Arizona drops opener to UCLA
Ivan Kharchenkov scored 38 points, but the Wildcats could not hold off the Bruins in Las Vegas.
By Chloe Martin ·
The Hall of Fame Series in Las Vegas offered a high-profile stage for the Arizona Wildcats to begin their season, yet the team found itself trailing a familiar rival.
Ivan Kharchenkov carried the offensive load with 38 points and 10 rebounds, but the rest of the roster combined for only 37 points. The Wildcats fell to the UCLA Bruins by a score of 84 to 75 at T-Mobile Arena on Monday.
UCLA’s defensive strategy focused on isolating Mo Krivas, the 7-foot-2 senior center. The Bruins sent double teams to the paint repeatedly, forcing the Lithuanian to make difficult decisions. In the final minute, Krivas attempted a pass to the corner to tie the game, but the ball traveled to an open area with no teammate present to catch it.
The Wildcats struggled to control the glass, allowing the Bruins to dominate the rebounding battle. UCLA secured 27 rebounds in the first half alone, outpacing Arizona by five. Freshman Nikola Kusturica grabbed an offensive rebound over two Arizona players after a free throw, a sequence that prompted coach Tommy Lloyd to yell at his bench.
The team also faced difficulties shooting from distance. Arizona attempted 30 three-pointers during the game but made only seven, shooting at a 23 percent clip. They scored just one three-pointer in the first half, a stark contrast to their previous season where they attempted only 16 such shots per game.
Lloyd acknowledged the challenges of integrating new players into new roles. He noted that the team was punched in the face early on but remained proud of how the players fought back. He emphasized that the loss would not define the season and urged the squad to keep moving forward.
The absence of fifth-year forward RJ Godfrey, who is holding out for a court injunction, left a gap in frontcourt depth. Freshman guard Caleb Holt also struggled, scoring seven points on two-for-seven shooting while battling foul trouble. Lloyd said the team needs to figure out how to convert open looks and that the early struggles are part of the learning process.
Source: Cronkite News
