The No. 2 Arizona Wildcats made a statement in their first-round matchup, defeating Long Island University (LIU) 92–58 in a commanding display of offense and defense. Arizona’s offense was firing on all cylinders, shooting 53% from the field and outrebounding LIU 42–28.
Jalen Harris led Arizona with 24 points and 7 assists, while center David Mirković contributed a double-double with 18 points and 12 rebounds. Coach Tommy Lloyd praised the team’s energy and focus, noting that their defensive intensity set the tone from the opening tip. LIU struggled to generate offense, shooting just 35% and failing to capitalize on several open looks.
Arizona now faces Texas in a second-round clash, in what analysts expect to be a fast-paced, high-scoring battle. The Wildcats’ balanced scoring and depth make them one of the favorites to advance further in this year’s tournament.