Ballo’s double-double and strong defense in the second half help No. 11 Arizona defeat Stanford 82–71.
TUCSON, Arizona — Arizona, like it was in Northern California a month ago, watched as Stanford players made 3-pointer after 3-pointer.
With another blowout loss looming, the Wildcats forced the Cardinals to miss free throws, effectively shutting them down.
Caleb Love contributed 18 points, No. 11 and Oumar Ballo had 13 rebounds and 18 points. Arizona defeated Stanford 82–71 on Sunday night after stifling the last part of the game.
“They shot the lights out of the ball, 1 through 5, everyone hitting transition 3-pointers,” stated guard Jaden Bradley of Arizona, who was a key member of the team’s bench defense. “We made adjustments at halftime and tried to stay out front and run them off the line, and the coach’s game plan worked.”
For the second straight game, Stanford’s offensive dominance was allowed by the Wildcats (17-5, 8-3 Pac-12), who were down by 11 points at the half while the Cardinals (11-10, 6-5) drained nine 3-pointers.
Arizona’s defense changed the course of the game, causing 11 turnovers in the second half and restricting Stanford to 9 of 32 shooting. The Wildcats led 48–24 in the paint after Pelle Larsson scored 17 points.
Stanford, which played without its top scorer Kanaan Carlyle because of an upper-body injury sustained on Thursday against Arizona State, was led in scoring by Maxime Raynaud with 29 points and Michael Jones with 21.
Stanford coach Jared Hass stated, “I don’t think anything changed in terms of philosophy or game planning; we just didn’t execute as well.” “They performed a good job of obtaining thefts and being physically present on the drives.”
On December 31, the Cardinal outshot Arizona at Maples Pavilion, winning 100–82 and setting a school record with 16 3-pointers made in 25 tries.
At McKale Center, Stanford had yet another wild start, losing and then regaining control during the first half.
The Cardinals led 26-17 after making six of seven from three, went six minutes without making a field goal, and then began to shoot well from three once more during a 12-0 run.
By the half, Raynaud had 21 points, Jones had 16, and Stanford had made 9 of 19 free throws to take a 45-34 advantage.
Hass remarked, “I love the guys were playing loose and free. We made a bunch of shots.”
In the second, the freedom vanished as Arizona began to tighten up defensively and start getting the ball to Ballo.
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Ballo’s double-double and strong defense in the second half help No. 11 Arizona defeat Stanford 82–71.
Arizona’s Oumar Ballo (11) gestures after scoring against Stanford during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Sunday, Feb. 4, 2024, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)
Arizona’s Oumar Ballo (11) gestures after scoring against Stanford during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Sunday, Feb. 4, 2024, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb) (Darryl Webb / Associated Press)
BY JOHN MARSHALL ASSOCIATED PRESS
FEB. 4, 2024 7:57 PM PT
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TUCSON, Arizona — Arizona, like it was in Northern California a month ago, watched as Stanford players made 3-pointer after 3-pointer.
Staring down the barrel
Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd stated, “We guarded a little better, didn’t get beat individually.”
Lewis Direction Lewis scored 12 points on 5 of 8 shots with good efficiency. His defensive contributions were the most significant.
Ballo’s double-double and strong defense in the second half help No. 11 Arizona defeat Stanford 82–71.
On Sunday, February 4, 2024, in Tucson, Arizona, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Oumar Ballo (11), of Arizona, makes a gesture after scoring against Stanford. (Photo by Darryl Webb/AP)
On Sunday, February 4, 2024, in Tucson, Arizona, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Oumar Ballo (11), of Arizona, makes a gesture after scoring against Stanford. (Photo by Darryl Webb/AP) Source: Associated Press/Darryl Webb
COPied from John Marshall’s Associate Press
2/FEB/24, 7:57 p.m. PT
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TUCSON, Arizona — Arizona, like it was in Northern California a month ago, watched as Stanford players made 3-pointer after 3-pointer.
gazing down the barrel
