Arizona Wildcats men’s basketball continued its early‑season surge on Tuesday night at the McKale Center, delivering a decisive 90‑59 win over the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks. The victory marked head coach Tommy Lloyd’s 150th career win, a milestone reached in just 187 games – the fewest needed by any coach in Division I history over a five‑year span.
Milestone for Coach Lloyd
When Lloyd took over the program five years ago, the first win of his tenure came against the same opponent. Now, the Wildcats have turned that early triumph into a historic benchmark. Lloyd’s mentor, Gonzaga’s Mark Few, achieved the same 150‑win mark in 186 games, underscoring the significance of Lloyd’s rapid ascent.
Balanced scoring and efficient shooting
The Wildcats displayed a well‑rounded offensive attack. Senior forward Ivan Kharchenkov led the way with 20 points, adding seven rebounds and seven assists. Caleb Holt contributed 17 points, while sophomore forward Motiejus Krivas tallied 16 and senior guard Derek Dixon chipped in 12. Holt also recorded five rebounds, three assists, three steals and a block. Guard JJ Mandaquit hit three three‑pointers and dished out seven assists.
Arizona shot an impressive 61.7 percent from the field and made eight of 25 three‑point attempts. The team assisted on 26 of 37 baskets and forced 11 steals. In contrast, NAU shot just 41.2 percent and turned the ball over 15 times, yielding 21 transition points for the Wildcats.
Defensive dominance
Arizona’s defense set the tone early, not securing its first offensive rebound until the 5:41 mark of the first half. The Lumberjacks failed to reach the free‑throw line until the opening minute of the second half. The Wildcats also blanked NAU on fast‑break opportunities, out‑scoring them 28‑0 in that category.
At halftime, Arizona led 46‑22, buoyed by 65.4 percent shooting. Early in the second half, a highlight‑reel transition play saw Bryce James block a dunk attempt, sparking a fast‑break run that gave Kharchenkov a dunk. James then knocked down a three‑pointer to push the lead to 55‑29.
Family ties on the court
The game featured a unique father‑son storyline when NAU’s Max Majerle, son of former NBA player Kurt Majerle, completed a three‑point play after Bryce James was called for a foul on his own three‑point attempt. The sequence sparked an 11‑2 run for the Lumberjacks, narrowing the gap to 57‑40 with 14:58 remaining.
Referee humor and game flow
Referee Greg Nixon provided a moment of levity, admitting on the courtside microphone that a reversed out‑of‑bounds call was “one of the worst” he had seen. The Wildcats responded by extending their lead, with Dylan Anderson scoring the opening points before Arizona surged ahead with 11 of the next 13 points.
Three different Wildcats knocked down three‑pointers within the first nine minutes, and both Dixon and Mandaquit hit consecutive threes to push the score to 35‑17 with just over six minutes left in the first half.
Looking ahead
Arizona will travel to Auburn on Friday for its next matchup. The Tigers, currently 2‑0, have posted dominant home victories over Southeast Louisiana and Appalachian State. The Wildcats aim to continue their strong start and build on Coach Lloyd’s historic achievement.
Original reporting: Arizona Desert Swarm (Tucson Sports) — read the source article.
