Tuesday night marked a milestone for Arizona Wildcats head coach Tommy Lloyd, as his team secured a decisive 92-78 victory over the Oklahoma State Cowboys. The win made Lloyd the fastest coach to reach 100 victories at his current school, tying Gonzaga’s Mark Few by achieving the feat in just 126 games.
Game Highlights
Caleb Love: The senior guard delivered a career-high 27 points, including key three-pointers in the second half that helped Arizona pull away. Love also surpassed 2,400 career points, cementing his status as one of college basketball’s premier scorers.
Trey Townsend: Contributed 19 points on 7-of-8 shooting, breaking out with his best offensive performance since December.
Arizona’s Offense: Shot over 50% from the field, capitalizing on their deep rotation and efficient ball movement.
The first half was tightly contested, with both teams displaying sharp shooting. Arizona led 43-39 at halftime, thanks to a late surge that saw them hit seven of their final eight shots. Oklahoma State struggled at the free-throw line, going just 6-of-11, which proved costly.
In the second half, Arizona’s offense erupted. Love’s back-to-back three-pointers extended the Wildcats’ lead to 59-48 early on, and they maintained control for the rest of the game.
Oklahoma State’s Effort
Marchelus Avery and Bryce Thompson: Each scored 21 points, keeping the Cowboys competitive through the first half.
Abou Ousmane: Added 14 points, while Brandon Newman chipped in with 12 points, but the team couldn’t match Arizona’s firepower.
Despite their offensive output, Oklahoma State struggled defensively in the second half, unable to contain Love and Townsend.
Key Stats
Arizona’s Shooting: Shot 53% from the field and hit 10 three-pointers, showcasing their offensive versatility.
Rebounding Edge: Arizona outrebounded Oklahoma State 38-29, creating second-chance opportunities that proved decisive.
Turnovers: Both teams handled the ball well, with Arizona committing just 9 turnovers compared to Oklahoma State’s 11.
Takeaways
Tommy Lloyd’s Milestone: Reaching 100 career wins so quickly highlights Lloyd’s exceptional coaching ability. Since taking over, he has elevated Arizona to one of the top programs in the Big 12.
Arizona’s Depth: Love’s leadership and Townsend’s emergence are complemented by a deep, balanced roster, making the Wildcats a legitimate contender for a conference title.
Oklahoma State’s Struggles: Despite strong individual performances, the Cowboys couldn’t maintain their defensive intensity against Arizona’s high-octane offense.
Looking Ahead
Arizona Wildcats (17-4, 7-2 Big 12): Return home for a challenging matchup against Colorado on Saturday, looking to build on this win.
Oklahoma State Cowboys (12-8, 4-5 Big 12): Will try to rebound against Texas Tech on Sunday in another pivotal conference game.
The Wildcats celebrated a historic achievement for Tommy Lloyd in style, securing a dominant win against a tough opponent. With Caleb Love leading the charge and Trey Townsend finding his groove, Arizona looks poised to make a deep postseason run. For Oklahoma State, the focus now shifts to regrouping and finding consistency as they navigate the remainder of their Big 12 schedule.
