar, who led their team with 18 points each.
The Wildcats were coming off a disappointing defensive outing against BYU, where they allowed the Cougars an impressive shooting percentage of 55%. However, the matchup against Utah saw substantial improvement, especially through the efforts of Love. The preseason AP All-American made his mark early, sinking a jumper before consistently executing from beyond the arc. By halftime, Love had already accumulated 17 points, courtesy of 4 out of 7 three-pointers, facilitating a 46-32 lead for Arizona.
In the second half, Utah’s scoring opportunities dwindled as they missed eight out of their first nine shots, allowing Arizona to widen the gap to 21 points. The Utes faced a relentless Arizona squad, falling to a challenging 2-19 record at McKale Center. Meanwhile, the Wildcats effectively rebounded from their prior defeat by delivering an assertive performance.
Love’s pivotal role in the game became especially apparent during the latter portion of the first half when he scored 12 points within the final 6 minutes and 11 seconds, allowing Arizona to secure a comfortable lead. A key statistic of the night was Arizona’s ability to capitalize defensively, recording eight first-half steals and translating nine Utah turnovers into 17 points.
Looking ahead, Utah is set to face Arizona State in their next encounter, while Arizona will gear up for a challenging showdown against No. 9 Iowa State on Saturday.
