The second-ranked Arizona Wildcats finished the regular season in style, running past Cal with an 89-61 win at McKale Center on Saturday afternoon.
The Wildcats, who locked up the Pac-12 regular-season title on Tuesday, head to the postseason with a 28-3 overall record and an 18-2 mark the Pac-12.
These stats tell the story of Arizona’s rout of Cal.
60%: Arizona shot 60% in the first half to jump out to the early lead. The Wildcats led by as many as 18 points before Cal closed the half strong to make it 40-31 going into the break.
5 for 5: Oumar Ballo made five straight shots — three of them dunks — in his first eight minutes of play, reaching the double-digit mark for the 11th time this season. He finished with 16 points.
30 for 48: Arizona had its best shooting performance of the year percentage-wise, shooting 63% (30 for 48) from the field. It was one of two games this season Arizona has shot over 60%.
46: Arizona’s bench got plenty of playing time and contributed in a big way, tallying 46 combined points. Seven different bench players scored against Cal. Ballo had 16, Pelle Larsson had 13 and Adama Bal scored a career-high seven on 3-of-4 shooting.
10: Sixth-year senior Justin Kier got the start for his final home game at McKale and scored 10 points. He is one of eight active college players with 1,500 points, 700 rebounds and 300 assists in his career.
18: The Wildcats are the first team in Pac-12 history to reach 18 conference wins in a season. The Pac-12 expanded from 18 conference games to 20 in the 2020-21 season. Six prior teams went 17-1.
5: Arizona was one of five teams in the country to go undefeated at home. It won all 17 home games by an averaging margin of 23.5 points.
11: Arizona has won the last 11 meetings with Cal and 15 of the last 16 overall.
39: Tommy Lloyd has cut down the nets 39 times in his coaching career between Arizona and Gonzaga. While at Gonzaga, Lloyd’s Bulldogs won 20 West Coast Conference regular-season titles and 16 conference tournament titles and advanced to two Final Fours. He cut down the nets in McKale for the first time as a head coach following UA’s win over Cal.
Photos: University of Arizona wraps up regular season with an 89-61 win over Cal, Pac 12 basketball
University of Arizona vs California
Arizona Wildcats hoist their trophy after their win over the California Golden Bears at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., March 5, 2022.
Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star
University of Arizona vs California
Arizona Wildcats guard Bennedict Mathurin (0) slams home the first score of the afternoon after the Wildcats won the tip against the California Golden Bears in the first half of their Pac 12 men's basketball game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., March 5, 2022.
Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star
University of Arizona vs California
Arizona Wildcats senior guard Justin Kier gets the honor of finishing off the net as the team celebrates a Pac 12 championship on Saturday.
Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star
University of Arizona vs California
Arizona guard Bennedict Mathurin shows off his bit of the net as the team celebrates their Pac 12 championship following Saturday’s win over Cal.
Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star
University of Arizona vs California
Arizona Wildcats head coach Tommy Lloyd leads the net cutting during the post-game celebration of their Pac 12 championship following their game against the California Golden Bears at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., March 5, 2022.
Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star
University of Arizona vs California
Arizona Wildcats guard Dalen Terry (4) and center Christian Koloko (35) get high-fived from every side as they move through the crowd in celebration of their Pac 12 championship following their win over the California Golden Bears McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., March 5, 2022.
Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star
University of Arizona vs California
Arizona Wildcats guard Kerr Kriisa (25) yells into the crowd as the team celebrates their Pac 12 championship after their game against the California Golden Bears at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., March 5, 2022.
Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star
University of Arizona vs California
Arizona Wildcats center Oumar Ballo (11) throws down in front of the entire California Golden Bears defense in the second half of their Pac 12 men's basketball game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., March 5, 2022.
Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star
University of Arizona vs California
Arizona Wildcats center Christian Koloko (35) jumps back onto the court after the team worked their way through the McKale Center crowd celebrating their Pac 12 championship after their win against the California Golden Bears, Tucson, Ariz., March 5, 2022.
Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star
University of Arizona vs California
Arizona Wildcats head coach Tommy Lloyd has words with one of the game officials after one of his Wildcats picked up a foul against the California Golden Bears in the first half of their Pac 12 men's basketball game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., March 5, 2022.
Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star
University of Arizona vs California
Arizona Wildcats guard Kerr Kriisa (25) yells after a Wildcat bucket during a big run against the California Golden Bears in the first half of their Pac 12 men's basketball game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., March 5, 2022.
Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star
University of Arizona vs California
Arizona Wildcats guard Kerr Kriisa (25) and guard Pelle Larsson (3) swarm over California Golden Bears guard Jalen Celestine (32) defending at mid-court in the first half of their Pac 12 men's basketball game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., March 5, 2022.
Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star
University of Arizona vs California
Arizona Wildcats center Oumar Ballo (11) celebrates after slamming home a dunk against the California Golden Bears in the first half of their Pac 12 men's basketball game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., March 5, 2022.
Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star
University of Arizona vs California
Arizona Wildcats center Oumar Ballo (11) polishes off one of the Wildcats' many dunks against the California Golden Bears in the first half of their Pac 12 men's basketball game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., March 5, 2022.
Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star
University of Arizona vs California
Arizona Wildcats forward Azuolas Tubelis (10) passes over California Golden Bears forward Obinna Anyanwu (23) in the first half of their Pac 12 men's basketball game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., March 5, 2022.
Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star
University of Arizona vs California
Arizona Wildcats guard Bennedict Mathurin (0) goes up against California Golden Bears guard Jordan Shepherd (31) on a drive in the first half of their Pac 12 men's basketball game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., March 5, 2022.
Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star
University of Arizona vs California
Arizona Wildcats forward Azuolas Tubelis (10) dives for a loose ball with California Golden Bears forward Obinna Anyanwu (23) during a scramble in the second half of their Pac 12 men's basketball game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., March 5, 2022.
Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star
University of Arizona vs California
Arizona Wildcats center Christian Koloko (35) gets tied up by California Golden Bears forward Kuany Kuany (13) and forward Lars Thiemann (21) on a put-back attempt in the second half of their Pac 12 men's basketball game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., March 5, 2022.
Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star
University of Arizona vs California
Arizona Wildcats head coach Tommy Lloyd reacts after a call against his team in the second half against the California Golden Bears at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., March 5, 2022.
Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star
University of Arizona vs California
California Golden Bears guard Jordan Shepherd (31) grabs Arizona Wildcats guard Bennedict Mathurin (0) as he tries use a screen to get inside in the second half of their Pac 12 men's basketball game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., March 5, 2022.
Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star
University of Arizona vs California
Arizona Wildcats guard Shane Nowell (1) heads to the basket via a screen from center Christian Koloko (35) on California Golden Bears forward Kuany Kuany (13) in the second half of their Pac 12 men's basketball game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., March 5, 2022.
Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star
University of Arizona vs California
Arizona Wildcats guard Justin Kier (5) comes off the floor to the cheers from the crowd in the final moments against the California Golden Bears at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., March 5, 2022.
Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star
University of Arizona vs California
Arizona Wildcats center Oumar Ballo (11) drops a hard dunk on the California Golden Bears in their Pac 12 men's basketball game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., March 5, 2022.
Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star
University of Arizona vs California
California Golden Bears head coach Mark Fox sinks to his knees as his team slips farther behind the Arizona Wildcats in the second half of their Pac 12 men's basketball game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., March 5, 2022.
Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star
University of Arizona vs California
The team gathers around Arizona Wildcats guard Justin Kier (5) during his senior night ceremony before tip-off against the California Golden Bears at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., March 5, 2022.
Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star
University of Arizona vs California
California Golden Bears forward Lars Thiemann (21) grabs Arizona Wildcats guard Bennedict Mathurin (0), trying to stop his baseline drive in the first half of their Pac 12 men's basketball game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., March 5, 2022.
Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star
University of Arizona vs California
Arizona Wildcats guard Pelle Larsson (3) and the team react after center Oumar Ballo (11) was called for a foul on a shot block against the California Golden Bears in their Pac 12 men's basketball game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., March 5, 2022.
Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star
University of Arizona vs California
Arizona Wildcats center Christian Koloko (35) comes in just a second too late to swat away a shot from California Golden Bears guard Jalen Celestine (32) in their Pac 12 men's basketball game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., March 5, 2022.
Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star
University of Arizona vs California
Arizona Wildcats guard Kerr Kriisa (25) gets around California Golden Bears guard Jarred Hyder (3) and into the lane in the second half of their Pac 12 men's basketball game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., March 5, 2022.
Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star
University of Arizona vs California
Arizona Wildcats guard Pelle Larsson (3) gets around California Golden Bears forward Lars Thiemann (21) and guard Jalen Celestine (32) for a lay-in in the first half of their Pac 12 men's basketball game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., March 5, 2022.
Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star
University of Arizona vs California
Victoria Frank, left, helps Canadian and Pride of Arizona member Jessie Feller try to get a selfie with Wildcats guard Bennedict Mathurin (0) during the team's shoot around before tipping off against the California Golden Bears at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., March 5, 2022.
Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star
Contact sports producer Alec White at 573-4161 or awhite1@tucson.com .
On Twitter: @alecwhite_UA
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