DURHAM, NC – No. 12 Arizona Basketball (2-0) went back to action against No. 2 Duke (1-1), and they were up to the challenge, defeating the host Blue Devils, 78-73. This was the most anticipated college basketball matchup of the evening, and it did not disappoint as No. 12 Arizona Basketball faced No. 2 Duke in a fierce battle. If Arizona was going to win, they would need to overcome a lot of travel as well as a fervent home crowd, but fortunately, the Wildcats appeared unfazed in this one.
The Wildcats shocked the home team Blue Devils with a 78-73 victory, scoring 78 points on 46.2 percent shooting from the field, including 6-17 (35.3) from beyond the arc!
All five of Arizona’s starting players scored in double digits for the game, with Caleb Love adding 11 points and hitting a perfect 4-4 from the charity stripe to help the Wildcats win. Kesahd Johnson led the way with 14 points.
KJ Lewis and Motiejus Krivas, both freshmen, contributed six points apiece off the bench.
Jumping out to an eight-point halftime lead, No. 12 Arizona Basketball weathered No. 2 Duke’s push to come away with the narrow, 78-73 win!
The Wildcats went to No. 2 Duke in this one, and despite facing a difficult test so early in the season, they were unaffected by the opposition. With 7:56 remaining, Arizona had jumped out to an early 21-16 lead and was prepared for a fight.
Regretfully, Duke would not be leaving this one peacefully. After exchanging blows for the majority of the first half, the Blue Devils struck back with a 9-2 run to grab a 25-23 lead.
Fortunately, Arizona would respond with a move of its own. After taking the lead again at 26–25, the Wildcats persisted in pushing ahead, eventually extending their advantage to 36–30 before defeating Duke 5–3 with 2:25 remaining in the half.
A long three-pointer by Caleb Love that beat the buzzer and went in gave the Wildcats a 41-33 lead as he sprinted down the floor after grabbing a rebound following a failed free throw. This gave Arizona even a small boost of momentum going into the half!
Even though Arizona had some breathing room going into the second half, the game would end in a back-and-forth exchange.
Unfortunately, Duke would start to settle into a rhythm in the second half and would go on a 14-4 run to grab the lead at 54-52, despite still holding an eight-point advantage at 48-40.
With 10:34 remaining, Kylan Boswell made a crucial three-pointer to give Arizona a 57-54 lead. Arizona would not give up and would fight back in kind.
Arizona and Duke appeared to be trading baskets throughout the first half. Arizona would lead for the majority of the second half, but Jeremy Roach’s three-pointer with 2:11 remaining would let Duke take back the lead.
Arizona persevered and eventually took the lead back, 70-69, thanks to a gutsy and-one layup from Keshad Johnson over Kyle Filipowski of Duke.
With 47 seconds remaining, the Wildcats would gradually edge closer to a difficult road victory, turning the game into a free-throw contest.
Duke had one more chance to tie the game at 76-73, but Ryan Young’s mishandled pass was tipped by Pelle Larsson, intercepted by Love, and then passed to freshman KJ Lewis, who finished with a decisive flush as time ran out to put the cherry on top!
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