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In a pivotal Pac-12 matchup, the eighth-ranked Arizona Wildcats triumphed over the Colorado Buffaloes, winning by a score of 99-79 at the CU Events Center on Saturday evening. Caleb Love set the pace with 19 points while Pelle Larsson added a crucial 18 points to the Wildcats’ fifth consecutive victory.
Oumar Ballo contributed 16 points and hauled in 13 rebounds, continuing his impressive stretch of double-doubles. Kylan Boswell also played a key role, chipping in 15 points for Arizona (19-5, 10-3 Pac-12), which snapped a five-game skid at Colorado and marked its first win in Boulder since 2015. Love highlighted the team’s resilient performance, saying, “We came out here with a lot of energy… and that’s what we did.”
For the Buffaloes (16-8, 7-6), Tristan da Silva and KJ Simpson each recorded 20 points. Despite the loss, the home team initially boasted a formidable 13-0 home record for the season, the best opening stretch in program history.
Ahead by just seven at the half, Arizona seized control in the second period, starting with consecutive triples from Love and Keshad Johnson. This surge formed part of an 18-5 run that catapulted the Wildcats into a 20-point lead. Although Colorado managed to trim the gap to 14 points later in the half, Love’s second-chance three-pointer revitalized Arizona’s momentum. According to head coach Tommy Lloyd, “We made that first run run in the second half… which is what championship teams do.”
Da Silva remarked on the challenges faced by the Buffaloes, stating, “I feel like we gave them too many buckets off turnovers…” Indeed, the Wildcats capitalized on Colorado’s 16 turnovers, which translated into 23 points, and added 23 more from second-chance efforts.
Despite a late first-half push by Colorado, reducing Arizona’s lead to seven, the Buffaloes could not maintain that energy in the second half and fell to the sharpshooting Wildcats. Arizona made 10 of 22 3-point attempts, complementing their aggressive defense and robust rebounding to solidify their standing as they approach the postseason.
The Buffaloes will look to rebound from this loss and regain their home-court prowess, but on this night, they were outperformed by an Arizona team peaking at the right moment.
BIG PICTURE
Arizona: The Wildcats displayed sheer dominance despite the challenges presented by Colorado’s altitude and coming off a triple-overtime win. Their accuracy from the perimeter was particularly notable, with Love hitting 4 of 6 from 3-point range. The victory puts Arizona in a great position for the final run of regular season games.
Colorado: The Buffaloes’ undefeated home streak shattered as they failed to match Arizona’s scoring from beyond the arc. With sharper execution required especially from downtown, the Buffaloes will reflect on this game as a missed opportunity against a top-tier opponent.
UP NEXT
Arizona: The Wildcats head back home to host Arizona State on the following Saturday night.
Colorado: The Buffaloes travel to face UCLA coming up on Thursday night.
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FAQ
- Who were the top scorers for Arizona in the game against Colorado?
- Caleb Love led Arizona with 19 points, followed by Pelle Larson with 18 points.
- What was significant about Arizona’s win over Colorado?
- The win marked Arizona’s first at the CU Events Center since 2015, snapping a five-game losing streak at Colorado.
- How did both teams fare in terms of 3-point shooting?
- Arizona shot 10 for 22 from 3-point range, while Colorado managed only 5 for 17.
Conclusion
The eighth-ranked Arizona Wildcats demonstrated their strength and resilience with an assertive 99-79 victory over the Colorado Buffaloes. Caleb Love and Pelle Larson’s scoring efforts, combined with a commanding second-half performance, led the team to overcome the challenges of altitude and fatigue. As Arizona looks to maintain their momentum heading into the postseason, Colorado must regroup and sharpen their focus, particularly from the 3-point line. The Wildcats’ comprehensive win epitomizes their ambition and the balanced attack that has fueled their success throughout the season.
