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Mathurin, Koloko help Arizona beat Wichita St. 82-78 in OT

by arizonawildcats.com
Nov 19, 2021

LAS VEGAS (AP) Bennedict Mathurin had 25 points and 10 rebounds, Christian Koloko added 13 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks and Arizona blew a 16-point second-half lead before beating Wichita State 82-78 in overtime on Sunday night at the Roman Main Event.

Azuolas Tubelis scored 16 points and Kerr Kriisa had 12 points and six assists for Arizona (4-0).

Kriisa scored five consecutive points in a 9-0 run to open the extra period and the Wildcats held on from there. Wichita State (3-1) missed its first seven field-goal attempts in overtime.

Tyson Etienne, who missed Tuesday's game due to an illness, scored a season-high 27 points for Wichita State. The 6-foot-2 guard, who was named the American Athletic Conference's co-player of the year last season, was 9-of-27 shooting, hit 5 of 15 from 3-point range and made 4 of 8 from the free-throw line.

Wichita State trailed 54-38 with about 12 minutes left in the second half before the Shockers used a 17-2 run and, about four minutes later, a 10-1 spurt to take their first lead of the game at 65-64 about 10 minutes later. Tubelis converted a 3-point play to give Arizona a 69-66 lead with 24 seconds left in regulation but Etienne answered with a 3-pointer to force overtime.

Qua Grant scored 13 points and Craig Porter Jr. added 11 for the Shockers.

Arizona committed 22 turnovers and hit just 5 of 27 (18.5%) from 3-point range but made more free throws (29) than Wichita State - which shot 50% from the foul line - attempted (24).

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Arizona Postgame Notes

  • Arizona recorded an assist on 10 of its 14 made field goals in the first half versus Wichita State.
  • Five different Wildcats combined to score Arizona's first six field goals.
  • The Wildcats shot 56 percent in the first half against the Shockers on Friday, marking 50 percent or greater shooting in the first half in all four games this shooting.
  • With the victory over Wichita State, Arizona's all-time record inside T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas improves to 8-1.
  • Bennedict Mathurin eclipsed the 20-point mark for the fourth time in his career in the win, finishing with 25 points and 10 rebounds
  • It's the third career double-double for Mathurin and first since 2/27/21 vs. Washington
  • Forward Azoulas Tubelis tallied a career-high three blocks in Friday's match-up with Wichita State.
  • Bennedict Mathurin finished the first half with 17 points, which was the second-highest scoring half of his career. Mathurin scored 22 in the second half at Oregon State last season.
  • Arizona center Christian Koloko added to his career-best shot blocking streak with four rejections on Friday and has 16 for the year, tied for third-most in the nation this season.
  • Koloko also registered his second career double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds. 
  • The last time UA had two players with double-doubles in the same game was vs. Washington on Feb. 27, 2021 when Tubelis and Mathurin pulled it off.
  • Kerr Kriisa dished out a career-high six assists.

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