It figures that an old Pac-12 foe would provide Arizona with its first truly effortless win in the Big 12.
The 22nd-ranked Wildcats built a double-digit lead just over eight minutes into the game and then put the plane on autopilot in an 83-66 win over Utah on Wednesday night at McKale Center.
Caleb Love had 23 points, tying his career high with six 3-pointers, and added seven assists while Tobe Awaka, Jaden Bradley and Henri Veesaar each had 12. Arizona (19-9, 13-4 Big 12) shot only 41.3 percent but held Utah to 33.9 percent shooting and turned 12 Ute turnovers into 19 points.
Arizona also turned it over just seven times, tied for the fewest this season, with only two in the first half.
The UA led 46-32 at halftime thanks to 17 points off nine Utah turnovers. It got the lead up to 20—only the third time in Big 12 play the Wildcats have led by at least 20—before the Utes got on the scoreboard, and Utah didn’t make a field goal until after the under-16 timeout.
Arizona led 65-41 with 11:15 to go before starting to let up on the defensive end, allowing Utah to cut it to 73-57 with 5:27 remaining. It was reminiscent of several games earlier this season when the Wildcats built a big lead and then sleepwalked the rest of the way.
A 3 by Mason Madsen got Utah within 11 with 90 seconds left but Veesaar drained a 3 on the other end and the Wildcats put in walk-ons for the final minute. A banked-in 3 by Grant Weitman brought a huge ovation from the Zona Zoo, many of whom no doubt took Arizona -14.5.
Arizona made seven of its first nine shots from inside the arc, helping to build a 23-11 lead thanks to a 13-3 run. Utah briefly cut the deficit to seven before Love hit back-to-back 3s to put the Wildcats up 36-22 with 4:20 left in the first half.
The Wildcats maintained a double-digit lead the remainder of the half, leading by as many as 16 after Love hit a pair of free throws in the final minute.
Arizona plays two of its final three regular season games on the road, beginning Saturday at No. 9 Iowa State. The Wildcats beat the Cyclones 86-75 in overtime last month thanks to Love’s miraculous 6-foot buzzer beater at the end of regulation.