Arizona showed both its best and worst sides in a rollercoaster of a basketball game last Saturday. Fortunately, the best prevailed, particularly in the crucial moments.
The Wildcats, ranked second, maintained the lead for over 37 minutes, although they came dangerously close to squandering a 17-point advantage in the middle of the game, ultimately securing a 78-68 victory over the seventh-seeded Dayton team in the second round of the NCAA Tournament at the Delta Center.
This triumph propels UA (27-8) into its second Sweet 16 in three years under Tommy Lloyd. Their next challenge awaits in the West Region semifinals in Los Angeles on Thursday, where they will face the winner of the clash between No. 3 Baylor and No. 6 Clemson, who are set to play on Sunday in Memphis.
Arizona displayed remarkable shooting prowess, hitting 52.8 percent of their shots, including an impressive 64 percent in the first half. They also made 8 of 18 3-point attempts while limiting Dayton (25-8) to a mere 29.2 percent from beyond the arc, a significant drop from their season average of 40.2 percent.
The Wildcats were led by Caleb Love, who contributed 19 points, with 13 of them scored in the first 12 minutes. Keshad Johnson and Pelle Larsson added 13 points each, while Jaden Bradley chipped in 12 from the bench. The UA reserves outscored Dayton's bench 23-2, highlighting the team's depth and versatility.
Dayton, shooting 40.7 percent overall, saw a standout performance from DaRon Holmes II, who scored 23 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, showcasing why he was a target for Arizona in the past.
Despite leading 40-33 at halftime, Arizona had let their 17-point lead slip away towards the end of the first half. Dayton went on a 10-0 run before the break and capitalized on 11 UA turnovers, scoring nine points off them. However, Johnson's 3-pointer helped the Wildcats stabilize their lead, although the Flyers managed to narrow the gap to 43-39 with 15:07 left in the game.
Arizona faced a rough start to the second half, missing six of their first seven shots. Dayton capitalized on this momentum, bringing the score to 52-49 with 11:42 remaining, courtesy of a Koby Brea 3-pointer. However, the Wildcats quickly regained control, maintaining a two-score cushion. They eventually stretched their lead to double digits at 63-51 with 7:50 left, following a KJ Lewis drive and a Kylan Boswell steal, adding to the excitement of their performance.
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