Balanced scoring propels No. 19 Arizona past Baylor

Tobe Awaka scored 14 points and pulled down 12 rebounds, Henri Veesaar and Caleb Love added 13 points apiece and No. 19 Arizona hung on for a 74-67 victory over Baylor on Monday in Waco, Texas.

Anthony Dell’Orso contributed 11 points as the Wildcats (18-8, 12-3 Big 12) ended a two-game losing streak. Arizona swept the season series against Baylor, having posted an 81-70 victory on Jan. 14 in Tucson, Ariz.

Baylor (16-10, 8-7 Big 12) was led by VJ Edgecombe’s 24 points. Norchad Omier posted his 14th double-double of the season with 15 points and 13 rebounds, while Jayden Nunn finished with 10 points. The Bears have alternated wins and losses over their past eight games.

Arizona took a 41-33 lead into halftime, having gone on a late 12-3 run. The Wildcats then had an 8-0 run early in the second half, establishing a 49-35 edge on a jumper by Awaka with 15:02 left. A few minutes later, Caleb Love had a thunderous one-handed slam for the Wildcats as they enjoyed a 53-39 lead with 12:49 left.

However, just as it seemed Arizona had taken control, Baylor stormed back with a 12-2 run. The Bears pulled within 55-51 on a jumper by Langston Love with 7:39 left.

Baylor stayed within striking distance, pulling within 68-65 on a running layup by Edgecombe with 39 seconds left. After Arizona’s Carter Bryant made a pair of free throws, Edgecombe sank another layup to keep it a one-possession game at 70-67 with 26.2 seconds left.

Arizona continued making its free throws, as Caleb Love knocked down two with 20.3 seconds left and KJ Lewis connected on two with 13 seconds left. Those were enough to overcome a second half that saw the Wildcats go 0-for-9 from 3-point range.

Arizona also got it done by winning the rebounding battle 37-31 and doubling Baylor in fastbreak points, 12-6.

–Field Level Media