Wildcats cruise to 3-0 start after blowout win over North Dakota State

Christian Koloko scored 16 points and the Arizona Wildcats cruised to a 97-45 win over North Dakota State to improve to 3-0.

BY ASSOCIATED PRESS

Nov 16, 2021, 9:25 PM

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University of Arizona Wildcat guard #1 Bennedict Mathurin during the second half of a basketball game between the Northern Arizona University Lumberjacks and the University of Arizona Wildcats on November 9, 2021 at the McKale Center in Tucson, AZ. (Photo by Christopher Hook/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

(Photo by Christopher Hook/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — Christian Koloko had 16 points to lead five in double figures as Arizona routed North Dakota State 97-45 on Tuesday night.

Arizona (3-0) has won two in a row by more than 50 points for the first time since the 1920-21 season. The last time the Wildcats had two 50-point wins in a season was 1997-98.

Azuolas Tubelis and Bennedict Mathurin scored 15 points apiece for Arizona. Kerr Kriisa added 12 points and Oumar Ballo had 10. Mathurin and Kriisa combined for seven 3-pointers.

The Wildcats shot 51.5% from the floor and made nearly half of their 3-point attempts (13 of 27).

The Wildcats scored the first 11 points and built a 21-point halftime lead. They opened the second half with a 31-8 run and had a 44-point advantage with about 12 minutes remaining.

Jarius Cook scored 10 points for North Dakota State (2-2).

Arizona will play its next two games at Las Vegas in the Roman Main Event. The Bison return home for their next two.