Ballo, Boswell Pace Arizona To 20-Point Win Over Long Beach State

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) Arizona scored 16 straight factors over a five-minute stretch Thursday to tug away for an 85-65 victory within the first spherical of the NCAA Event and snuff out Dan Monson’s teaching tenure at Lengthy Seaside State.

Kylan Boswell scored a career-high 20 factors for the second-seeded Wildcats (26-8), who made 13 3-pointers, this system report for March Insanity.

This marked the tip of a 17-year stretch at Lengthy Seaside State for the 62-year-old Monson. He discovered final week that he would not return subsequent season. His crew responded by unexpectedly profitable the Large West Event to ship this system to March Insanity for the primary time since 2012.

Arizona trailed by one with 2:34 left within the first half. A number of free throws and a 3-pointer by Caleb Love began the Wildcats’ onslaught earlier than halftime. Keshad Johnson (13 factors) kicked off the second half with a layup, a 3 and a dunk off an alley-oop from Love, who completed with 18 factors and 11 rebounds.

Oumar Ballo added 11 factors and 13 rebounds, the thirty third double-double of his profession and his nineteenth of the season. 

By the point the surge was over on the 17:08 mark of the second half, Arizona led 50-35. Counting the halftime break, the Fifteenth-seeded Seaside went about 40 minutes with out a basket.

The Wildcats will play both Nevada or Dayton within the second spherical of the West Area.

Aboubacar Traore and A.J. George led the Seaside (21-15) with 14 factors every.

Arizona improves to 10-2 in video games performed throughout the NCAA Event in Salt Lake Metropolis. 
 

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POSTGAME MEDIA

 

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POSTGAME NOTES

• The Wildcats’ beginning 5 all scored in double figures in Thursday’s victory, which marked Arizona’s NCAA-leading 19^th recreation of the season with 5 gamers with double-digit factors.
• Arizona made 13 three-point area targets in Thursday’s NCAA Event opener, which set a program report for many made three pointers by surpassing the earlier mark of 11 (achieved thrice; most not too long ago in 2022 vs. Wright State)
• With 13 rebounds within the Arizona’s first spherical win over Lengthy Seaside State, Oumar Ballo surpassed Sean Elliott for 10^th place in profession rebounds in program historical past.
  • Ballo’s double-digit rebounding efficiency towards LBSU vaulted him as much as fourth place within the Arizona report e book for single-season rebounding report at 347.
• Ballo additionally recorded a double-double with 11 factors and 13 rebounds to open the NCAA Event, which was his 33^rd of his profession (fourth place all-time at Arizona) and 19^th of the season (additionally fourth place).
  • Thursday’s double-double was the middle’s 13^th in his final 14 video games.
  • It was additionally his second double-double within the NCAA Event after posting 13 factors, 12 rebounds final 12 months vs. Princeton
• With 11 rebounds towards the Seaside, Caleb Love set a profession excessive whereas additionally recording his second profession double-double.
• The trio of Boswell, Larsson and Love every recorded 5 or extra assists within the NCAA postseason win on Thursday, marking the primary time Arizona has had three or extra gamers with 5 assists or extra for the reason that second spherical of the 2014 NCAA Event versus Gonzaga (Gordon, Hollis-Jefferson, Johnson, McConnell).
• Ballo’s and Love’s pair of double-doubles on Thursday gave Arizona its first NCAA Event recreation with two double-doubles for the reason that Candy 16 of 2005 NCAA Event.
• Arizona’s 10 steals in its tournament-opening victory over LBSU pushed its season whole to 283. That mark ties the 2000-01 Wildcats for sixth most steals in a season in program historical past.
• The 20-point margin of victory is the largest for Arizona within the NCAA Event since 2015
• The Wildcats’ protection held LBSU to three of 17 capturing from the 3-point line, together with 0 of 9 within the second half.