Arizona fans enjoyed a solid showing from the Wildcats on Friday night as the team held off San Diego State 82-67 in an exhibition at the ALKEME Arena inside McKale Center. While the game does not affect the regular season, the performance offers a promising glimpse of the squad’s depth and resilience heading into the 2026-27 campaign.
Key contributors and stats
Six Wildcats recorded double‑digit scoring. Senior forward Motiejus Krivas led the way with 17 points, 15 rebounds, four blocks and two assists in 29 minutes. Junior forward Ivan Kharchenkov added a double‑double of 13 points and 12 rebounds, while also dishing out four assists and two steals. Sophomore guard Caleb Holt contributed 15 points, and both Derek Dixon and JJ Mandaquit posted 12 points each. Reserve forward Maksim Brnovic rounded out the scoring with 10 points, shooting an efficient 4‑of‑5 from the floor.
Brnovic’s highlight moment came midway through the first half when he knocked down a three‑pointer, stole the ball and finished with a one‑handed dunk that drew cheers from the home crowd.
Team shooting and rebounding
The Wildcats struggled with overall shooting, converting just 34.7 percent from the field and 26.5 percent from three‑point range. Nevertheless, they compensated by attacking the free‑throw line, drawing 28 attempts and making 21. Arizona also dominated the glass, out‑rebounding the Aztecs 49‑38 and posting a +12 advantage on the offensive boards.
San Diego State’s effort
San Diego State, missing three projected rotation players due to injury, shot 40 percent overall and made only five of 16 three‑point attempts. Transfer guard Isaiah Sy was the Aztecs’ top scorer with 17 points on 7‑of‑11 shooting. The Aztecs turned the ball over 16 times, while the Wildcats forced 13 steals.
Game flow
Arizona trailed early, falling behind by as many as six points, but seized a 40‑32 lead at halftime. The Wildcats shot 33.3 percent before the break, including a modest 3‑of‑17 from three, then erupted in the second half, hitting five of nine three‑pointers in the opening eight minutes. A rolling triple by Brnovic pushed the lead to 62‑46 with 11:39 left in the game.
After extending the margin to 70‑59 with 5:56 remaining, the Wildcats went cold, missing nine straight shots and allowing SDSU to score eight straight points, narrowing the gap to 70‑59. Arizona responded with a 14‑0 run, featuring eight free throws from three different players, to finish the first half on an 18‑4 spurt.
Looking ahead
The Wildcats’ final exhibition is scheduled for Oct. 23 when they host Eastern Washington at home. Eastern Washington’s head coach Dan Monson, who famously hired Tommy Lloyd at Gonzaga over 25 years ago, will lead his team in what promises to be another valuable test before conference play begins.
Overall, the exhibition highlighted Arizona’s rebounding strength and depth across the frontcourt, while also exposing areas for improvement in shooting efficiency. Fans can take heart from the balanced scoring and defensive intensity displayed against a solid SDSU opponent.
Original reporting: Arizona Desert Swarm (Tucson Sports) — read the source article.
