Arizona Wildcats Basketball
...in Las Vegas
FIU 96 Arizona 95
The #4 Arizona Wildcats missed 52 shots from the field today at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
That'll help explain why Arizona lost to #14 Florida Atlantic, 96-95, in double overtime and fell to 9-2 on the season. Undoubtedly, Arizona will drop a few more spots in the rankings as the Wildcats' long and somewhat grueling non-conference schedule finally comes to a close.
And now it's on to Pac-12 Conference play.
In Las Vegas today, despite shooting 38.5 percent from the field (33 of 85) -- including seven of 25 from long-range, Arizona managed a 37-31 lead over Florida Atlantic at the end of the first half and then found themselves deadlocked with the Owls at 73-all at the end of regulation.
The two teams played on. The Owls still had their sharpshooter, Johnell Davis, tossing in buckets, and the Wildcats had their main man, Caleb Love, on the court doing the same. With 10 seconds remaining in the first overtime, Davis banked in a layup to put the Owls up 84-82, but Love was fouled five seconds later and sank two free throws to send the game into a second overtime.
The Owls and the Wildcats traded baskets to begin the second OT, but with 2:47 remaining, Jalen Gaffney put Florida Atlantic up 93-88 with a 3-pointer, and it took a layin by Pelle Larsson to close the gap to 93-90 at the 2:20 mark. Tre Carroll made two free throws for the Owls at 2:05, Arizona's Kylan Boswell hit a long-range three-pointer as the clock ticked down to 1:53, and Love ended up back at the foul line, canning two more free throws to tie the game at 95-all.
With 57 seconds remaining, Larsson fouled Giancarlo Rosado, who made one of two free throws in what proved to be the game's final points. Love missed a layup with 45 seconds left and then a 3-pointer just off the mark at the buzzer.
Love finished the game with 26 points but was 8 for 25 from the field. Oumar Ballo had a career night in rebounds with 21 and scored 13 points. Larsson finished with 15 points, Boswell 12, and KJ Lewis scored 10.
Davis led everyone with 35 points. The Owls shot 50 percent from the field, canning 36 of 72 and 8 of 24 3-pointers.
It was a tremendous game to watch . That is what college BBall is all about. Full effort to the end.
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