Arizona men’s basketball gets back above .500, closes non-conference with win over CMU
Dec 21, 2024, 7:00 PM
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — Caleb Love matched his season-high with 24 points to help power Arizona to a 94-41 rout of Central Michigan on Saturday.
The Wildcats, who are back above .500 at 6-5, won back-to-back games for the first time since beating Canisius and Old Dominion to open the season.
The Chippewas (5-6) scored the game’s first three points but Love knocked down three 3-pointers and scored 18 first-half points to put Arizona firmly in charge at intermission, 44-23.
Arizona shot 54.5% from the field, including 10 of 29 from distance, and got 44 points from its bench. K.J. Lewis hit 4 of 8 from the field and 5 of 5 from the line for 13 points to lead the reserves. Tobe Awaka added a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. The Wildcats dominated the boards, outrebounding the Chippewas 45-27.
Central Michigan struggled from the field, hitting just 14 of 54 (25.9%), including just 3 of 16 from distance. Cayden Vasko hit 4 of 13, including 2 of 5 from 3-point range, to lead the team with 10 points.
Arizona opens Big 12 Conference play at home when it plays host to TCU on Dec. 30.
The Wildcats have some work to do before their NCAA tournament resume is up to snuff, but they now play in a conference where quality wins can regularly be picked up with consistent play, rather than the Pac-12 where Arizona was often one of just a few consistent programs.
