No. 3 Arizona Wildcats defeat Cal on road; win 5th straight game

The No. 3 Arizona Wildcats extended their winning streak to five games on Sunday after defeating California 96-71 on the road.

The Wildcats jumped out to a 17-3 lead about six minutes into the game, and the Golden Bears never cut the deficit to single digits.

Arizona scored 48 points in the first half, hitting five of nine three pointers to start the game.

Sophomore Bennedict Mathurin drained his first three shots from deep and finished with 14 points.

“That kid can really shoot the ball.”

Yep.

📺 @Pac12Network pic.twitter.com/JVoPP2RpXD

— Arizona Basketball (@ArizonaMBB) January 23, 2022

Cal, meanwhile, shot 25.8% from the field in the first half and 35% overall.

Arizona also found success inside against the undersized Golden Bears, scoring 34 points in the paint.

Big men Christian Koloko and Oumar Ballo combined for 35 points.

Koloko collected his fifth double-double of the season with 19 points and a career-high 13 rebounds, as well.

All nine Wildcats who took the floor for more than two minutes scored, and five finished with double-digit points.

🔨🔨🔨@BennMathurin throws it up@kolokojunior1 throws it down

📺 Pac-12 Networks pic.twitter.com/Gv4R6ByqZg

— Arizona Basketball (@ArizonaMBB) January 23, 2022

The win came without forward and second-leading scorer Azuolas Tubelis, who left Thursday’s win with an ankle injury.

Arizona improved to 16-1 with the win, 6-0 in conference play. The Wildcats will visit No.9 UCLA on Tuesday then host Arizona State on Saturday.

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