Arizona Wildcats Bounce Back with Strong Win Against Texas Tech

In a thrilling rematch, the Arizona Wildcats showcased their resilience and dominance on Saturday night, defeating the No. 13 Texas Tech Red Raiders 82-73 at McKale Center. This victory not only avenged their earlier loss to Texas Tech but also highlighted Arizona’s impressive performance in revenge games under head coach Tommy Lloyd, bringing their record to 11-1 in such matchups.

The Wildcats, now ranked No. 20 with a record of 17-6 and 11-1 in the Big 12, demonstrated their strength in the paint, out-rebounding Texas Tech by a staggering 13 boards. This was a significant turnaround from their previous encounter, where they were out-rebounded by 16. Arizona’s ability to dominate the interior was evident as they scored 48 points in the paint, compared to Texas Tech’s 28. The Wildcats also showcased their offensive efficiency, shooting 51.7 percent from the field, a stark improvement from the 31 percent they managed in their prior clash.

Tobe Awaka was a standout performer for Arizona, contributing 14 points and 11 rebounds. He was one of five Wildcats to score in double figures, with Jaden Bradley and Caleb Love leading the scoring with 16 points each, while also combining for 11 assists. KJ Lewis and Henri Veesaar added 15 points apiece, despite the team facing a shorter bench due to Trey Townsend’s absence after a head injury.

Texas Tech struggled offensively, shooting just 37.1 percent, marking their second-lowest shooting performance of the season. The Red Raiders, now 18-5 overall and 9-3 in the conference, were unable to find their rhythm against Arizona’s defense, which forced them into turnovers and tough shots.

The game began with Arizona establishing an early lead, but Texas Tech fought back, briefly closing the gap. However, the Wildcats maintained their composure and led 39-37 at halftime. After the break, Arizona came out strong, scoring on their first four possessions and forcing an early timeout from Texas Tech as they built a 52-43 advantage.

Despite a late push from the Red Raiders, who cut the lead to just three points with under two minutes remaining, Arizona executed down the stretch, going 8 of 10 from the free-throw line in the final minute to secure the victory.

Looking ahead, Arizona will travel to Kansas State on Tuesday, facing a team that recently upset No. 16 Kansas. With Kansas State riding a five-game winning streak, the Wildcats will need to maintain their momentum and continue their strong play as they head into the final stretch of the season. The stage is set for another exciting matchup in the Big 12 as Arizona aims to build on their recent success.