You would be hard-pressed to find a better offensive battle than what No. 19 Arizona and BYU got into Saturday night in Tucson.
The two high-powered offenses combined for 191 points and hit a combined 24 3s in one of the best college basketball games of the day.
In the end BYU won by a slim margin, 96-95.
BYU (19-8, 10-6) takes its second win in a row, including a blowout over No. 23 Kansas to start the week. Arizona (18-9, 12-4) notched its third loss in the past four games.
RELATED STORIES
Arizona's Caleb Love named Big 12 Player of the Week
A tremendous game was spoiled with a questionable call late that would ultimately play a part in the final score.
Out of a timeout with the Wildcats leading 95-94 with 13 seconds left, BYU forward Richie Saunders drove to his right against Trey Townsend, picked up his dribble, and missed a layup.
But, officials called a foul on Townsend much to the dismay of the McKale Center crowd in attendance who booed the call. On replay, it appeared that Townsend didn’t foul the BYU guard. Saunders, who had just missed a 1-and-1 chance that could have put the game away a few possessions prior, made both to put his team up 96-95 with 3.2 seconds left. Townsend was unable to find a teammate on the ensuing inbounds, sealing the loss.
This foul just won BYU the game at Arizona.
Thoughts
pic.twitter.com/iPqsPqkdqG
— College Basketball Report (@CBKReport) February 23, 2025
Teams were seen getting into it at midcourt following the game — specifically Love and a BYU player — but it appeared nothing escalated aside from words being exchanged.
Saturday’s contest at the McKale Center was a lot closer than the last time BYU made the trip in 2009 — a 99-69 Cougars win that featured Jimmer Fredette scoring 49 in the first year of the Sean Miller era.
There were 20 lead changes and 11 ties in this season’s edition, which featured a pair of stellar offenses that do so in varying ways. BYU, coached by former Phoenix Suns assistant coach Kevin Young, runs to the corners and fires from deep with a four-out, guard-heavy rotation. Arizona, meanwhile, isn’t afraid to fire from distance, is more akin to get downhill and to the free-throw line.
Arizona and BYU played close for pretty much all 40 minutes as neither team led by more than seven points.
The Cougars saw seven players hit from distance, including a few off the hands by Mawot Mag who drilled a corner 3 a possession after Arizona guard Caleb Love hit a pair of free throws. Arizona hit another pair off the hands of K.J. Lewis, but BYU big Keba Keita scored on a putback to answer late into the second half.
With 32 seconds left after a missed free throw by Saunders, Love, who entered the day struggling from deep, found room at the top of the arc, settled himself, fired and drilled it to make it a 94-93 game in favor of BYU.
IT’S CRUNCH TIME pic.twitter.com/pyZn32gHiF
— Arizona Basketball (@ArizonaMBB) February 23, 2025
BYU’s Dallin Hall also missed the front end of a 1-and-1 chance. Love raced down the floor and was fouled just before hitting a go-ahead layup. He proceeded to hit both free throws to give Arizona a 95-94 advantage with 13 seconds left.
Six Wildcats hit double-digit scoring, led by Love’s 27 points in one of his best games of the season.
Saunders led the Cougars with 23 on 8-of-10 shooting from the field.
Follow @Lance_Hartz
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Late foul dooms Arizona in loss to BYU )
Also on site :