SEATTLE — The Arizona Wildcats showcased their prowess in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, effectively overcoming the Akron Zips with a decisive 93-65 victory on Friday night. Arizona, ranked fourth in their bracket, quickly asserted its dominance with early successful 3-pointers from Jaden Bradley, Trey Townsend, and Caleb Love. Within just the first few minutes of the match, the Wildcats took a commanding lead that they maintained throughout the game.
Bradley was a standout performer with a 19-point contribution. Townsend made his mark with 16 points, hitting 7 of his 8 shots. Carter Bryant added 12 points, while Love and KJ Lewis each scored 10, powering the Wildcats (23-12) into the second round of March Madness for the third time in Head Coach Tommy Lloyd’s four seasons.
Reflecting on the team’s performance, Coach Lloyd noted, “Other than being a little loose with the ball in the first half, I thought we were exceptional.” Lloyd, who has a personal connection to the region due to his upbringing in Kelso, Washington, was joined by numerous friends and family at the game.
The Wildcats excelled with a 12-of-25 shooting performance from beyond the arc and executed nine dunks. This helped them stretch their lead to an impressive 34 points at one point in the final minutes. Bryant emphasized the importance of staying composed, saying, “For us, it’s just trying to stay level. Making good play after good play, simple play after simple play. I think when we make the simple plays, we’re one of the best teams.” Arizona now sets its sights on a matchup against either Oregon or Liberty in the East Region this Sunday.
For Akron, Tavari Johnson and Nate Johnson contributed 13 points each. Despite their efforts, the Zips (28-7), who had a strong season finish with 20 wins in their last 22 games, struggled to gain the upper hand. Akron’s coach, John Groce, praised his team, stating, “It’s a special group of guys. We’ve got good people in that locker room that really do care about each other and are great teammates.”
After Arizona’s initial 9-0 surge, Akron responded with an 11-2 run, leveling the score but never gaining the lead. By halftime, the Wildcats had secured a 41-31 advantage and widened that lead to 17 points deep into the second half. Arizona’s 22-7 run midway through the period further cemented their dominance, raising their advantage to 31 points.
Arizona’s size proved beneficial, with their lineup boasting a nearly 3-inch height advantage per player. When 7-foot Henri Veesaar entered the game, the difference was even more pronounced. Coach Lloyd had challenged his team prior to the game to “outrebound these guys by 15,” and his team delivered, out-rebounding Akron 53-22. Townsend and Tobe Awaka topped Arizona’s rebounding efforts with eight boards each, while Veesaar and Love claimed seven rebounds.
Although Akron’s Coach Groce was concerned about rebounding coming into the game, he acknowledged the Wildcats’ rebounding strength. Arizona further asserted their dominance in the paint, outscoring the Zips 48-20 and adding nine blocks to their defensive tally.
Despite their comprehensive victory, the Wildcats faced challenges at the free-throw line, missing all their free-throw attempts in the first half. Typically ranked ninth nationally for made free throws and 15th for free-throw percentage, Arizona ended the game with just 30% accuracy at the line (3-for-10). Nonetheless, Coach Lloyd remained optimistic, accepting a mixed performance if it meant a strong 3-point showing.