Azuolas Tubelis had 25 points and 10 rebounds, and two other Arizona players also posted double-doubles, as the No. 9 Wildcats withstood a late Oregon State run for an 86-74 victory on Thursday night in Corvallis, Ore.
Oumar Ballo had 15 points and 14 rebounds for Arizona (15-2, 4-2 Pac-12), while Kerr Kriisa paired his 13 points with 11 assists for his double-double.
The Wildcats drained seven 3-pointers in the first half to help them take control and eventually build a 24-point lead in the second half. But the Beavers (7-10, 1-5), who trailed by double digits for the final 30 minutes, provided a scare by rallying within 72-62 when Jayden Stevens split defenders for a fast-break layup with 5:04 left.
Kriisa answered with a 3-point shot to provide more breathing room, and Ballo later had a nice sequence by blocking a shot and finishing with a fast-break dunk to put Arizona up 79-63 at the 3:41 mark.
Tyler Bilodeau and Michael Rataj paced the Beavers with 18 points apiece. Jordan Pope added 14 points.
Arizona’s early 3-point shooting was a significant pick-me-up after the team entered the game having made only 21.3 percent of its attempts (26 of 122) in its first five league games. The Wildcats, who led 44-26 at halftime, finished 11 of 29 from beyond the arc. Seven different Arizona players made a 3-point shot.
Arizona’s Courtney Ramey wasn’t that far off another double-double (11 points, seven assists).
Kriisa rattled in a 3-pointer on the opening possession of the game to start a 7-0 run. It didn’t help Oregon State that burly post player Rodrigue Andela picked up two fouls in the first two minutes and sat until late in the half, when he quickly picked up his third foul.
That took away a potential defensive weapon against big men Ballo and Tubelis, who shot 6 of 7 from the field in the first half en route to 15 points. Arizona had as many 3-point makes in the first half as Oregon State had total baskets.
–Field Level Media
